Adam had silently morphed back to human form under the surface of the icy water, and was a little chilled given that he was naked, but was nonetheless invigorated...<br/><br/><br/>He was still under the surface of the water when he heard and felt a deafening boom, as his bundle of wands detonated with tremendous force.<br/><br/>He quickly stood up, his hands at the ready.  Many options for attack poured through his mind as he surveyed the immediate smoke filled area, hearing the groans of another wounded werewolf.<br/><br/><br/><br/>He breathed in the chill air, and watched quietly as Ylva spoke to one of them in a gentle manner.<br/><br/>Adam grit his teeth, and did not trust any of them.  She was in-between the wizard and the one she had called Varg.<br/><br/>Adam could feel the surface thoughts coming from the one she had addressed:  The wizard could feel shame and regret pouring forth from him, turning the fear and hatred as the other one tried to stand upon his broken leg, and started to roar and berate him, warning him about what Antony would do in retaliation.<br/><br/>Adam spat, and felt his blood course hotly through his veins.  His adrenaline had just released into his system, and his mind was now working lightning quick.<br/><br/>Lightning would not be a good idea, since he was waist deep in cold water...   Cold water...  Yeah, that would work.<br/><br/>Adam flung forth his right hand, with his fingers splayed outwards...   From the river three tree sized spikes of ice shot forth, hurtling through the chill air to strike Vorun, one of them penetrating him straight through his guts, lifting him from the ground, and embedding itself into the thick redwood towering behind him.  Another one stabbed him through his left hand, likewise pinning it to the tree.  The third had ripped through his already wounded leg, and ricocheted off of the side of the redwood, to arc gracefully into the air, only to splash back into the icy river....<br/><br/>Such was the force from the attack that the huge tree had shuddered, dropping a cascade of dead branches, sticks, and leaves...<br/><br/>The pinned werewolf flexed its chest and jerked its head back to howl in pain, only to release a sickening  gurgle, and blackened blood shot from his mouth.   His diaphragm had been skewered, leaving him unable to breathe.	Vorun spasmed and fought for a few moments, and then passed out, hanging from the tree lifelessly...<br/><br/><br/><br/>It had been an impressive magical attack, and would have felled even the most powerful of beasts.  But these were werewolves, and their ability to heal and recover from injury was legendary.  Vorun was merely incapacitated, and would eventually heal.   Only a blade or similar weapon made from silver, would put a werewolf down for good...<br/><br/><br/><br/>There were still two others left...  Adam's eyes scanned the area, seeing another one on the ground, a great and bloody crater having been made in its chest, smoking in generous amounts.  It did not move...<br/><br/>Three, three of the bastards were accounted for, but where in the hells was the fourth.<br/><br/>The wizard did not hesitate any further, and stepped free of the water to the rocky riverbank camp.  He quickly unraveled the oilskin wrap at his waist, and withdrew his dry clothing, donning it rapidly.  He then tossed Ylva her dress.<br/><br/>Adam then went to work picking through the remains of his camp...  His spellbook was now a charred mess, having had its trapped enchantment triggered by some hapless lycanthrope.  His bundle of wands were likewise gone, having exploded just a moment before.<br/><br/>His staff however, had seen fit to disguise itself as a common length of wood, and was laying on the ground innocently  near the riverbank.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Adam quickly retrieved it, and felt its magic flow into him...  The otherwise normal looking stick of wood, glowed, and then flared a deep crimson.  What had once been a stick was now a splendid length of ebony, set with brass and steel fittings.  At its head was a large flawless red ruby gem that scattered the sunlight beautifully.<br/><br/>He would be considerably more powerful now.  He made a mental note to remain glued to it, and never leave it behind.  Such was the age of not being safe, even in your own lands...<br/><br/>Adam then turned to regard the werewolf that Ylva seemed to know, and then around the surrounding bushes.<br/><br/>"Where is the fourth?'  The wizard asked tersely...