*The Chronicles of F.R.E.E. Earth's Knight - Ruth Watson* Part 2 - NARTHWICH

Chapter Five - Swindmore

*Watson's POV*

For the next few days, we continued our way South towards Swindmore. I hoped we hadn't come off route too much and that it still would only take us a week to get there. It was difficult to tell as we were solely relying on the sun to show us which direction to go. I should have asked Needham for a compass or something.
We have fast become friends with our new companions, too. Although Goodwin, Green and I still kind of kept to ourselves, we had branched out to the others a bit.
After telling Sawyer the truth about how we ended up in Narthwich, he has become a lot softer towards us. Especially Green. He has kind of become a big brother figure to her, giving her extra training to help build her skills and teaching her how to track too.
When I asked him why he decided to teach her that, he shrugged. "Well, if you girls get back to Ozryn and Perkins isn't there, at least you may be able to track him down."
Goodwin and I nearly physically burst from how adorable he was being. It took all my strength not to pull him into a hug. Instead, I just squealed and contracted myself inwards, overwhelmed with this cute agressive overload, making him laugh.
Dean and Hewitt got along wonderfully together and did most of the cooking for the rest of us as a team. Dean seemed to be enjoying having an assistant in her 'kitchen'. It wasn't just cooking they did together, they sparred together too after Dean had finished practising with Green, and they always walked next to each other. You hardly ever saw them apart.
I was keeping my distance away from Alpin after Green reminded me of my love for Hodgson, but that was proving easier said than done. He always seemed to appear by my side or tried to get involved in the conversations I was having with the others. He even tried to spar me one morning, but I assured him it was a tradition that I sparred with Goodwin and Dean with Green.
"But Dean sparred with Hewitt yesterday..." He pointed out, confused.
"Yeah, well..." I mumbled, thinking on my feet. "She must be wanting to help Hewitt with a sword or something..."
'What a lame excuse! Way to go, Ruth!' I thought to myself.
"Have I done something to upset you?" He gave me a sad look.
"N-no, no, no!" I waved my hands at him. "No, of course you haven't. I'm just.. old school..."
He didn't push me any further and walked away, not bothering to stay and watch the rest of the duels.
I took a moment to glance back at him now.
He was staring at me, looking worried and upset that I was blatantly avoiding him for no apparent reason. I looked forwards again, and cringed inwardly from the guilt.
I was leading the group with Goodwin next to me. Green, Dean and Hewitt were in the middle while the boys were at the back. It was mid afternoon and the sun was starting to cast long shadows of the trees across our path. We have been very lucky so far not to have encountered anything yet, but that was about to change.
A low growl met my ears. I immediately withdrew Dragonwrath, signalling to the others to do the same. We automatically backed ourselves into a defensive circle, all weapons at the ready, our eyes scanning the surrounding forest for what had made the sound.
Another growl from behind me announced the beasts arrival.
"Coffinhounds!" Sawyer yelled, raising his mace to swing at it.
More growls and snarls ripped through the air as more appeared from all around us. It was a good thing we had formed a circle, but we were badly outnumbered at 6-1.
Hewitt backed deeper into the circle, firing her arrows at all angles, successfully killing two with her excellent aim. Dean backed up with her, to take on any that got too close to her.
Goodwin, Green and I moved in sync, the three of us taking a threatening step forward at the encroaching dogs, raising our swords ready to strike them down.
One hound leapt towards Green but she dodged and brought her blade down hard, stabbing it through the chest. Another pounced towards Goodwin and she rolled out of the way while I swiped at it with a fatal blow to its stomach, slicing it in half.
It was like organised chaos. We were all yelling and screaming warnings or encouragement to each other as we each battled the Coffinhounds. Leaping across each others paths, dodging blows, or backing into one another.
"LOOK OUT!" I hear Hewitt scream from behind me. "IT'S THEIR ALPHA!"
I spun round. Alpha? These creatures have a leader?!
By the time my eyes had sourced where the Alpha Coffinhound was, it was too late and all the blood left my body.
