Deepwood Weald loneliness lingers through unfamiliar towns

The large thing chuffed as it shoved through the thicket and her eyes flickered towards the shadow with a sharp inhale. She clenched her jaw and swung her head around to practically shove Kalika into a jog. She slipped her mouth up and breathed a single word: "Bear." It was then she realized—she couldn't risk the hunger of this bear against the numbers of the pack. They were all tired from the long journey and beaten down by the storm. There was no guarentee they wouldn't lose anyone in the process of defending themselves.

They were alone here. 

A wedge-shaped head popped up above the bushes and zeroed in on them. It was a pale thing with a slick, oily coat. Akantha whirled and locked eyes with the beast. It sniffed again, and suddenly charged. Akantha barely had time to turn to Kailka and hiss, "Stay with me." There was no time to explain. The immense bulk of the beast thundered through the woods towards them and Akantha mouthed Kalika's shoulder to spur her into movement only to break off in a dead sprint away from the Nereid camp.