[@Luminosity] [@Platinum Cobra] [@geminironin] [@Ryona Zako] [@alexfangtalon] [@Typical]

[center][color=de2f46][h1]Aubrey Hughes[/h1][/color][/center]

[i][color=#FEDA00]“Hey, shitweed! Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?”[/color][/i]

Aubrey stared in horror as Julian yelled at the creature. At once, the kelpie changed its course. [color=32e3c0]"But what fun would that be?"[/color] it taunted back. Aubrey hadn't expected it to be capable of speech in that form, but that somehow made it all the more terrifying. Not animal, not human, but a being right out of cautionary folktales - galloping towards Julian, no less, albeit awkwardly on its wounded leg.

Keeping her arm around Victor, Aubrey lunged and lashed with the other. [color=de2f46]"Let's see how much fun you find this!"[/color] The chain struck its face, earning another shriek. Aubrey narrowly avoided a hoof as it flailed, lines of welts rising across its cheek. What she didn't avoid were its teeth, which caught the skin of her arm. [color=de2f46]"Gaaah! Fuck! Fuck you, you overgrown piece of pond scum!"[/color] She kicked its legs, pain flaring through her forearm as she managed to pull free. In its wild rage, the kelpie snapped its jaws at her again, getting the belt chain instead.

A choked screech filled the air. Tiny, twisted chain links flew everywhere as the horse spluttered, its mouth covered in sores. [color=de2f46]"Now looks like a good time to get the fuck away!"[/color] Aubrey yelled, feet pounding, belt accessory hanging in her grip with one of its three chains broken. Blood dripped down it from the ragged wound on her arm.

The kelpie, of course, wasn't the only one to worry about. Fingers gripped Aubrey's ankle. With a yelp, she toppled, dragging Victor down with her. [color=de2f46]"You don't know when to give up, do you?"[/color] she seethed, booting the goblin away, hauling herself and Victor back up. Her heart thudded. Not only were the kelpie's eyes fixed on her as it prepared to charge again, the distant shrubbery rustled, as if more creatures closed in.

[color=de2f46]"Ohh shit, just what we need... Everyone, quick!"[/color] She resumed her sprint, but the three beings looped around in various directions, cornering the group against a cliff face.

Spotting one escape route, Aubrey grimaced. What was it going to be, huge tunnel leading to fuck knew where, or rampaging pack of monsters that had likely brought a few friends along? A clawed hand swiped, making the answer clear. In a mad dash, she pulled Victor into the cave.

[hr]
[center][color=cc9331][h1]Brenton Ackerley[/h1][/color][/center]

[color=cc9331]"And I've got you."[/color] Brenton helped Hannei up, glancing from her to her twin. For all his basic medical knowledge, he was no doctor, and the drooping face baffled him. Was this a normal part of narcolepsy, or did Aina have another condition? All he knew was she needed to get to safety - relative safety, anyway - fast.

Hoping he and Freya wouldn't pull the twins over, he ran for it, only looking back at Aubrey's swearing bout. His eyes widened as the foul creature started choking on her chain links. [color=cc9331]"Aubrey! You ok? And yeah, sounds like an idea."[/color]

Not that getting away would be easy. Even with the horse's momentary distraction, its friends hadn't forgotten about them, rushing at alarming speed, grasping and gnashing. He stared as one of them chased Aubrey and Victor into a tunnel, with that strange glow winking from within.

Letting go of Hannei, he froze. Was that really the best escape route? Crap, what if it was the only one? Were his reservations mostly his usual ones about closed spaces? Only the sight of a hoof snapped him back into action. He pulled away, yelping as its edge caught against his side.

[color=cc9331]"Ugh... Here goes nothing!"[/color] His frantic shout and steps sent pain lancing through the area. Was it just a bruise, or was it a cracked rib? What if it was outright broken, dangerously so? There was no time to think about it, not with other injured people in the cave. Steeling himself, he bit the inside of his lip until he tasted blood, and half ran, half stumbled in.

Although wide enough for several people to fit through, the cave's walls seemed to surround the three like a cage. Brenton's breathing sped up, fresh sparks of agony pulsing through his chest. The low ceiling, making him stoop, didn't help the stifling atmosphere. [color=cc9331]"Heh... At least a horse can't easily get through here, unless... Oh shit."[/color] Realisation sank through him. [i]Unless it shapeshifted.[/i] And of course, this wouldn't stop the goblins. He cast a wild glance outside. At least if the monster had to shapeshift to follow, it'd do so in a less convenient form, especially with its wounds. There was no way a bunch of humans would outrun a freaking [i]horse[/i].

[color=cc9331]"At least it won't be such a threat."[/color] His knuckles turned white against the knife's handle as he called to the others, both inside and outside. [color=cc9331]"Come on!"[/color]