Traverse the Pecho Peaks.

It doesn't take long for your party to reach the base of the mountains. The next thing to do is find a convenient way to make it up. If only you had the aid of that wyvern-riding dwarf, but it would take a long time to journey all the way back to that city just to hitch a ride. You were teleported there last time. After some searching, you decide on path albeit a steep one and struggle your way up. Thankfully your stamina has only improved, but it's Thomas who has a knack for this as a scout. Delphi of course has it the easiest, but she flutters lower, close to your body in fear of another blood eagle attack.

Your legs are starting to get sore. It's been a few hours of hiking now and it's starting to wear on the party. Well, those who need to walk. When Delphi's wings get tired, she can simply sit on your shoulders. While you are a little bothered, especially because she teases you about it, she weighs practically nothing so it doesn't really matter.

Eva tugs on your sleeve as you snake through the valley. "Kyle," she whispers. "I've heard strange noises a few times now. These mountains are making me uncomfortable."

Tom chimes in. "Hmm. I've been getting a weird vibe too, like we're being watched. Stay on guard."

"How much farther?" Delphi asks, directly at your ear. She kicks her legs up and down over the ledge of your shoulder.

"Not much, actually," you reply. "Keep your eyes open. We still need to find the cave."

Up and down. Left and right. After further travel throughout the Pecho Peaks, you finally arrive around the area marked on your map by Feli. You glance around for something similar to what you found last time--a large rock blocking the entrance to a cavern, and at the end, a doorway to another realm. Easier said than done. The area is filled with rocks and bushes, inclines and cliffs. It's impressive Koblix was able to find such a place before.

Suddenly, Eva steps backwards. Her eyes are cast far above, up to the peak of the hill beside her. "Look!" she calls out.

Everyone turns. You cover your eyes from the sun and see four figures looming within its rays. They're quadrupedal, but you can't make out enough detail right now to see what they are exactly. Either way, as soon as they're seen, they bolt down the hillside straight towards your party.

"Barghests!" shouts Thomas.

"What-ests?" you ask.

"Monstrous wolf-like creatures that devour anything in their path."

You swiftly draw your blade as they near. "I guess we're fighting then!"

Though they're extremely quick. Before you can react, one leaps into the air. You can see its mangy, grey fur--sharp teeth, yellow eyes, salivating maw. It's hard to tell whether or not your strike will land in time. But before you can make the attack, purple bands of energy snatch the creature right out of the air and yank it down to the ground. Delphi appears on the other side.

"Thanks!" you shout. But then you see a second one about to follow up its ally's ****. You leap forwards and carve your blade straight across its body. Black blood sprays out against the rocks, and the creature falls tumbles limp past your feet.

The one in bondage tries to escape. Before it can, Eva throws her wand forward and shouts, "Magic Bolt!" causing a shimmering bullet of arcane power to travel straight past you and directly into the side of the creature. It bursts a whole right past its matted fur, and once it seems to be defeated, the bands around it retreat.

"Two more!" Tom nocks an arrow. "Keep taking them out one by one. They're the most deadly when they work together."

"Delphi, look out!" Eva yells.

The pixie turns to the horrifying visage of a hungry monster barrelling straight towards her. One snap of its jaw and she's as good as eaten. Though panicked, she steels her will enough to blow a cloud of magic dust straight into its face before it can reach her. She flutters to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack while the barghest's feet leave the ground. While the magical ability to fly is useful, when it's **** on an unwilling creature, it can be rather inconvenient. Its legs flail frantically, but alas it's unable to touch the ground.

"Got it." Thomas unleashes a shot, and then another quickly after. A third shot impacts by the rest, all in the creature's side, and then Delphi releases the magic. It falls to the ground with at thud.

Before the last one can even think, you step forward. Your feet move swiftly, and it's almost like a dance how you maneuver past it while unleashing two lightning-fast slices in a cross over the side of its body. As you make it to the other side, you ready yourself for a counterattack, but it's unnecessary. The barghest splits open and flops over.

You catch your breath. "Is everyone all right?"

"Yeah... It's dangerous out here," Eva mutters.

"Maybe that was what you were hearing before."

"I don't know." She scratches her chin. "It didn't really sound like that."

"Either way, I think we found our cave." Tom gestures his thumb backwards. "Lucky us. Those barghests must have tunnelled their way in and have been using it as their den."

Lo and behold, there's an entrance similar to the one before. Though instead of the rock being moved, like Tom said, next to it is a hole sized large enough for two wolf-sized animals to walk straight though.

You keep your sword drawn and move towards it. "Guess we better move then before bigger animals come to feast on these ones."