Free The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) by Nicole MacDonald

turned back and with a hard kick, knocked the main supporting branch down. The roof collapsed covering the packs as intended and she turned back to the others.
    'Right, back to back until we sort out what we’re facing. Have your swords ready and if you go to strike, step forward so you don’t clip the person next to you.'
    We stared, white faced, at one another for a moment then fanned out and peered into the forest. The rustling in the undergrowth stopped then odd noises began. Soft snarls, whines, and a strange, husky grunting.
    I shifted into a fighting stance and pulled my sword out. The rustling and strange noises started again, moving closer. My eyes widened in shock at the number of creatures that stepped onto the path before us.
    Fuck.
    This was not the few uglies we’d been warned could possibly be in the area. This was a heap of them. I counted at least ten on my side and from the hiss of surprise from Loi, I knew there was likely that many behind us too. Fumbling with the straps, I wrenched off one of the daggers and reached blindly toward Sian.
    'Sian,' I hissed. 'Take this.'
    'Thanks.'
    Kassie’s pulse hammered in her ears as she stared at them.
    Holy fucking hell, they’re so close. They had to be the freakiest things she’d ever seen. Just under five foot, with broad shoulders and long arms that came close to touching the ground. They had large pointy ears that stuck out and an almost flat head with tufts of fur or hair. Their faces were wrinkled with slanted eyes that appeared black in the moonlight and short muzzles with pointy teeth that were visible when they snarled.
    I couldn’t take my eyes off them. They were all armed. Maces, evil looking cudgels, pretty much anything heavy with spikes, blades or stakes.
    Somehow I don’t think this is the welcome wagon .
    The creatures seemed to be all arms with heavy strong shoulders.
    I had a horrible moment of clarity. Surviving this is going to be a mission.
    Well then start planning. Snapped the rational voice in my mind.
    Right. I mentally slapped the silly voice that was shrieking in circles and shut it off, far away in my brain. Only sane sensible thoughts allowed. Frantic ideas for survival pinged about in my head and I jumped on the closest one.
    'Loi,' I hissed. 'We should be using Sian as a sniper, is it possible for you to get her to a safe spot?'
    Loi groaned inwardly at the thought.
    'Technically, I think I can, but that’ll start this.'
    'It’s not like they have good intentions,' Kassie called softly. 'And someone has to start it.'
    Loi tensed her stomach against the sudden urge to vomit and turned to look at Sian, who stared back with a stern expression.
    'Let’s do this. The boulder behind us can be my starting point.' Sian flashed a vicious smile. 'I’ll shoot, you slash.'
    Loi exhaled slowly, readying herself.
    'Right then, let’s go.'
    Her stomach felt like it plummeted to her feet as the two of them stepped away from Kassie and Cat and began to walk to the boulder.
    Kassie shifted closer to my back as we prepared to cover each other. I pulled the other dagger out and crouched, ready. The creatures in front seemed to take that as their signal and surged forward.
    A huge sword, possibly a claymore, swung toward her. Loi jerked back out of its arc and before the owner could swing it again, lunged, thrusting her sword into the creature. Shuddering in disgust at the sensation of penetrating live flesh and the splatter of blood, she wrenched the sword out watching as the creature fell, dead, to the ground.
    Adrenaline flooded through her, blacking her vision for a moment and she fought hard against the urge to run screaming from it all.
    Kill or be killed, that's the way it works.
    Keeping that grim thought at the forefront of her mind, Loi swung her sword at the advancing creatures and focused on the boulder.
    Got to reach it!
    Sian released an arrow and felt, rather than heard, the thud as it struck a creature’s forehead. A wave of