Not far behind, three owlbears pursued them relentlessly, their bodies smashing through loose rocks along the way, blood streaming from their wounds.
They were not the only pursuers. Renato could hear lighter footsteps as well, but he had no attention to spare for them.
The half-collapsed cavern twisted and turned like a maze. Renato could only hope Balin knew the way.
The old dwarf raced ahead, occasionally turning into fissures that looked like dead ends, yet always finding a passage through.
Behind them came the rush of air as a beast leaped.
Renato instinctively ducked and swung the Silent Lady backhanded. The blade traced a deadly arc through the cramped space, slicing diagonally through the lunging owlbear's chest.
Ribs shattered, and warm blood splashed across Renato's breastplate.
The force of the swing threw the owlbear aside, slamming it into the rock wall. It struggled to rise, flailing its arms as it tried to strike Renato's calves.
But Renato gave it no chance. His sword tip pierced the exposed grayish-pink brain with precision, then twisted hard to pulp it.
As the parasite died, the owlbear's body convulsed several times before going completely still.
The corpse blocked the already narrow tunnel, briefly delaying the pursuers behind it.
But Renato had no time to catch his breath. He heard a familiar sound.
A hum of vibrating air-someone had opened a psionic portal!
"Quick!" Balin bellowed from ahead, his voice echoing through the passage. "Get in here!"
No mind flayers appeared around them, and Renato had no idea where the aberrations had teleported. He sheathed his sword and sprinted toward the narrow fissure the old dwarf had squeezed into sideways.
The gap was so narrow that one person could barely pass through sideways.
He forced his way in with all his strength, his plate