- Western Headquarters

Tess ran over to the two of them, showing clear concern and annoyance on her face. Unlike the other two, she still wore her shadowstrider clothes.

"We decided to go and kill the beasts. We got tired of waiting for you," Roxy told her.

"We? More like you dragged me out here," Marcus gasped.

"You agreed with me!" Roxy said to him.

Tess crouched down next to Marcus, putting her arm on his shoulders. "Are you alright? What happened?"

Marcus told her about the beast's den, and how he crushed it while Roxy dealt with the fifth that lurked outside of the den. As he spoke, his breath slowly returned to normal. By the time he was finished, he was able to stand normally, as if nothing had happened.