Fane watched as the trolls came rushing through the forest, some large enough that they knocked down small trees, as if they were toothpicks. His lips pulled back in a snarl as he decided the most effective way to take them down.

“Clip their heels, they won’t be able to stand,” he told Jacque.

“Got it,” she answered as she lowered herself into a crouch, ready to leap as soon as they were close enough.

Fane saw his father lunge forward and took that as his signal. He rushed forward, diving under the first troll he reached, and whipping around to tear at the troll’s heel, ripping out the tendon. The troll went down on one leg. Jacque, who had circled around behind the troll, now dove forward to rip out the tendon of the other heel. The troll hit the ground with a mighty boom. Fane ran swiftly and flew at his throat, ripping it open at the artery. Blood spurted, splashing onto Fane’s dark fur. His wolf howled at the first kill and the others answered. He turned to see Jacque battling with a smaller troll that had already put a gash across her flank. Jacque tried to jump aside, but the troll’s huge fist still caught her. She was flung backwards and smacked against a tree. Fane soared through the air, landing on the back of the troll. He dug his claws into the troll’s thick skin shredding at the flesh. Jacque jumped back to her feet and maneuvered around to the side of the troll who was focused on getting Fane of his back. She made for the heels just as Fane had told her and in two swift moves, she had torn the tendons. Fane jumped from the trolls back as it slammed to the ground. Jacque moved to take out the neck, but Fane pushed her aside and did it himself. He nudged her towards another group of wolves that were battling several trolls at one time and they joined in the fight.

Peri looked around the battle field as more trolls came. Wondering why the trolls weren’t filled with arrows, she looked around at the elves. Each elf was focus skyward, firing shaft after shaft into the air. Scattered among the clouds and rain were large swooping birds of prey. The elves were taking them down as fast as they could. The warlocks joined the wolves against the trolls. Everywhere men, monsters, and beasts hacked and slashed furiously at each other. Despite their teamwork, both wolves and warlocks were injured in the fighting.

“Rachel, you and Sally are going to have to go tend to the injured.” Peri yelled, handing Rachel some clothes that she had carried in anticipation of Rachel’s run to the battlefield in her wolf form. “There! She pointed to a wolf lying on its side. I’ve got your back.” She turned to a wide eyed Sally. “You head that direction; Jen will protect you. Remember; only heal what is necessary for them to get back on their feet. Reserve your strength. Don’t waste any time on those that aren’t savable”

Shaking, Sally took off, searching the ground for injured wolves. She wasn’t sure what she could dofor any fallen warlocks, but she had decided that she would attempt to heal them as well if she could. Jen stayed alongside, her making sure no trolls got too close. Sally found the first one lying on his side, a nasty gash too deep to heal quickly on its own. She stepped forward and tried to radiate peace so that she would not startle the wolf.

“I’m going to touch you. If you lie still, this will go rather quickly,” she told the wolf.

He looked at her with glowing eyes, and then laid his head down. She took that as the okay to begin. She laid her hands on him and closed her eyes. She sent her spirit into his body, seeking out the wound and healing it from the inside out. When she pulled her hands back, the wound was completely healed. She stood up slightly wobbly and Jen pressed her large body against Sally to steady her. The wolf stood and crouched experimentally, then turned to her and bowed his head. She bowed hers in return, and then watched as he flung himself back into the fray.

Sally yelped when Jen suddenly pushed her forward and dove beside her. Sally slammed to her knees and winced as she felt her jeans rip. A crashing sound echoed in her ears as a large tree landed where she had just been standing. She turned and looked at her friend. “You rock,” she gasped.

Jen gave a small yip and a wolf smile, to which Sally shook her head at. “Not cool Jen.”

Looking out over the forest, they began moving toward more injured wolves.

Decebel was moving swiftly, bounding over bushes and around trees as he chased the pixies that the others hadn’t realized had joined in the mix. His wolf was relishing the hunt, enjoying the sport of chasing something so quick and cunning. He almost hated to end the chase by killing them. He rounded a large tree, just on the heels of a particularly fast pixie and slid to a stop when he saw his mate running through the middle of the battlefield following a very worn out looking Sally.

“What the hell are you doing?” He snarled at her.

“B, this isn’t the time to be an asshat over me being here. I’m protecting Sally while she heals injured wolves.”

“You’re in no shape to fight.”

“Sure I am. I’m in my wolf shape. I’m a fighting machine.” She tried to joke, to lighten the moment.

“You are pregnant.” Decebel’s anger and fear was climbing as he ran towards her, dodging around trolls and fallen trees.

“Am I? Damn, I almost forgot. It won’t matter what I am if you die, so at least let me help.”

“Well, it’s obvious I can’t stop you so I guess I have no choice.” The hurt in his voice made Jen feel like crap. She knew she had made him feel helpless to protect her and she hadn’t meant to.

“I’ll be okay babe,” she tried to reassure him.