"Over here! I found the entrance to a cave."

The small band of elves rejoined their colleague who stood before the entrance of the cave. Their group had been sent out to try and recover a previous party which had been ambushed by a horde of goblins; the male elves had been slaughtered and partially devoured but the females had been taken captive.

"Do you think it was wise for us to handle this horde alone? Should we not have sought assistance from the local guild branch?" One of the female elves was nervous that they might end up the same way.

"No we need to act quickly. I won't abandon our people to the vile goblins to be used as their playthings!" The lead male elf had a visible scowl on his face as he looked toward the cave as if it was the entrance to hell itself.

"We're ready. The ten of us should be more than enough to deal with this horde." A fellow male elf checked his weapons, though outwardly calm inwardly he too was a bit nervous.

"That's assuming the horde is as small as we suspect." The lead elf turned toward his party, knowing he needed to reassure them before entering the cave itself. "We move quickly and quietly. Our goal is to rescue our people, not this nest's destruction. Once we get the captives make for the…"

There was the sound of sudden screeching from the cave entrance, the elven party turned to see a hawk flying towards them, screeching as it circled the group. The elves cautiously eyed the bird, readying an arrow to stop it should it try to attack them yet it kept itself in place flapping its wings.

"Damn bird, what the hell are you…wait. Who do you belong to?" The lead elf placed the arrow back in his quiver as he examined the bird. "I don't understand but…you want us to follow you into the cave right? Someone else is in there?"

"We have our own problems to deal with, we can't be distracted by plight of others."

"No. If we leave them to the goblins we'd be no better than the vile creatures. We'll rescue them and our people. Be ready to move!"

xxxx

Half-Dragon Priestess swung her tail to knock back one of the charging wolves, the moment it hit the ground she went on the attack hacking at the wolf and goblin rider, blood staining her clothing as she killed the goblins. She turned her head to see another wolf charging and took in a deep breath before breathing her fire, the flames covering the creature who howled in pain. Off to her side Specter sank his fangs into the neck of a goblin then tossed it aside as one of the smaller wolves went for his leg. Specter was quick to pounce of the wolf, biting into the back of its neck, breaking the bone with the power behind its bite.

"You fiendish beasts will not defeat us here!" Half-Dragon Priestess reached behind her back and drew out her catalysts, then tossed them on the ground. "O horns and claws of our father, Iguanodon, thy four limbs, become two legs to walk upon the earth."

A bright light filled the cave and from where the dragontooth catalysts had been dropped off stood emerged a skeletal figure with sharp claws and a reptilian-like head. The Dragontooth Warrior charged forward to hack and slash at the goblins, their weapons hardly scratching his tough bones.

"It's claws are to be feared but it is the fangs that are the most dangerous!" Within Half-Dragon Priestess's hand was another dragon tooth catalyst. "Of sickle wings of the Velociraptor, slice, fly and hunt!"

Once again a bright light filled the cave and the single tooth changed into a large curved blade which she eagerly tossed toward her Dragontooth Warrior. The trio pushed forward to continue the attack against the horde of goblins and wolves; the elves within their cages were awestruck as the lone adventurer continued her assault. They had been easily overwhelmed by the sheer number out in the open, but it seemed as though she had been properly trained to deal with the goblins in such a tight sighting space.

One of the goblin riders charged toward Half-Dragon Priestess but she was prepared and rushed forward to meet the duo. With a swipe of her sword she cut the wolf's head but was surprised to see the goblin leap from the wolf to tackle her. She hit the ground dropping her sword, momentarily shocked by the sight of the goblin over her with a wicked grin but she was far from helpless.

"Get off me you foul beast!"

Half-Dragon Priestess raked her claws across the goblin's throat; the surprised goblin clutched at his throat as his blood splashed down upon Priestess's body. She quickly threw the goblin aside and retrieved her weapon to continue the fight against the small force that threatened to overwhelm her.

"I shall not fall here! There are those depending upon me and I shall be reunited with my comrades." Half-Dragon Priestess could feel her anger rising and let out a mighty roar before once again rushing to fight the goblins with Specter and the Dragontooth Warrior. "I shall not allow this heresy to continue!"

xxxx

"Monk behind you!"

Padfoot Monk was quick with the strike from his staff as the goblins closed in around them. Padfoot Monk felt ashamed for his earlier fear as they crawled through the cave but would not let that keep him from fighting to his best. Wolf Brawler fought on delivering punishing blow after blow against the goblins, avoiding their weapons or using the metals strips on her leather gauntlets to keep from being cut.

