Chapter 54: This seems easy
/*Sorry for being MIA for sometime. Due to bad weather, the adapter of my laptop decided to die and ASUS refused to help even though I am on warranty period so have been dealing with it for sometime. The current laptop is very slow so please bear with me before I resolve the situation in a few days*/
Aric watched as Lyria ascended the tree with nimble precision. Roderic’s eyes scanned the area, ever vigilant, while Elowen just looked behind, making sure there was no ambush. Minutes felt like hours as they waited for Lyria’s signal. The forest around them was eerily quiet, the usual chirping of birds and rustling of leaves absent.
Lyria descended swiftly, her face serious.
"The trails lead towards the East," Lyria said.
"Alright, here’s the plan. Aric, you stay close but out of immediate danger. Your job is to carry supplies and assist if needed, but don’t engage unless absolutely necessary. Lyria, you take the high ground and provide cover. Elowen, be ready to support with your magic," Roderic said.
Aric felt a bit of excitement, not because he feared for his life, but because he would come across the magical animals once again. He kept his face calm, playing the role of the obedient bell boy. The group moved silently through the forest, each step calculated to avoid making noise.
They walked for a long time before they saw the bloody carcass of a deer. The deer didn’t look magical and was just an average deer, or maybe for Aric, he wasn’t knowledgeable enough. Roderic investigated the carcass for a bit and then continued on their path. Now the trails were fresher, and it would be easier to follow them. Lyria was the one to lead the group, and her sharp eyes were better than anyone’s.
Soon they could hear some rustles. It didn’t take a huge amount of thinking to realize their prey was near.
"Alright, here’s the plan. Aric, you stay close but out of immediate danger. We don’t want anything to happen to you. Use the knife if they come close. Others, you know what to do."
With a deep breath, Roderic stepped forward, drawing his sword. The clearing came into view, and Aric could see the hyenas—larger and more fearsome than he had imagined. Their eyes glowed with a malevolent light, and their fur bristled in the wind.
Roderic raised his sword high, and with a battle cry, charged into the clearing. The hyenas snarled and turned to face the new threat, but Lyria was quicker. Her arrows flew with deadly precision, striking two hyenas before they could react. Elowen muttered under her breath, and a stream of water shot from her hands, striking another hyena and sending it sprawling.
The hyenas were not to be trifled with either. Just like humans, these magical animals knew how to attack using magic. Each of them could move faster than humans, were more intelligent than normal hyenas, and could use wind magic, which was basically sending wind blades through the mouth.