Malia was moving backwards, going to crouch behind a bush when she was yanked down to her knees. She nearly cried out, but the hand over her mouth concealed her gasp. She snapped her eyes to the man who forced her down, her eyes widening when she recognized him as the town’s new strider. She nodded, controlling her shaky breathing as he slowly let her go. She went to motion to him, but before she could even tap his arm he swiftly dashed away, leaving her more confused than before. It wasn’t as if her and her brother were helpless, they’d been on plenty ‘missions’, but today they were reckless.<br/><br/>Oliver had krept through the trees, keeping his body low and quiet. He was good at what he did, but unfortunately, good didn’t seem to cut it today. Just as he slowly rose to take a look around and clear their area, he felt a sharp, hot pain on his torso. He looked down, his lips parting as a rather long, metal object protruded from his lower abdomen. He choked on a strangled sound, gasping when the blade was ripped from his body, collapsing to the ground. The individual seemed to have appeared from nowhere, and went to finish Oliver before a twig snapping broke their attention. They swiftly spun, coming eye to eye with the strider, crouching down in an animal like stance as it sidestepped it’s ground. They wore a mask, a skull mask of what seemed to be a wolf, one hand touching the ground as it stared down the man in front. After a side glance to the boy on the ground it took off, disappearing through the bushes. Oliver lay on the ground, sputtering as his hand pressed to his side. He turned his head, catching the strider’s eye and shaking his head.<br/>“Malia,” He choked out, pain lacing his features. It didn’t look good, not at all.