While normal coffinhounds were the size of bears, this was the size of an elephant. Its huge, hunched up body stretched the rotting flesh. Fluids of every disgusting colour seeped out of gaping wounds and ripped skin, revealing its bones. It didn't have red eyes like it's pack, his eyes glowed a deep purple.
It was towering over me, its rows and rows of sharp fangs merely inches away, snarling ferociously. I couldn't move. I was rooted to the spot in terror, I couldn't even bring myself to scream.
The Alpha seemed to back its head up a little bit then suddenly lunged at me. But instead of feeling its razor sharp teeth sink into me, I was tackled from the side out of harms way.
When I had finally rolled to a stop, I quickly scrambled to my feet. My saviour grabbed my shoulders and spun me round to face them. It was Alpin.
"Are you ok?" He asked breathlessly, his eyes filled with concern scanned my body for any injuries.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks!" I wheezed, brushing myself off.
"We will tackle it together, agreed?" He shouted over the noise.
I nodded, grinning. "Agreed!"
We both charged full pelt at the Alpha Coffinhound. Alpin was faster that me, even though he was carrying his heavy axe. He quickly overtook me, preparing to make the first strike and delivered his blow to the Alpha's hind leg, maiming it. A few seconds later, I leapt into the air, bringing down Dragonwrath heavily onto its neck, severing an artery, its foul smelling blood spurting everywhere.
The monstrous hound howled in agony, calling it's pack to gather for defense, but those that were left were met by sword, arrow or mace as they scampered to assist their leader thanks to Goodwin, Dean, Hewitt, Green and Sawyer. The Alpha snarled at me again, showing me its terrifying huge jaws.
Alpin swung his axe straight into the beasts side, resulting in a satisfying crunch as it's ribcage caved in, while I provided the killing strike, driving my blade into the roof of its mouth, forcing the tip to burst out through its forehead.
Whines erupted from the remaining hounds as they watched their chief keel over onto his side with a final, weak howl of desperation.
Alpin and I turned our backs to the dead Alpha and we were gradually joined by our comrades, standing strong and victorious as one.
The beasts fled into the surrounding trees, their bony tails between their legs, howling and whining in defeat.
We didn't move until the last Coffinhound had disappeared from sight and we couldn't hear them anymore.
Together, we breathed a long sigh of relief before celebrating our victory. Squealing and hugging each other in congratulations.
I grabbed Alpin and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Thank you so much for coming to my rescue!" I sobbed happy tears.
"For you, I'd do that anytime," he said into my ear, then pulled back and gave me a warm smile before pulling me into another embrace. I smiled widely as I hugged him back.
When we broke apart, Goodwin tugged me into a group hug with Green and we jumped up and down, screaming in delight.
Laughing happily, I backed away from Goodwin and Green and looked around. What I saw next completely threw me. I was soon joined by Goodwin, Green, Sawyer and Alpin as we all stared with a mixture of shock and amusement, mouths hanging open.
Dean and Hewitt had their fingers tangled into each others hair, kissing like there was no tomorrow.
Sawyer cleared his throat loudly and they broke apart, looking flustered but happy.
"Wow!" I said. I didn't know what to say. "Er, way to go, Dean." I couldn't stop myself from grinning.
She laughed and put her hand around Hewitts waist. "Thanks!" She smiled at Hewitt with such love and happiness and it was wonderful to see Hewitt return it back to her just as strongly.
"Yeah, congrats, hun." "Congratulations."
The others gave their compliments to the new couple, moving forwards to hug them.
"Now we know that it wasn't Alpin Dean was drooling over," Green laughed and I threw my head back, laughing with her.
Dean turned to me, grinning from ear to ear. I hugged her tightly.
"I'm so happy," Dean whispered into my ear.
"And I'm happy for you!" I whispered back, then pulled away to look at her.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Dean said, rubbing her neck under her helmet.
"Yeah, I'm more shocked that Hewitt thought I was gay. And with Goodwin!"
She snorted at the memory, "yeah, that was so funny!"
"But this doesn't mean that you two can start sleeping together while we're on our travels. Wait until we get to Swindmore or go find a tree." I gave her a false stern look, struggling to hold back a smile.
Goodwin and the others howled with laughter, while Dean bashfully looked at Hewitt. Hewitt didn't seem to care though and held her hand out for Dean to take so we could carry on our journey.