"Come on you ugly green bastards! I'll show the lot of you what it means to fight a wolf!" Wolf Brawler slammed her fist into the stomach of a nearby goblin, a smile present as she heard the crack of its ribs. "I may not be much larger than you monsters, but this wolf will make you regret fighting this pack!"

"I shall not let you fight alone Huntress! I may not be a wolf, but I too shall fight with all the ferocity of my tribe." Padfoot Monk moved until he was back to back with Wolf Brawler his staff ready to deal with the goblins. "Goddess of the Hunt, grant me the strength to fight to my best and slay my enemies."

More than a dozen goblins lay dead at their feet but even more of the goblins surrounded them, the larger hobs stood ready with clubs and stones axes to attack. Though tired from the constant fighting, neither of them could afford to stop fighting otherwise the goblins would descend upon them. Padfoot Monk knew he would be slaughtered and possibly devoured as he was a male but Huntress, as a female she would subjected to unspeakable horrors and he would not allow that to happen.

"Huntress…we can't keep fighting like this…for much longer."

"Yeah…those hobs…are worrying me. Don't suppose you have a plan?"

"Yes. I'll hold them off. You make a run for the exit and see if you can find aid." Padfoot Monk swung the edge of his staff against a nearby goblin, tearing the bottom of its jaw off with the strike.

"What the hell are you thinking?" Another goblin charged toward Wolf Brawler and she quickly got hold of it and repeatedly punched it until its skull caved it. "I will not leave you here to fight alone!"

"Huntress I cannot stand idly by and allow these creatures to assault you. Let me…"

"No way! No damn way will I allow you to sacrifice yourself for me! A true Boss does not sacrifice her packmates so that she can run and hide. This pack fights and dies together! Priestess and Scout would tell you the same thing."

"…very well. Let us fight together and take as many of these foul beasts with us!"

"Now you're talking!"

The goblins could see the duo was exhausted as they struggled to hold back their number, the hobs would rush in and crush the male and then the smaller goblins would have their way with the female. Just as the goblins readied for their attack arrows flew from behind the two padfoots, each one finding its mark within the skulls of goblins and hobs.

"Huntress what is happening? I can hear death cries of the goblins and feel something moving past us."

"Arrows? But who…"

Their ears began to twitch as they heard the familiar screech of Talon and as both turned he flew towards them followed by a group of elves who continuously fired away at them goblins around them.

"Talon." Wolf Brawler extended out her left forearm and allowed the hawk to rest upon her leather gauntlet. "I don't know how you did it but thank you for finding some aid."

"All goblins in the area are all dead." A female elf was quick to report back to her leader.

"Be cautious. I can still hear their cackling of the goblins in other areas of the cave." Padfoot Monk let out a deep sigh as he was able to catch his breath after their flight from the Dragon Slayer and battle with the goblins.

"We're here to look for…"

There was a sudden rumbling from somewhere deep within the caves, dust fell from the ceiling as the group nervously looked about wondering if the cave would collapse.

"Just like the earlier rumblings we heard. I don't think this cave is very sound." The female elf looked up at the ceiling expecting it to give way at any moment.

"No. These tremors are not natural, caused by another evil in this cave." Wolf Brawler looked toward the ceiling, nervous that the Dragon Executioner was now beginning to catch up to them but then turned back toward the leader elf. "We have other comrades lost somewhere in this damn cave. Can you help us find them?"

"We are actually here to rescue a group of our people who were abducted by the goblins."

"Then it is good fortune that we have met, let us work together to find our comrades and be out of this foul place." Padfoot Monk smiled as he nodded his head towards the group around them, eager to find the rest of his friends.

xxxx

Saber Rider gave out roar like that of a mighty saber cat as he lunged for the goblins, hacking and slashing at their tiny bodies with his axe and mace. Harpy Scout effortlessly dodge the goblins and cut at them with her dagger and the knife as they moved towards her and the downed Fang. She made sure to keep her distance from Saber Rider so that he could fight at his best, she could see the barbarian stained with blood as he slaughtered the goblins, but every now and then they would cut at his body.

"You damn goblins no hurt brother and Bird Girl!"

"You need to be more careful. Don't recklessly rush in and allow the goblins to keep hurting you!"

