[center][@Eviledd1984][@Saiyan][@Teyao][/center]

The Alpha Male raised a paw to swipe as Joji rushed in with super speed.  Blood thrown into the eyes caught the huge direwolf off guard. A veteran move.  By a stroke of fortune (as if the monster needed any more avdantages,) it's claws blocked the first strike blindly and it lashed out at the man in front of it, who dodged and punched it clean in the nose.  The Alpha Male reeled back a step, unable to see, and couldn't avoid the flying halberd that buried itself into the tough haunches, causing it to whimper in pain.

Before Zell could land any sword strikes, the Alpha Male barked louder than ever before, creating a 360 blast of wind that knocked both swordsman several feet backwards and to the floor, the razor wind cutting at them.  James' light spell landed directly, but the Alpha's eyes were already squeezed tight shut, stinging with blood, so it had no effect............

[center][@Zool][@Calle][@Crusader Lord][/center]

Fenna's dagger landed squarely in the Alpha Female's neck, but it's hide was so tough, the Ranger did not have the power to sink it deep.  But it hurt enough that this Alpha also was forced to use it's area-of-effect attacks to defend itself.

The direwolf's tail rattled and then a cloud of poison gas exploded all around it, causing Fenna and Arthur to cough and choke.  They would be forced to retreat from the area or choke to death.

The lightning bolt of Lillianna struck the beast and stunned it long enough for MacKensie's shots to land also, but while the Twin Element Mage was powerful enough to at least scratch the Alpha Female, MacKensie's attacks were like mere wasp stings - not nearly enough to do anything more than pester the monster.

The Alpha rushed forward in the posion cloud and grabbed Fenna's spear once more, then threw the Dutch woman like a rag doll right into MacKensie, knocking them both down.  Then the Chimera Wolf spun and tail-whipped Arthur across the face, sending him flying also, back toward the front line.........

[center][@Zapdos][@Teyao][@Crusader Lord][/center]

.........The Alpha Female was about to capitalize.  After doing so much damage with quick attacks, it was time to kill one of these adventurers.  The spell casters came through with support to save the day once more.

James' blinding spell hit the Alpha Female perfectly, providing the perfect cover for Adam's great tree which came swooping down and smacked the direwolf into the gorge.

Suddenly the Alpha Male came in for a counter attack, jumping up and then air-jumping on light, to position itself high in the air above the three wizards.  It barked another soundblast, the projectile of concentrated waves coming down to hit the floor amongst the Clive, James, Lillianna and Adam, exploding the rock and dirt and catching them all in the blast-radius for significant damage......

[center][@Zool][@Calle][@Saiyan][@Teyao][@Crusader Lord][@Zapdos][@Eviledd1984][/center]

The party had been decimated in matter of moments.  All adventurers were hurt from the unbelievable strength of the Alphas.  This was just a taste of the challenges that would stand in their way on their journey for answers.  How could they have known that they'd wandered into a region classified as a Platinum Tier expedition by the Adventurers Guild.  And there were places out there called Diamond Tier.  As complete newcomers with only a single battle fought, their mere survival thus far, spoke to how special they were.

As the Alpha Male landed in the centre of the battlefield, cutting the party off from regouping together.  It growled, saliva dripping from it's bared teeth.  Blood trickling from the wound where the halberd was stuck casually in it's haunches.

And from the blackness of the gorge, the Alpha Female found it's way back up, appearing one human-ish forearm at a time as it scaled the climb.  When it's head appeared, it was clear it was furious and thirsting for revenge.  It muscled up and jumped onto flat ground, turning it's attention to Arthur and the two Rangers.

Both Direwolves were injured, but nowhere near close to being out of the fight.  And now it was their turn to go on the offensive.  Things were looking grim.  And just when an onlooker might think; it couldn't get any worse... an even more powerful enemy appeared..........