<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'">Her ears perked as she tightened Avi’s brown coat around her. His alarmed tone did not startle her. The familiar scent of dread and wet dog filled her nose. There was more than enough for two to fight off, not that Naya wanted to kill off the creatures who called the ancient elven land home. Direwolves were distrustful creatures, but also loyal and compassionate. <br/>
<br/>
“Don’t move, Avi.”<br/>
<br/>
Naya crawled over to a tree with her bow and arrow in hand. Within the moment, she jumped up into the branches and scanned the area. Seven direwolves, each strategically placed among the forest ground, heading straight for the Avi. Naya squinted and her eyes adjusted well to the night. She wavered between pity and no mercy for the poor beasts.<br/>
<br/>
“Don’t attack them. They’ll only grow more aggressive.”<br/>
<br/>
She placed an arrow in her bow and pulled it back.<br/>
<br/>
“Which one looks biggest, Avi?” she called out. “Tell me exactly where it’s located.”<br/>
<br/>
“Biggest one of them all, brown and grey coat, fourth one from the right, dead center." He responded, barking out the most information in the smallest amount of words. <br/>
<br/>
"Stay still." <br/>
<br/>
She noticed the fire near Avi grow bigger in size. She grimaced as the direwolves closed in around the hunter, jaws snapping. </span><br/><i><span style="font-family: 'Georgia'"><br/>
Idiot.</span></i><br/><span style="font-family: 'Georgia'"><br/>
Naya eyed the leader of the pack. A beautiful brown and gray direwolf that was unusually large for their kind. She let the arrow fly. A shrill howl from the male followed and the ears of every direwolf twitched. Two of them winced and turned away from Avi to assess their king. Naya knew she had no choice but to fight back once the first direwolf lunged its body towards Avi and she heard a yowl. Naya loaded another arrow and aimed at the next direwolf, lodging the weapon in the creature’s hindquarters. It batted its paw at Avi and she shot another arrow. The direwolf collapsed. <br/>
<br/>
"The creatures of this forest are not as scary as you think. They didn't like your fire. It reminded them of the time when their home was burned down by humans and other species alike, even elves. Put out the fire and they will leave you be." <br/>
<br/>
Another direwolf lunged at Avi and Naya could only pray he had it in him to slay the beast, follow her command, and leave the rest alone. </span>