"I fine Bird Girl. Keep Fang safe."

Saber Rider suddenly turned and was just able to narrowly avoid the strike of a large stone axe. He stumbled backwards and steadied himself as he looked ahead, surprised by the sight of the before him. Harpy Scout was also surprised to see three large hobgoblins standing in front of Saber Rider and behind them was more than a dozen smaller goblins.

"Damn it. There's so many of them and Fang is still immobilized by the spider's poison. Can Rider hold these monsters off until others arrive?" Harpy Scout nervously eyed the hobs and other goblins around them.

"You big goblins huh? I still kill you like the others smaller ones!"

Saber Rider readied himself when both he and Harpy Scout heard and felt the deep rumble from somewhere within the cave.

"What noise? Cave fall apart?"

"Rider watch out!"

Rider returned his attention back to the large goblins and watched as they rushed to fight him; Saber Rider laughed as he readied his weapons to meet them head on. He swung his axe against the stone axe of the nearest hobgoblin and was pushed back by the force behind the monster's blow.

"Large goblin strong! That good! Make fight fun! Let's see which axe stronger!"

Saber Rider rushed in again to attack the hobgoblin who moved to avoid his attack, but the other hobgoblins move to strike at him with their wooden clubs. Saber Rider narrowly avoided the swings of the clubs by rolling to the side, as he recovered he struck at the hob's ankle with his axe. The deep cut made the monster bellow as it dropped to one knee and Saber Rider got back to his feet and smashed his mace against its head. The hobgoblin let out a painful groan as the bone broke in the side of its skull and the spikes penetrated deep into its flesh; the moment Saber Rider tore his weapon loose, the hobgoblin hit the floor.

Saber Rider laughed at his victory, but was quickly brought back to the fight as the other hobs moved in to avenge their fallen brother. The hobgoblin with the stone axe rushed towards Saber Rider and gave it a wide swing which he could easily avoid, but then the second hob moved forward and slammed his shoulder into the barbarian's body.

"Rider! Are you alright?" Harpy Scout had a worried expression on her face as she saw him skid across the cave floor but could see the others smaller goblins beginning to move closer to her. "Get back you little bastards!"

"Damn big goblins! You not so tough!"

Saber Rider got into a sitting position as he wiped the blood from the side of his mouth, he could feel the pain in his bruised body but needed to keep fighting. Rider gave a loud shout as he got back to his feet which greatly terrified the smaller goblins but the hobs were ready to keep fighting. Saber Rider would not wait for them to come to him and charged in despite the protests of Harpy Scout for him to be more careful. The hob with the stone axe swung his weapon again, but Rider was ready as he struck at the blade with his mace, pushing the weapon back slightly. The hob was surprised by this and Saber Rider would take full advantage of this as he brought his axe forward and buried it deep into the hob's stomach. The hobgoblin bellowed as it dropped its axe but Rider was not finished as he raised his mace and struck the beast in the head. The goblins were at a loss as the saw the wildman continuously beating the hobgoblin with his mace.

"Damn…Stupid…Beast! You no match for…"

CRACK

Saber Rider gasped as blood escaped from his mouth, the cause of which was the hobgoblin striking him along the right side of his head with its club. Harpy Scout looked on with wide eyes as he collapsed to the ground, blood beginning to pool around his head and staining his pelt.

"RIDER!"

She started to instinctively move to help him when she was tackled to the ground by the smaller goblins. She struggled to keep them away from her body and spared a quick glance to see the hobgoblin dropping his club to begin toying with the downed barbarian as he slammed his foot repeatedly down upon his back.

"Rider!"

Harpy Scout could hear the sound of her fabric being torn by the goblins and her mind went back to the warning Goblin Slayer had mentioned whenever dealing with goblins. She began to kick with her feet, the talons on her tridactyl feet cutting at the flesh of the goblins; with that opening she had made for herself she used both her dagger and Rider's knife to slash and stab at the goblins managing to kill two of them.

"Get the hell away from me!" Harpy Scout held out her dagger toward the goblins as she used her other arm and feet to back away from them. "I'll kill every last one of you!"

The goblin snickered as they watched the female backing away towards the unconscious saber cat, the weapons in her hands shaking as her hands trembled from fear. The hobgoblin chuckled as he gave the barbarian a swift kick, turning him over onto his back in the process. He could just crush his skull but after all he had done to the horde this human needed to suffer, he would see his female defiled before him. The hobgoblin reached down with its left hand and picked up the barbarian by his neck, the weakened Saber Rider groaning as he was lifted off the ground.

