Vera gave a nod to confirm that she had sent runners, then wiped her sword and slid it back into the scabbard on her belt. "I will see to it that the wounded are tended to. We will clear room in the dining chamber, it has tables enough for treatment, and will be close to the hot water we can boil on the fires. Everyone else can help clean up and eat in the main chamber." Vera stood up more straight now that she was less out of breath. "Oswall?"

"Right here, Vera." A low grumble sounded behind Vera. Oswall's white and grey-flecked beast form began to contract back into the size of a human in short order. He slumped slightly, exhausted by the fight.

"I was just mentioning to Meesei that you arrived just in time. This was a losing battle before you returned." Vera swallowed hard, her voice was rough from all of the shouting she had been doing, "I will ask to hear of what happened in your hunt later. For now, I need you to help gather the wounded to the dining hall and build barricades at the gate."

Oswall shook his head to try and get the last of the tingling from his recent transformation out of his face, then nodded. "Of course, but I have another concern. Where is Harriet?"

Without answers, both Oswall and Vera turned to Meesei. They observed as she threw the bodies off the living hunter.

The hunter was a tall Nordic woman in steel armour with warpaint across her eyes. Her helmet had been knocked off, revealing tightly braided blonde hair. She had a shield on one arm, and a dagger at her belt. If she had any wounds, they probably weren't worse than bruises. Her hand stilled when she was revealed and she kept her eyes closed. Even if she hadn't given herself away before, Meesei could smell her breath. Her attempt to play dead would not work.