Beltran had hoped he might go unnoticed for long than he had, but that didn't stop him from pressing forward towards where he knew Adrian might linger when she took time for herself. If he could at least get there before they found him, then it wouldn't be a wasted trip. The white streaked male continued to move briskly, keeping his breathing stead as he did. He looked around, green eyes hopeful for some sign of her.

Until the howl reverberated through the air. They were coming. He didn't have that much time now. The worst part, as familiar as he was with Iromar, there was no telling where they would come from for that very reason. No doubt these encroachers and the usurper had learned their way around during the spring time. It also meant if there were more than two or three close enough by, he didn't stand a chance.

Another howl. It was the same voice that must have noticed him first. This one was behind him. Beltran could have turned to face that immediate threat, but he knew to be prepared for others.

What wasn't expected was that one of the 'others' was Adrian herself.

***

The dark grey girl had been sitting close to the edge of a bog. There was just enough give that her toes were dipping in the muck, but not much else. Her ears twitched slightly as she heard the Silverknife's voice on the wind. An intruder. Adrian's ears swiveled, listening as she rose from her haunches. Who was that stupid to try and come back? The girl turned and started padding in that direction. Maybe she could intercept them first?

No, that was already impossible with Natiya's second call. The young girl picked up the pace. Well, if there was ever a time to prove possible loyalty, this was it. What she didn't expected to see was the swirl of snarling, gnashing teeth to belong to her father. But she did not hesitate. Not like he did.

***

Beltran's eyes grew wide. He saw his own daughter coming for him at the front. The moment froze him to the point that he didn't react to the female coming from behind at first. It also meant he missed Blackthorne to his left. The sharpness of the pain in his back right leg snapped him out of it though. Just soon enough to turn towards his right as the male clipped his left shoulder. The blow staggered him, but thankfully didn't drop him as he snapped at Natiya, whose fangs had torn through muscle just above his knee.

That was going to make walking difficult soon. In the moment, the rush of adrenaline had him turned and trying to do some semblance of damage to the silver female's face... An eye, a lip. Didn't matter right now. He almost didn't notice Adrian circle around the flurry of movement, darting in beside Natiya and setting her fangs into his left elbow. Gods have mercy... A yelp escaped him, but his focus was the silver one. He would let Adrian destroy his leg, not even considering defending against her, but the others instead.