"Head hurts…body hurts…where Bird Gi…"

Before he could finish his thought, the hobgoblin slammed his right fist into Rider's stomach, making him spill up some more blood with the blow. The hob sneered as he repeated the motion twice more before applying pressure to his left hand, the wildman bringing both of his hands up to try and break the hob's grip.

"Must get free…goblin will kill me. Where is Bird Girl…and Fang?"

Saber Rider opened his eyes, he could see the sneer on the hobs face as he choked him, he struggled to look off to the side and his eyes were wide as he saw the frightened look on Harpy Scout's face as the smaller goblins moved in. Behind her was the unconscious Fang, the spider's venom had left him weak so he would not be able to protect her and would be easy prey for the goblins as well.

"No. Bird Girl! Fang! If I don't do something they die. Couldn't save mom or second mother, was too weak…won't fail these two!"

Saber Rider growled as he moved his hands away from the hob's arm and wrapped them both around its throat. The hob was surprised by this sudden movement and equally surprised to see him applying pressure so it was a contest to see who could out power the other. The hob tightened his grip but so did Saber Rider, the wildman growling as continued to squeeze with both hands and even began to pull himself closer towards the hobgoblin. In this contest of strength, the hobgoblin eventually released his grip to which Saber Rider pulled himself forward and smashed his forehead into the hob's face. The hob dropped to his knees as he covered his face with both hands, blood spilling from its broken nose, Saber Rider hit the ground surprising the goblins and Harpy Scout. He quickly got to his hands and knees and nearby him he found a large stone; with stone in hand he leapt for the hobgoblin and smashed the stone against its head.

"Die! Die! Die! You not hurt Fang and Bird Girl! Never again!"

The hob's body continued to flinch as he smashed the stone upon its head, the hob long dead but Rider far from satisfied. Harpy Scout readied herself to attack when she felt something moving behind her, she turned to see Fang up on its legs, though shaky. The saber cat let out a roar and lunged for the nearest goblins catching one with its claws and biting down upon its flesh; Harpy Scout followed the cat and attacked two more of the goblins with her blades. The remaining goblins were terrified and tried to run but found the barbarian standing before them with axe and mace in hand, his breathing quite ragged as his body was stained with blood.

"You…you not get away from me!"

He roared once again as he rushed to join his friends and slaughtering the last of the goblins. Fang soon collapsed back to the ground letting out a weak meow to which Harpy Scout moved to check on him. She turned to see Saber Rider still frantically stomping around, yelling for more goblins to come out and face him.

"You goblins come and fight me! You scared? I show you!"

"Rider that's enough." Harpy Scout rushed to place her hand on his shoulders to calm him down. "The goblins are all dealt with, we're safe."

"You…you safe? Good."

Saber Rider dropped his weapons as he nearly toppled over, Harpy Scout was quick to catch him but struggled to keep him upright. She carefully dragged him until she could no longer support him and both eventually collapsed to the floor.

"You okay Rider? You still with me?" Harpy Scout had minor injuries on her body but was more concerned about his injuries.

"I still alive. Told you I strong. Goblins no hurt Bird Girl or Fang." Saber Rider offered a weak smile even as the blood ran down the side of his face.

"Rider, you stupid fool, you need to…"

"Oh right. Bird Girl not like it when I call her that. I sorry Pretty Bird."

Harpy Scout gasped as she heard him say that before seeing him finally pass out due to exhaustion. She frowned as she remembered all that he had gone through to keep them safe; though there was a small bit of pain she unfurled her wings and carefully wrapped them around the sleeping Saber Rider and her own body. Her back lying on Fang as his breathing started to become more normal, a smile present as she hugged the wildman making sure to keep him safe.

"Stupid man. You pick the worst time to be nice and call me Pretty Bird."

Harpy Scout could then hear the sound of footsteps approaching from the opposite side of the cave. Beneath her wings, she readied both knives, expecting more goblins to come but she would not go down without a fight.

"He's protected me and now I shall protect him. I'll take as many of you goblins with me before I fall."

"I heard shouting coming from this way. Rider! Scout! You there!"

"Brawler that you? We're over here!" Harpy Scout breathed a sigh of relief as she heard the familiar voice of her friend. "They're coming Rider. They found us."

