Liam winced as the arrow embedded itself into his arm. The sudden pain was sharp, but his mind instantly shifted into battle mode. He gritted his teeth, yanked the reins of his horse, and scanned the dense woodland ahead.
The others reacted instantly. Marcus cursed under his breath as he reached for his axe. Sophia and Eleanor pulled their bows free, their earlier amusement vanishing as their eyes turned cold and sharp. Jason, still gripping his new staff, muttered, "Well, that killed the mood."
The merchant, who had been quietly guiding the cart, let out a startled yelp and ducked down behind his cargo.
More arrows whistled through the trees. Sophia and Eleanor both kicked their horses to the side, narrowly dodging incoming projectiles. Jason nearly fell off his mount, but managed to regain balance in time.
"Where the hell are they?!" Marcus barked, scanning the treetops.
