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The Ongok screeches something in a language I've never heard before, and dare say I hope to never hear uttered in my presence ever again.
"Vigilo," Atlas issues the Tronovian command, provoking the others to turn around, maintaining our circle but with our backs facing one another's. I follow suit once I understand what they're doing, and whip around, my body on high alert. I might not have understood what the foul creature said, but I'm certain Atlas did, or at least understood what was coming next.
Just as I feared, two more hellhounds with their masters appear on my side of the tree line and my heart nearly stops dead in my chest.
I am not afraid. I am not afraid. I am not afraid.
I repeat the phrase over and over and over again in my mind, combatting my fear before it has an opportunity to truly take root in my heart.
Trees rustle on either side of me and I see two more duos on each side. By my count, there are seven masters and hellhounds. One of the Ongok in front of me takes a step forward, earning my attention. He points a skeletal finger in my direction and says in a whispered voice that will haunt me at night, "The girl belongs to Vesper. The rest belong to us."
With confirmation that Vesper did send them, anger flares within me, and the need to protect my friends floods me. "If you want me, come and claim me."
That's all the Ongok needs to lunge for me, and although the hellish abominations are quick, thankfully, my magic is faster. I throw a shield around the group seconds before they reach us. They pound on the golden force field with reckless abandon and show no signs of tiring anytime soon.
"What's the plan, Atlas?" I ask, strain in my voice as I fight to maintain the shield.
"We split up," he says, stomping toward me. "Eris and Finn, you take the northern ground. Nyx and Ronan, head straight east. I'll get Shaye to the cabin and wait for you all there. Be there by morning, understood?"
With everyone in agreement, I wait for Atlas to give me further instructions.
He presses his chest against my back and whispers in my ear, "Instead of dropping your shield, can you blast it away?"
I nod. "Yes."
"Good," he says softly, his breath tickling my ear. "That should give us a few seconds of a head start."
"Tell me when."
I feel his hands perch on my waist, as if steadying me for the task he's asked of me. "Now!"
Instead of lowering the shield, I do as Atlas asked and shove my hands outward, blasting the golden force field at our assailants. The blow is powerful enough to knock them off their feet and momentarily stun them.
"Go!" Atlas grabs my hand and tugs me in the opposite direction of the other two groups. With lighting speed, the six of us mount our horses and take off.
As sick as I am from the speed of which we're going, Atlas keeps me secure in front of him as we weave through the leafless trees. I dare a look behind us and see three groups have chased after us.
"We can't lead them to the village, Atlas, they'll kill everyone – "
"I know," he cuts me off. "That's why we're leading them to the river."
"The river? Isn't it frozen?"
"Ongok can't swim. If they follow us onto the ice, blast it out from under them."
His quickly thought-out plan is now taking form in my mind. He knew most of the Ongok would chase after me and the best way for us to defeat them was to test their sheer will by threatening them with the one thing they couldn't defeat. Water.
When we reach the river, we hop off our horse and Atlas slaps the steed's hindquarters and has it take off down the embankment, with the white mare carrying our supplies nipping at his heels. Grabbing my hand, Atlas pulls me across the iced over river. We slip and slide toward the center, and even though I nearly fall at least half a dozen times, I never hit the ice because Atlas doesn't allow it.
We make it halfway before the Ongok and their hellhounds begin to cross after us. I didn't see any weapons on them, meaning the only tactic they have in defeating us is melee attacks. I'm not naive enough to believe I can beat them in hand-to-hand combat, despite how much better I've gotten. One swipe of those claws and I'll probably lose a limb.
"Aim for their chests, if they get too close to you," Atlas steadies me. "Only blast the ice beneath them, if they're at a distance. I don't want you falling in."
I nod, "Chests and ice."
"Shield yourself." He orders.
"What about you?"