Within the cave she could see the dim light of a torch and suddenly Wolf Brawler and Padfoot Monk entered the chamber she and the others were lying in followed by five elves. Wolf Brawler and the others immediately rushed to check on their friends while surveying the carnage around them.

"You okay? What's wrong with Rider and Fang?" Brawler carefully placed her hands on Rider's head to examine the wound he had received.

"Fang got poisoned by cave spiders and Rider took the brunt of the attack against the goblins. He kept us both safe." Harpy Scout frowned as she continued to clutch as the unconscious Rider, afraid to let him go.

"Alright, I think we still have a couple healing potions and an antidote still handy. Let's get you all treated and find Priestess, then we can get the hell out of here." Wolf Brawler placed a firm hand on her friend's shoulder to help reassure her that everything would be okay.

xxxx

Half-Dragon Priestess sighed as she continued to push herself forward, behind her were the surviving elves who could walk on their own. Behind them were Specter and the Dragontooth Warrior carrying the elves who were too weak to support themselves. It had been a long and difficult fight against the wolves and the goblins, both she and Specter had not escaped unscathed, but they had managed to rescue the captive elves, eight in total.

"Thank you again for coming for us! Thank you so much!"

"I'm sorry we could get to the others in time, but we'll get you all out of here, I swear it." Half-Dragon Priestess recalled the three bodies they were forced to leave behind, two of which were barely recognizable after the goblins were finished.

"Are we really going to get out of here? We're going back to the forest?"

"I will get you to the surface and back with your people. My party should be waiting for us as well." Half-Dragon Priestess offered them a reassuring smile, but internally was worried. "What were those earlier tremors? Is it the Executioner? Has he caught up to my friends? What of Scout and Rider? So many unknowns and all I can do is hope. I will protect these people!"

Half-Dragon Priestess had taken the opening she had not noticed when first running ahead, the one the goblins had used to ambush her. The cave was much wider than the others, obviously intended for the wolf riders but now she would use it to rescue the captives.

"I hear footsteps coming…several of them." One of the surviving elves grew nervous that more of the goblins would be attacking them.

"Stay behind me. Fang and my Dragontooth Warrior will keep you safe while I deal with them."

Half-Dragon Priestess readied her bloodstained weapon, even if she was tired she would not allow the goblins to attack these captives so long as she still drew breath. She soon noticed the dim light of a torch from up ahead, the goblins could see perfectly in the darkness they would not normally need a torch. She was still ready to fight, but soon relaxed her body when she saw five tall figures now before her, other elves.

"Ancestors you are all a sight for sore eyes. We have the survivors over here behind me."

The elves rushed forward to check on Half-Dragon Priestess and the others; the former captives crying tears of joy as they were reunited with their kin, in some cases brothers and sisters reunited.

"Thank you, we are indebted to you for having saved our people." The elf leader bowed his head towards the half-dragon. "I don't know what led you here but we will be sure to reward you once we've left this wretched place. We came across two more of your comrades and they've gone with the other half of my group to find your other colleagues."

"The Dragon Executioner! Did you or the others come across a giant of a man? He was the one who chased us into this goblin nest?" Half-Dragon Priestess nervously wondered if they had seen their pursuer.

"I have not seen anyone else, only goblin corpses."

"I know this is asking a bit much, but I need to make sure he isn't following us or preparing an ambush. Would you accompany me?" Half-Dragon Priestess had a stern look on her face, they were already exhausted from this fight, to battle the Executioner would prove disastrous.

"You have rescued my people, it would be rude of me to not follow you. I want the rest of you to lead this group back to the entrance, we'll be there as soon as possible. Be ready for a potential attack!"

Half-Dragon Priestess and the elf leader rushed back through the cave, retracing the path that she had followed. They had come back to the spot where she and Wolf Brawler had separated and then went back to the spot where the stone bride had collapsed, but before they could go much further they found the path blocked. The path had been completely covered by rocks and boulders, an apparent cave in due to the tremors she had felt earlier.

"The rest of the cave seems to have collapsed on itself. Whoever was after you seems to have been wiped out along with whatever surviving goblins were here in the cave."

"I'd like to believe that, but this beast that follows us is very durable. If he was crushed by these rocks, I can only hope it buries him for a long time." Half-Dragon Priestess placed a hand on the wall of debris before her and sighed before turning back toward the elf leader. "Let's get back to the others."

xxxx

"Rider, please wake up!" Harpy Scout crouched near the still unconscious Saber Rider, gently slapping the side of his face.

