The thoughts regarding the earlier events with both werewolves began to fade as Shamira trudged along with the support of her young companion, leaving a blank void in her mind. For how long they had been moving, she could not tell. It was as if the psychological shutdown had been an automatic response to the overwhelming and traumatic experience after she knew that she was no longer in any immediate danger. Perhaps it had been a subconscious effort to block out the memories of that night when she had her first encounter with a werebeast, when she could only watch on helplessly as the savage monster devoured her mother. Perhaps this whole hunting business was not the best thing for her to be doing, but if was not going to be people like her, then who else?

She was eventually brought back by the rustling of leaves straight ahead. She heard the short gasp of the boy with her, and felt his shoulders tense under her arm. He let go of her quickly but gently, signalling for her to stand aside as he reached for his weapon, preparing to meet this possible threat head-on. She too, waited in apprehension, keeping her eyes fixed in the direction of the movement. Finally, a human emerged from the bushes, a familiar face, and then another, then a third. The sighs of relief that came from both parties were audible, and the tension in the air was lifted as they exchanged a few words. However, it was not gone for long, for the group was silenced by a howl of a wolf some distance away, followed by the responses of others all around them.

The hunters knew that they were going to have to move swiftly before they lost track of their enemies' whereabouts. Keeping in mind that the first howl came from the location where they had been ambushed, the hunters cautiously made their way along the path back to town, slowing to a stop and ensuring that they were hidden as they approached the area where dead bodies were strewn. They considered the possibility of there still being werewolves hiding in the trees, with more on the way. With Shamira not being the only one who had sustained injuries, the hunters could not afford to be ambushed again.

The youngest recruit then got the group's attention, indicating that he would run through first and bait any possible attackers into coming out in the open. The less mobile hunters could then take them out while in hiding. It was not the best plan, but they were out of ideas, and so they reluctantly agreed, hoping that they would all make it back to town alive.