I cut into the denser part of the forest and slowed just enough for them to close in.
The first one reached me from the side, its branch already coming down, but I was prepared and stepped aside. Both my palms tightened on the axe's handle as I swung and drove the axe low into its thigh, the blade biting deep and halting its momentum. Before it could recover, I ripped the axe free and brought it up hard into its jaw, the impact snapping its head back as blood sprayed, then followed immediately with a downward strike into its neck.
It dropped to one knee.
One more swing across its neck and its body collapsed forward, head barely hanging as it hit the ground.
The second one was already on me.