The elves had taken care to cover up the bodies of the naked captives, reassuring them that they would be alright and the nightmare they endured was over. Once out of the cave, Wolf Brawler and Padfoot Monk went to work treating the wounded. Saber Rider's head had been wrapped up and he had been given a healing potion while Fang was given an antidote. Fang soon was up and around stretching its body and licking its paws before moving toward Rider and rubbing his head against the body of his brother.

"You all made it!"

The group turned and were delighted to see Half-Dragon Priestess exit the cave followed by the elf leader. The leader quickly regroup with the other elves while Half-Dragon priestess rushed to rejoin her party, happily embracing Wolf Brawler and Harpy Scout.

"I was so worried when that bridge collapsed. I'm relieved to see you all safe."

"We're all here but Rider hasn't recovered yet. We gave him a healing potion but he still won't wake up." Harpy Scout quickly dropped back down to her knees to check on Saber Rider, Fang meowing as he rubbed his head against his body.

Saber Rider's then began to squint to the surprise of the others around him, with a groan he slowly opened his eyes to see the sky blue sky overhead and his comrades around him.

"Rider!" Harpy Scout was overjoyed to see him finally awake.

"Head hurt. I hungry. We have food?"

The group scoffed and laughed as the wildman's response, Harpy Scout moving in to hug him tightly.

"You stupid idiot. Making me worry so much after all that punishment you took."

"Pretty Bird worry too much. I told you I protect you and Fang." Saber Rider then noticed Fang rubbing his head against his body and reached over to pat his brother's head. "Fang you awake! You feel okay now?"

"Wait…Pretty Bird?" Wolf Brawler had a small smirk on her face as she looked over toward Harpy Scout who still hugged Saber Rider.

"Oh, did something happen while we got separated? Something good perhaps?" Half-Dragon Priestess chuckled as she looked down at her friend.

"W,what? Don't look at me like that!" Harpy Scout gasped as she realized that she was still hugging Saber Rider in front of the group and then stood, clearing her throat. "I was just expressing my gratitude for him helping me in the cave."

"Pretty Bird help me keep Fang safe, so I make sure to keep her safe as well." Saber Rider got back to his feet, and quickly retrieved his weapons from the ground.

"There's that name again. Most curious indeed." Padfoot Monk also smiled as he joined in with the teasing.

"Hey don't call me that in front of the others!"

"I not understand. You say not to call you Bird Girl but Pretty Bird, now you say no call you that."

"I…sorry. Pretty Bird is fine." Harpy Scout could not hide the blush on her face as she extended his tooth knife back towards Saber Rider. "Thank you for this. Your mother helped to keep me safe, just like you said."

"You fight good in cave Pretty Bird. All friends strong, this good family to have." Saber Rider laughed as he put the knife back on his side.

The comment was quite surprising but certainly welcome, the others would not tease Harpy Scout any further.

"Before we fully celebrate, what of the Executioner?" Padfoot Monk turned toward Half-Dragon Priestess with a frown; they survived the goblin horde but that was not the primary concern.

"There was a cave in, I could go back to the spot where we had first entered. I don't know if he was crushed or escaped." Half-Dragon Priestess sighed as she shook her head, in the back of her mind she still worried that he would return. "We warn others and shall be ready for his next attack. We did much better this time and shall improve before we next meet."

The rest of her party nodded in agreement, for now they would rest and recuperate after such a long battle and aid the elves in making it back toward this village.

xxxx

Dragon Executioner groaned as he opened his eyes, above him he could see a night sky but it had been daylight before.

"Damn it, how long have I been asleep for?"

He grunted as he slowly sat up, near him were the broken and bloody bodies of the goblins and goblin champions who were foolish enough to try and stop him. Try as they might, the goblins were not the cause of his temporary downfall but whatever the harpy had used. Some type of poison on the arrows and it had eventually "killed" him, long enough for the day to end and his prey to escape him once again. He growled in frustration as he retied the war hammer to his back and slowly climbed out of the pit, back to the surface. He looked around the area, no visible smoke stacks of villages or encampments, so signs of them escape.

"Damn your luck little dragon. Rest assured I shall eventually catch up with you and your friends." A chuckle escaped from his mouth as he turned and started walking back toward the nearest woods.