The metal point and its long, balanced shaft hurtled with a swish through the air, almost entirely silent otherwise, and sunk into the exposed earth right before the sizable rat with a soft sheathing sound. Had fate veered ever so slightly in the mighty woman's favor, it would have struck the creature square in the head rather than make it pull back further, coiled tighter like a viper preparing to strike. A second similar sound overcame the brief onset of disappointment, although with being an arrow the snappiness of its launch from its bowstring was quite different, as was where it landed. The wild elf's finger's plucking the next from her quiver following the shot, the rat raged at first blood being drawn; the head of the arrow grazed off its back, slicing a wound into it and spurring it to attack.

Attack it did, for as the elf was drawing up her bow to fire another shot and the goliath arming herself, the creature's wild frenzy turned into a headlong charge against the lead man. Eyes widened at first under his helm, de Brey focused intensely and braced his shield, to which the [i]dire rat[/i] slammed against. Boots shifting as he steadied his weight, armored hauberk clattering against Beaumont who he was shoved into, de Brey shoved back and aside with his shield - the creature's charge deflected for now. His expertise in protective armor and his presence that roused others to greater defenses saved him yet again as surely had the near frothing beast struck him, it could have downed him outright. Instead now it leapt back to its feet and snapped at any that dared too close.

Alone it was outmatched and outnumbered but its bristling aggression was unmatched and unexpected given its appearance. Perhaps it was the taste of its own blood in the stagnant air that riled it, perhaps the burn of the elf's arrow and its steel, perhaps the scent of all its slaughtered denmates. Whatever the case, it was not to be underestimated and this was something the half orc knew well after being on death's door mere minutes earlier.

[hider=Effects]
Initiative Table
Vah'lux - 16
Tracan - 14
Creatures - 9
Gorosk - 6
Renault - 3
Quentin - 3

Vah'lux misses her javelin throw, fortunately compensated for by Tracan who manages to land an arrow. Wounding the rat, it enrages and charges the first person in order, de Brey, and almost lands a hit on its attack. It is now next to the two men, allowing Gorosk to potentially step in from behind it and launch an all out attack on it.[/hider]
[@BangoSkank][@Hellion][@Lord Wyron][@TyrannosaursRex]