Cautious Approach

As Gorban began to disappear into the darkness to join the battle, Helena decided it was best to keep close to Brintley in case she needed help. That turned out to be the wisest choice because no sooner had Gorban ran off and left them alone that tentacles came rushing from the darkness to their right. Helena barely saw it in time to step between the onslaught and Brintley. A tentacle began to wrap around her left hand and she cut it away quickly with her the sword in her free hand. She felt a rush of heat through her body and realized that it had injected her with venom, but she wasn't going to fall to lust that easily. An arrow flew past her and through the mob of tentacles and struck something with a meaty thunk.

"There y-you are!" Brintley cried out. "G-give me some t-time!"

Helena had no problem with that as she was already parrying the two more tentacles. A third tried to wrap around one of her legs but she raised her foot and stamped down hard, followed up with a swing to severe the offending limb. More tentacles were coming from the darkness and she worried she would be overwhelmed when suddenly, a vial of bright red liquid sailed past her and into the darkness. She heard it shatter and then fire bloomed to life, already engulfing the screaming creature.

"N-now we can see it!"

Brintley was right. The fire was bright enough that it lit most of the room, but Helena didn't have time to look around. Now that she had a clear line of sight, she charged forward and slashed her way through the mass of tentacles. The creature tried to fall back, but she was quicker, burying her sword in the mass. The creature quivered for a moment and then it went still. Helena could finally breathe peacefully for a moment and checked her surroundings. A male soldier was standing over an **** woman. He was defending her from another one of the tentacle monsters, but his valiant stand wasn't going well since it already had a tantacle around his waist and was trying to drag him to the floor. The woman wore the same gear that both Reese and this man shared, so Helena felt it was safe to assume that this was Grace and Nathanial. Farther in, Gorban could just be seen bringing his axe down on another beast

Helena gave a battle cry and charged the beast attacking the soldier. She sliced through the tentacles holding the man and he was able to swing his spear to clear them away. Brintley ran to the woman to check her vitals while Helena and Nathanial worked together. They fanned out and caught the creature in a pincer attack that soon left it laying dead. Once the threat had passed, Helena looked around the room and realized that this was a nest. The walls had an odd pink substance on them and two naked women were **** and stuck to the walls with their arms encased in the goo. Their bellies were swollen with the children of the monsters they had slain. On the wall next to Groban was the woman that had to be Ashlin. Her armor was still visible even if her pants had been ripped apart.

"Is she ok?"

"Yes. You're warrior here finished it before it could... finish. I think I'm safe."

"B-but you arn't ok H-Helena. Your h-hand!"

Helena looked down and saw three suction marks on her hand. She couldn't deny that the fire inside her was starting to burn hotter and hotter.

"We need to get all of you out of here quickly," called Groban as he pulled out a knife and cut the pink substance away from Ashlin.

"I'm not sure I can wait," answered Nathanial who was starting to get a glazed look on his face and a tent in his pants.

"Its dangerous to take care of our needs here... We could attract more of them." Helena hated to admit it but escaping first might be their best option... But that heat was getting unbearable