Another heavy crunch.

Before the Raven Heralds could retreat, another of their number fell, the hammer having shattered the bones in the soldier's neck and caved in his skull through his helmet.

Silva lowered her hammer, then faded, the crimson-white orb of light that constituted the forms of Lily's friends when they chose to be dormant.

Lily's heartbeat stopped hammering quite so quickly, now that the immediate danger was gone. But she was surprised when the Umbral Knight chose to manifest once more, turning to address the assembled outsiders as they did.

"Those 'Raven Heralds'... they're returning to these childrens' village, aren't they?" the knight commented.

Lily stared for a moment, then quickly realized what this meant. If the enemy soldiers were so determined to hurt the siblings, then that meant wherever they came from was in just as much danger.

Her eyes traveled over the corpses left behind by the brief clash for a moment. Realizing where she was looking, the Umbral Knight quietly moved to interpose themselves between Lily and the scattered bodies.

"... It's your decision, Lily," they said, gently, kneeling beside her, "There's no need to push yourself."

It wasn't as if she hadn't seen dead bodies before. She'd seen plenty, even if the Umbral Knight didn't think she needed to see any more.

No, more than anything else, she wanted to keep helping the siblings.

Her gaze traveled back up to the Umbral Knight, and she nodded.

She'd seen far too much destruction to let it happen if there was still a chance of stopping it.

"Very well," responded the Umbral Knight, rising to their feet once again.

"We've ensured their survival, but to ensure they have somewhere to return to, we have to give chase," the Umbral Knight addressed the others, "Will anyone else accompany us?"

[@PKMNB0Y][@DracoLunaris][@EchoWolff][@Crimson Flame][@Lugubrious][@Drifting Pollen][@Raineh Daze]