“So there we were doing our best to get the heck out of that despicable hole before those beasts could catch up to us.”

  Once into the hallway leading to the room of refuse Deena heard the call from Duncan for a full retreat. As they began entering into the narrow hallway leading from the foul room Gregory yelled out in pain. Deena looked back to see Gregory sprawled upon the cave floor, a crude spear impaling his knee. “Johelm, help!” Deena called as she began to drag Gregory by his armor. Johelm and Duncan returned to help.

  “Johelm, get the man out of here, leave me your shield and spear. Deena get Gregory’s sword. We are going to hold this hallway for all we are worth.”

  Deena sword and shield at the ready placed herself a few feet back from the hallways entrance. “Duncan, you go low with the spear, I’ll go high with the sword”

  “Aye, lass. My thoughts exactly. By my beard I’ll see you outta this damned cave breathin.”

  Deena was unable to respond as the beasts had now come into view. Tall, lupine-esque bipedal creatures with bones for clubs were charging towards Deena. She planted her feet in a wide stance, braced her shoulder, tucked her head, preparing for the heavy charge coming at her. Duncan, shield high, bracing Deena’s back, held the spear low to stab at the legs and feet of these creatures. The heavy impact of the beasts pushed Deena and Duncan back, but they held their ground, stopping the charge. The first beast attempted to bite Deena over the shield, but received the point of the shortsword to the roof of his mouth, blood spilling over Deenas helmet as she retracted the blade. Before the beast had a chance to recoil Duncan pierced its thigh. The narrow tunnel forced the beasts to funnel in as a staggered line. The wounded beast was pulled down by its pack members in their frenzy to maul the interlopers. The second beast replacing the now downed pack member was met with a similar opposition as the first, but the sword found its throat and the spear severed what would be the achilles tendon. The mortally wounded beast fell back upon its companions, but a third swiveled around his soon to be corpse to strike Deena’s shield with its club. The impact jarred Deena’s forearm leaving it momentarily numb. Duncan, not missing the opening provided by the beast’s attack, lunged the spear into its knee. The beast fell forward as its lead leg gave out beneath it, cracking its jaw upon Deena’s shield supported by her and Duncans sturdy frames.

  “Step back lass.” Duncan yelled over the snarled, yelps, and cackles of the beasts before them. Deena felt the pressure from Duncan’s shield lessen, she stepped back keeping its supportive presence on her back. “Now, hold firm.” Duncan pressed his shield upon her back again. Deena did as ordered, her forearm had regained its feeling. The pattern was repeated, Deena and Duncan would fell three or four of the beasts, then fall back a step until the beasts became weary of charging and gave them distance. Duncan, now at the exit of the narrow hallway with open air behind him and a fall that would be a one way trip to his dwarven ancestors, whispered to Deena “Do ye trust me lass?” Deena gave a nod. “I am going to step from behind you, we are out of the hall. When I do, fall. I will pull ye out of those mongrels path, let's see if they can fly.”

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  Deena nodded in response. As she finished her affirmation, Duncan stepped left giving Deena a small tug on her armor. Deena fell straight backwards, the beasts leapt at their fallen prey. With one arm Duncan pulled Deena out of the path of the enraged beasts.The beasts rolled over themselves as they pounced onto the now vacant spot where their prey had been. Six of the beasts fell, yelps echoed about the cavern as they started the descent into darkness. No more of the beasts followed the last six out of the hallway.

  Deena began laughing “Lass, you okay?” Duncan asked worriedly.

  “Yeah, it’s just been some time since I had that much fun.”

  “Knew you’d fit in with the crew.” Duncan began laughing with Deena until a slight sound caught his attention. “Deena, stand ready. I ain’t sure what, but something is coming outta that hallway.” he whispered. The pair got their weapons and shields ready. Out of the hallway they had just exited came a beast of the same family as those they had just finished fighting, but this one was taller, heavier with muscle and carried a rusted sledge hammer in one clawed hand. It looked at Deena and Duncan, a grin spread across its fang filled maw. “All for me.” it spoke in a hoarse, guttural tone.

  Not waiting any longer, Duncan threw the spear towards the beast. The spear was caught midair in the large abominations left hand and snapped. It roared and charged, sledgehammer above its head in one hand, half of the spear in the other. Deena held her shield ready to block the hammer, Duncan on her right was prepared for the spear. This creature however, was intelligent. It used its momentum to kick at Deena knocking her backwards, despite blocking it with her shield. Duncan caught the half of a spear with his shield and drove to his now open left, ripping the spear from the overly large beast. The beast swung his hammer at Duncan’s exposed backside. Deena, without any other option threw the shortsword at the beast, the shortsword pierced the beast's hammer arm just above its wrist causing a slight retraction of its arm, resulting in a glancing blow on Duncan. Duncan’s armor took most of the impact, he dropped the shield in favor of a two handed grip on his pickaxe, now free from its loop. Seeing the incoming backswing of the heavy hammer, Duncan met the beast’s arm at its elbow with a mighty swing of his pickaxe. The beast dropped the hammer, its right arm nearly removed below the elbow, pickaxe still embedded in the joint. Duncan, maintaining a firm hold, dropped his considerable weight towards the ground, forcing the beast into a crouched position. Deena didn’t miss her opportunity to capitalize on the beast's precarious posture, lifted her mace in both hands and delivered a heavy smash on the beast's crown. A sharp, wet, crack echoed about the cave as the large beast lifelessly collapsed.

  Duncan removed his pickaxe from the overgrown beast. “I hate those damned laughing mutts.”

  “My first time fighting whatever those beasts are.” Deena responded between deep breaths.

  Duncan spit “Thylagrins, odd creatures I will tell ya about over a pint when back in town.”

  Duncan cracked his knuckles “Lady’s, that’s all the time I got for this meal. If ya come back for dinner. Oh I done lost my manners Deena, what is the lovely lass you got with ya name?”

  “My name is Kitsune. Nice to meet you, the food was excellent.”

  “Pleasure is all mine, back to what I was sayin. If yall come back for dinner I will tell ya a story, I’m sure will make Deena here blush.”

  Mama D glared daggers at Duncan “Duncan, don’t you even.”

  “Yes, please. I cannot wait!” Kitsune interrupted.

  Duncan grinned “See Deena, the little lass wants to know more about your sensitive side. We cannot deny her that.”

  Mama D shook her head “Guess I’m losin’ this round. See ya tonight Duncan, I demand a steak and good beer for this.”

  Duncan cleared the table “Sounds like a fine meal for an old story. Bye lady’s.”