Twenty yards away from the freshly summoned party, a pack of sleek, grey-furred Gnasher Rats, or as the pros called them, the Dungeon Rats, each the size of a large terrier with obsidian-sharp teeth, were in a feeding frenzy, tearing into the carcass of a massive, shadow-furred [Lupine Stalker] (Dark wolf) they had collectively brought down.
"...!"
"Contact front!" Kaela's voice was a sharp, calm report.
There was no hesitation, even though the monster's appearance was sudden; the party was in no disarray.
-Clank! Clank!
It was like watching a perfectly engineered machine snap into motion, gears of a clock moving to shift a minute hand.
"Prepare!"
-Bang!
Borin took two heavy strides forward, his shield slamming down with a definitive crunch that echoed in the cavern.
"Holding line here!"
"Chuuu? Chukkk!"
-Swiiiiiiiiiish!
Before the rats could even fully register the new threat, two arrows whistled from behind Aria.
-Thwip. Thwip!