Seeing one of their compatriots shot down so easily, the creatures rallied. In what seemed to be an older accent they chanted as though they possessed but one mind: "Release the corruption of Kod!" The creatures spread their arms, each now holding a mixture of lightning and fire in a spherical shape with after-images. 

As the valley filled itself with a grim-dark smoke, seeing the floor became a luxury. A few seconds later, the corruption engulfed the creatures. The 4th cart was struck with a cone of this destructive power. The fine woods in it were now woven in thorns. Metal bits became hot and spit everywhere. One of those engulfed in the darkness of the floor was spotted by the creatures. He barely dodged the flying metals. Being hit in his arm, he could barely hold up his shield anymore. A slightly bigger one among the various creatures flew in on him. The little buckler withstood the grapple of the creature. To be hit by the hot metal was not adviced, to be hit by the corruption, however, was a death sentence. The man shriveled. With a head bowed down in disbelief the 12 year old turned to coal and sulfer.

From the mountaintop there was a red glow filling the sky, reflecting the horrors of what would happen to the travelers here. A single black shard now soaring high above the descending darkness. A large pair of wings erupted from the shard. As did 4 pairs of arms and claws. 
The creature was well over 11 feet tall and shaped exactly like the mold of which the others are kin. His armor reflected the darkness. The flame he bore in one hand seemed to be more intense. It's flame flickered with more layers, it's lightning bursted with a lower frequency. 

The other creatures took down their heads and presented them as offerings. Offerings they couldn't refuse.

[@Skrubsetsu]

Felnor looked back at his sister to find an ungracefull son of kodar seated in physical contact with her. If it was not this dire a situation, he would express his anger more openly. In stead he got out and started to carry the cart further. Straying away from the path to pass the 4th one, broken down in ruin.

Kor whispered to his little lover: "Why don't you let me handle this, ok?"
He stood up from his cart and made his way past her brother. He lept off the cart and walked towards the big, scary and probably powerfull creature. "Hey there, Kod is it, sir?"
Kor had a way with words. Though this one time, they really didn't seem to be without at least a little bit of tremble. Even blindly he would be able to find his way through any fog. Including the dark and corrupting ones. 

Merl saw her lover jump into the dark, yelled: "nooo!" She pointed her attention to the one dragging the cart: "Brother, we cannot abandon our friends and lovers like this." Her brother had not the time to respond. The dark creatures had surrounded the cart. One of them leaned in to take the head of the brother. Merl did the only obvious thing her inexperienced mind could think of. Yelling dramatically: "Nooo!!" 

One unseen swift strike later, rider and mount were seperated. The creature fell into the dark. 

Sargom bowed her head once at the siblings. She continued swordfighting against the darkened creatures. Her style might have been lacking (as her mother used to say) but the fierce nature of her strikes made various cuts into the vast numbers of creatures haunting this caravan. Where the corruption ran deep, her eyes shined bright. Felling the foes left and right, only to have her run and hide. She would find shelter  near the broken carts from the waves upon waves of corruption send her way. 
Surely, her parents trained her well in the arts of swordfighting in various ways. It was really her own perceptive nature to figure out not to be touched by the corruption. And ultimately, her vision was not impared in darkness since the day she was born, even if it made her dreamy, sleepy and uncoordinated.

As soon as the sky turned red, the fighting seemed to end. And any hope for a quick getaway without facing Kod seemed gone.