For a moment, Vera's regular persona peeked through as she curled her lips in a mix of worry and frustration. She glanced away for a split second, not wanting to be too distracted. It appeared that the lines were reforming, and most of those who had got through were being contained or killed, but the defenders were being pushed back again. If there ever was a moment to try and sway Kaleeth's situation to anything better, it was now.

Vera placed her hands on Kaleeth's shoulders with her sword and shield still in them. Some still warm blood dripped onto Kaleeth's shoulder as she was held firmly in place. "Kaleeth, hear my voice, know my voice," Vera had her head angled forward and was starting right into Kaleeth's eyes. She was speaking as quickly and as firmly as she could. "You are afraid, but your beast is more afraid. You cannot stop it attacking the enemy. Your best hope is to make sure it doesn't put you both in danger. Don't let them surround you! Now go, you have my permission. We'll try to protect you."

Then, Vera stepped back and gave Kaleeth some space. She barked out an order for others to give her a wide berth as well, but to cover her from enemy spears. Werebeasts were not creatures that worked best with a formation of soldiers, but throwing a berserking werecrocodile in the mix might just let them recover from the recent assault.

Following their noses and the signs of battle made catching up with the enemy force a swift affair. No orders were needed as the warband sprinted through the gate, or clambered straight over if there was no room. Most followed Lorag and Meesei, but some broke off to follow other scent trails through the ruins. Evidently some scouts had been sent out to look out those hiding or planning an ambush. Little did any of them know just where it would come from and with what magnitude.

The main force was gathered in various affairs around a narrow corridor through which many were trying to get into. There were more wounded out of the way, some archers looking around tensely with not much to do, and what looked like a circle of commanders gathered around a scroll of paper. One of the commanders looked out of place, as he was dressed in regal furs instead of armour. All eyes shot to the lycans charging at their unprepared back lines. Lorag managed to get stuck in before any of the mercenaries were able to lower their spear points. Fendros charged in a similar manner, but seemed more focussed on carving a swathe through the very centre to somehow get through. Harriet was killing indiscriminately, the silver weapons landing on her body may as well have been feathers for all the heed she was giving them in spite of the obvious damage. Meesei's jumping bolt of power managed to drop five mercenaries almost instantly.

Any killed by Meesei's spells had inadvertently received a mercy compared to all that the others saw behind the initial vanguard. A stream of black, dark grey, brown, and silver came pouring forth in a cacophonous chorus of barks, growls, and gnashing teeth. The previously fearsome phalanx that the hunters put down to repel it was successful for a split second before it was overwhelmed by the living landslide of angry werewolves. Lycans that were halted by friends in front of them leaped over to crash into the next rank, breaking up the formation and destroying the strength of the enemy.

From both sides of the hunters, it was observed how suddenly compressed they were as each retreating force pressed into one another. They had nowhere to go and were running out of space with which to defend themselves.