The forest was unusually silent that night, causing uneasiness to well up inside Zelgadis as he still lay awake long after his watch was over. He sat up with a soft groan around what he estimated was the middle of Lina's watch and slipped out of his tent. The red headed sorceress glanced at him as he sat down heavily across from her, noting the deep shadows on his face that seemed to age him.
"Can't sleep?" She asked, stirring the fire with a long stick.
"No." He sighed. "It's too quiet. Listen; not even the crickets are chirping." She was still for a moment while she listened carefully.
"You're right." She narrowed her crimson eyes at the dark forest. "Something's coming."
"No..." The chimera's elfin ears twitched. "Something's here." He stood up and turned just in time to block the lunging attack of a wild beast that leapt from the bushes.
"Zelgadis!" Lina yelled as the shaman and the monster went flying to the ground.
Flashing teeth closed on the man again and again, bruising but unable to break the stone skin. He winced as the creature's incredibly strong jaws twisted his arm out of place and snapped his wrist while he tried to keep his throat away from the beast's mouth. Iron-like claws ripped at his clothing and scratched his skin until it was raw.
"FIREBALL!" Lina shouted, nailing the monster on the side. The beast fell back, giving them a chance to look at their assailant properly. A large wolf stood as tall as Lina's shoulder, it's black and gray fur smoking where the sorceress' attack hit it. The wolf's golden eyes stared wildly at them, and its tongue hung out of its mouth as it panted. It threw its head back and howled just before Lina fried it to a crisp.
"Ms. Lina?" Amelia yawned and peered out of her tent. "Is something going on?"
"Go back to sleep, Amelia." Zelgadis grunted. "Everything is fine." There was a brief crack as he reset his wrist. Fortunately, the princess was too sleepy to realize anything was out of the ordinary and complied without question.
"A giant wolf..." The redhead scowled as she sat next to him and cast Healing on the raw area of his chest. "Lycanthrope?"
"Probably." He hissed as he put his shoulder back in place. "It would explain why we were only attacked by one. My guess is that it was a rogue, cast out of its pack. Even normal wolves are smarter than to attack a band of travelers with a sentry and a fire."
"Are you going to be okay?" She asked, making him meet her gaze so she could tell if he was lying.
"Yeah." He almost smiled, and then tapped his chest. "Stone skin, remember?"
"Fine time for a joke, Zel." She grinned. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Yeah." He winced and watched her go to wake Gourry early for his watch. "In the morning."
By the following afternoon, the four reached the crossroads that lead out of the forest.
"Which way are you guys going?" Lina asked, already saddened by the answers she knew were coming.
"West, back to Seyroon." Amelia answered.
"North." Zelgadis replied simply.
"And we're going south..." The redhead sighed.
"Goodbye Mr. Zelgadis! Goodbye Ms. Lina!" The young princess hugged her friends. "Goodbye Mr. Gourry!"
Zelgadis silently shook the blond swordsman's hand and accepted his hug from Amelia.
Gourry ruffled the shorter girl's hair and slapped Zelgadis on the back after shaking the chimera's hand.
The blue skinned youth offered his hand to Lina, who pouted.
"What, no hug for your good friend Lina?" She sulked. He blushed a soft pink as he embraced her, subtly giving her an extra squeeze.
"Take care of your arm, okay?" She winked.
"Goodbye!" Amelia cheerfully waved as she started down the west road.
"See you." Zelgadis glanced over his shoulder.
"Bye..." Lina sighed as she watched her happy band break up again. "Till next time!"
"Next time..." The chimera murmured, frowning slightly. "Till next time..."