River ran, using scent as much as sight to guide her to her mate. She allowed herself the briefest moment of relief when she saw him before she threw herself forward and swung up onto his back, arms wrapped as far around his neck as she could manage.
"Thrax has the sword," she panted. "Hana--stayed back with him. Told me to go..."
"Got your back!" A massive, silver-white fox leaped over Thrax's head, bowling over the archer who had been lining up a shot behind him. Looking back over her shoulder, Hanako called, "Thrax, let's go! We're safe, we need to move!"
She didn't really expect it to work. She could feel the power from that blade, and there was a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. But she had to try.