Flames in the Forest
A small figure dashed through the undergrowth, red hairflashing like live flame each time it caught the sunlight filtering down through the canopy—something that the dull traveler's cloak billowing out behind her emphasized. Her run was, while not calm, perhaps, not panicked, despite the three wolves close enough to nip at the cloak, and gaining. She carried a bow in her hands, arrow nocked, but the beasts chasing her didn't give her the luxury to turn to shoot.
Yuri didn't hesitate as she passed under the tree he'd climbed to get a bearing on his location in the forest. He dropped from the branch and, with the momentum, sliced cleanly through the head of the closest creature. From there, he turned his landing into a roll and returned to his feet in mere seconds to give chase. Twice more his sword struck, and twice more the beasts collapsed, lifeless.
Once he ascertained that they weren't going to get back up, he flicked the worst of the blood from his blade and sheathed it. Turning to the girl, he put his right hand on his hip. "You okay?"
