Here's the next chapter! I really like Garrett lol. I can't wait till he comes back into the story for a longer period of time. XD __________________________________________________________

The entire camp was in an uproar. Terrified rabbits were running screaming in all directions trying to dodge the frenzied wolves. The only ones with any means or ability to fight back were the escorting guards who were doing their best to push back the ambush rallied under the leadership of the large white buck.

Silas had shoved Weezie aside, charging full speed towards the first wolf with his sword out at his side.

"Pull back to the carts! Pull back to the carts!" He shouted to the terror-stricken slaves. Most of them obeyed, tumbling over each other to escape but quickly running into more wolves, while others stayed where they were, petrified by fear. One of the charging wolves ran directly through a campfire in its frenzy, catching itself on fire and then the trees it ran through in its howling flight.

Silas' wolf faced him fearlessly with a deep snarl, rising up on its hind legs and displaying long front claws. The firelight cast sickening shadows on its gruesome scarred face as it lunged towards him with a snap.

Weezie didn't know what to do. The last wolf attack she had been in was when her father was still alive. The image of her parents, with swords in their hands and fury in their eyes standing guard over their front porch had been burned into her young mind. She and Layra had done nothing but watch, huddled together in a corner as their mother and usually mild-mannered father slaughtered wolves at their doorstep. But this was different, she had no parents, and she had no sword, but the wolves and the fire and the screams…

There was nothing she could do against the monstrous beasts, so she followed Silas' last directions and fell back to the carts as quickly as she could. She ran with surprising speed for her stocky legs to where she had left Percy, relieved it looked like she'd be able to make it alright. A wolf stalking on all fours emerged from the shadows behind the cart. Weezie felt a surge of terror as its head snapped to face her. She skidded to a stop in the leaf strewn dirt, fear heightening her reflexes. The wolf let out a low pitched growl as it stepped towards her, head low like a predator ready to pounce. Ready to pounce! Weezie realized at just the right moment that was what it intended to do. With a leap that surprised both the wolf and herself, she sprung up over its snapping head, grazing its side with her feet as she came back down. She was on her feet in a moment, speeding out of the monster's reach. She realized she couldn't run to the cart- not with the wolf hot on her tail. She had no way to protect Percy from its hungry jaws. She ran around behind its tail, causing the wolf to turn a full circle in her pursuit. She was going to lead it away from Percy, and hopefully towards someone with a sword.

Most of the slaves had gathered together in a tight huddle, protected on all sides by the sword-bearing officers. The fire was spreading now through the trees and up the hillside, flames burning across the clearing through the fallen dry leaves. Weezie ran, dodging patches of fire and her pursuer's attacks. She couldn't go towards the other officers, that would certainly mean death with most of the attacking wolves circling and trying to break through their lines. She didn't have time to locate anyone else, so she ran directly towards the place she had last seen Officer Silas. But he wasn't there.

The body of the wolf lay on its side, the flames of the spreading fires licking at its rough hide. Weezie kept on running at full speed- she had nowhere else to run to yet and she didn't dare slow down. Maybe she could lose it in the trees? Rabbits were far more agile than wolves anyway.

Silas stumbled out of the treeline, breathing heavily with blood showing on his torn shoulder. He looked over the clearing quickly, noticing the wide-eyed grey doe with the wolf close behind.

"This way!" He shouted, waving his hand to her and assuming a two-handed grip on his sword. Weezie barreled towards him, the wolf snapping at her heels, skidding to a stop behind him. Silas caught the side of the wolf's face with his sword, thrusting the bite aside with a great shout. Before he could recover from his wide swing, the wolf swiped its paw across his side knocking him to the ground. Weezie had to think fast. She had only a moment before the wolf decided which of its prey it would persue first- the doe standing right in front of him or the buck struggling to his feet.

Weezie dove to Silas' fallen sword, the wolf snapping at the air where her head had just been.

Weezie took a stance with the sword gripped in both hands. A quick glance behind told her Silas had been gashed across the side by the strike and was struggling to maintain consciousness. He wouldn't be getting up to fight anytime soon. At least, not soon enough. The wolf was angry now, an empty gnawing in its belly pushing its primal desire to feed and a painful gash through the right side of its face.

For a moment Weezie wished Percy were here. That wolf would stand no chance against her friend, wounded or not. But he wasn't. It was just her, the wolf, and the wounded Officer's sword.

She wasn't sure if she was strong enough to block the wolf's attack, and remembered how poorly that had gone for Silas who had obviously used a sword before, so she decided she would strike first.

She lunged for the wolf, screaming at the top of her lungs. She would have missed, snapped in two by the crazed wolf's jaws if the white buck had not intervened right when he did. He slammed heavily into it from the side, knocking it to the ground where the two combatants rolled over each other. The white buck ended up on top, the previously wounded wolf being no match. He raised his blade and ended its piteous life.

