Noctisardor Bypass [raid] going deeper underground

Indra! Mahler!

That was interesting. It was almost enough to give Aventus serious pause. Indra — his grandmother — was dead before he was even born. At least, she was supposed to be. Merrick killed her. It seemed she might be quite alive, though, and that meant their targets now numbered two.

Aventus surged along the male wolf’s tracks. Her mate, he assumed. Just a roadblock. They would simply go around him and continue. He popped out onto the path — directly into Mahler’s jaws.

A snarling yelp ripped from him when Mahler lunged and seized his shoulder. The wolf was a boulder, much bulkier than Aventus could hope to be even if he stuffed himself with twenty fat beavers. His jaws were large and menacing. Not a beast to take head on, but now all that Aventus’ mind focused on was Arielle. Protect Arielle. Do not let this bastard get Arielle.

He hoped she would run on after Laurel and Indra. He could hear Ash baying behind them and Merrick was surely close by. There would be back up soon. Let him occupy this behemoth. Aventus peeled back his lips and did his best to embrace the pain in his shoulder, channeling it into rage as he struck for the side of Mahler’s neck.