"Silas," he gasped, rushing up to the grey buck on the ground. Bits of smouldering leaves drifted from his uniform.

"Uugh, I'm fine," Silas groaned as he rolled him to his back. The white buck gave him a scowl, then resumed looking his friend over.

"Garrett. Garrett," Silas said, patting his arm for attention. "Where's that doe, did he get her?"

"No, she's right there," Garrett, the white buck replied, glancing over his shoulder to Weezie. "We need to get you somewhere safe."

He hefted the large grey buck to his feet, Weezie watching awkwardly and feeling a little guilty for thinking badly about him. Garrett glanced around the clearing, his nose twitching as he thought out a plan. He had managed to bowl his way through the line of wolves, but there was no way he could get back through with a doe and a wounded soldier.

"Why, does there have to be so many wolves?" He muttered under his breath.

Weezie considered rushing back to the cart where she'd left Percy. Her plan had been to get rid of the wolf and get back to him as quickly as possible, but at this point it would feel wrong to leave Silas behind after he had helped her- even with his friend there.

"Sir," Weezie said, taking a step forward. "We could get him in one of the carts?"

The white buck looked from Weezie, to the crowd of wolves and rabbits, to the carts standing mostly quiet in the dark.

"If we can get him somewhere the wolves can't easily get to, I think I can stop the bleeding."

Garrett frowned, glancing from his limp companion to the doe holding his sword.

"Alright," he reluctantly agreed.

They raced across the open space between the treeline and carts, hoping to not attract the attention of any wolves. Whether they did or not, Weezie wasn't really sure, as Garrett commanded her to get into the cart as soon as they reached it. She clambered in and helped him lift Silas after her, who was now out cold.

Garrett patted his leg.

"Stay there, lie low." He said, nodding to Weezie. She replied with the same, and he darted off into the dark and chaos.

She couldn't see very well in the dark of the cart, but she crawled first over to Percy, dreading what she might find.

"Please be okay," she whispered, reaching for his hand. It was still warm, and Weezie sighed in relief to find he was still breathing.

"I gotta go help this guy, but I'll be back." She said, giving his hand a squeeze.

She scurried back to Officer Silas, dragging him away from the entrance and further into the dark of the cart. She really had no idea what she was doing still, but she had strips of cloth left over from bandaging Percy and determined to make do.

Once she had done what she could for Silas she grabbed his sword and took up a position at the dark opening to the cart. She still had no idea how to use the blade, and knew she would be dead meat if any wolf actually tried to get past her, but both these bucks had saved her life in some way, and she had promised Whit and herself she would keep Percy safe at all costs.

She couldn't tell if they were winning or losing out there and she felt a pang of worry for the rabbits from her cart. How many of them had the wolves gotten by now? The horrible baying and yelping still filled the air, along with the shouts and screams of rabbit voices.

Clutching the sword tightly in her hand, she leaned out the opening, peering out into the dark. The forest fire seemed to have calmed its course, the weather had been a little too wet recently for it to take any strong hold over the greenery of the Great Wood. With the moon set behind the trees, Weezie could only make out vague shapes by the light of the stars and few remaining campfires tossing shadows and highlights around on the breeze. She heard yelps, and howls that made the fur along her spine stand on end and crashing noises in the woods all around. She hoped that was a good sign, but prepared to defend the cart in case any fleeing wolves thought they'd found themselves an easy snack. Her heart pounding in her ears, she was suddenly taken by surprise by a large form appearing from the dark.

She yelped, falling backwards and waving Silas' sword in its direction.

"Woah! Watch it!" Garrett said, dodging her swipe.

"Oh, sorry," Weezie said sheepishly. "I thought you might have been a wolf."

"No," he replied with a slight chuckle. "I'm a little smaller and less ferocious than that. Put that down now would you?"

Weezie obliged and watched as the white rabbit leapt into the cart next to her.

"Where is he?"

"I dragged him further to the back," Weezie said, standing up to follow him. "Right here,"

Garrett knelt down beside his friend and gave him a quick look over.

"Are the wolves gone now?" Weezie asked anxiously, glancing out the cart's opening even though she could see nothing in the dark. Her heart was still pounding and she wasn't too happy to have left the sword at the cart entrance, even with Garrett there.

"What? Yes." Garrett said. "Do you know how bad he's off?"

"I'm not actually a doctor," Weezie admitted, sinking down on the bench next to Percy with relief. "I've just had a bit of practice is all." She patted Percy's knee as she spoke.

"This is your not-dead friend then," Garrett asked.

Weezie nodded. "There's a doe who was on this cart that does have medical training, I could find her to look at Officer Silas, sir?"

"Yes, do that." He replied, getting to his feet. Weezie nodded and leapt out of the cart. She just hoped she would find Delia still alive.