"What do we do, my love? Do we leave?" Celine asked in a whisper as they watched the three gorillas sitting in the water.
As luck would have it, the gorillas did not seem to notice their approach, since they were occupied with splashing water between them or just relaxing.
The water seemed cold, and it made Blanc lick his lips just by thinking about how good that water would feel.
Though unplanned and most likely difficult, this might be a good first hunt.
One that would not only make them stronger but also offer them water and a good spot to occupy for a few days while they hunt.
"No, we fight," Blanc replied, slowly preparing his bow. "Celine, Kael, Lune, are you confident in your aim from this distance?"
Celine nodded sharply at her husband's words, but Kael and Lune only looked at each other, unsure.
"No matter," he said, "Loose all the arrows you can. Once they notice us and get closer, it will be easier for you to hit them, understood?"
At that, Kael and Lune nodded too. Perhaps due to the suddenness of all this, they did not have the time to get nervous. A good thing, since the beasts in front of them could, as easily as the Morois, rip them apart.
Blanc then turned towards Miyanna, "My love, watch how the gorillas act, and only attack if you are sure you can pull back. If not, do not risk it. Let us handle them, and I will try to keep one alive for you to kill, okay?"
"O-okay," Miyanna replied as she unsheathed her curved sword.
"Well then," Blanc muttered, going in and kissing Celine and Miyanna one after the other, and offering Kael and Lune a small peck on their foreheads, before nocking up one arrow on the string, while holding another in his bow hand.
"Ready?" he asked around himself.
"Ready," replied all in unison.
"May the Vita be with you all," said Blanc, before letting go of the string.
Celine followed shortly after.
With Kael and Lune, still unsure of their aim.
Still, the two arrows found their marks.
Thud. Thud.
Two of the gorillas roared as they jumped to their feet, turning around in search for what was the source of their pain.
Unfortunately, none of the arrows found a vital organ.
No gorillas fell.
Just as one of the gorillas found their location, Kael and Lune released their arrows.
One arrow missed, falling inside the pool, but the second arrow hit the gorilla, striking it in its thigh.
The unharmed gorilla jumped to its feet, seeing its friends get wounded.
Blanc loosed another arrow, which found its target once more.
This time, the third gorilla was hitting its chest in rage before Blanc's arrow flew straight into its forehead.
A loud crash followed soon after as the gorilla fell face-first into the pool.
One dead. Two wounded.
"Focus your arrows on the least wounded one," Blanc began barking commands as he prepared a third arrow. "Miyanna, I will distract the wounded one; follow close behind."
Celine, Kael, and Lune had their arrows ready and loosed them one after the other towards the still-searching gorilla, who, just then, managed to find them.
Kael and Lune's arrow missed, hitting the dead gorilla inside the pool, but Celine's arrow managed to hit it in the stomach.
A lethal wound… unfortunately, one that would take a while to kill the gorilla.
So they tried to nock yet another round of arrows, but the gorilla was running towards them while stomping, sending mud all around as it got closer and closer.
In a matter of moments, Celine let go of the bow and arrow in her hands and pulled her sword while running towards the enraged gorilla.
"Celine!" screamed the twins, unaware of her plan, and now, unable to fire another arrow towards the gorilla.
But Celine knew what she was doing as she closed the gap at high speeds.
She could not risk having the gorilla in close quarters against all three of them.
Kael and Lune could very easily get caught in the middle of their fight, so she knew this was the best choice she had.
The enraged gorilla prepared for Celine's approach as it raised both hands in the air and clasped them together, ready to crash them down upon Celine and her small body.
As it began its descent, Celine waited until the last moment to dash to the side and let the gorilla hit the ground.
When it did, she knew she had won.
The gorilla was now just at the right height.
With a dash back in, she pointed her sword straight towards the gorilla and its neck.
The gorilla attempted to scream, but before it could, she removed the sword and slashed at its neck again, making the gorilla fall silent forever.
Two dead.
Another thud.
Another roar from the gorilla that was focused on Blanc, running at high speed.
"Miyanna, are you following?" Blanc yelled.
"I'm trying to," she yelled back.
The gorilla was still standing strong, despite having four arrows planted all around its body, but it barely moved.
Either it had a plan, or it was getting difficult for it to walk.
Blanc had to find out.
He loosed another arrow.
Thud.
Another arrow planted itself in the gorilla's shoulder.
The roar was slowly losing its power.
Blanc had to capture it quickly.
He let go of the bow and began running towards the gorilla, who was barely out of the water.
It did not move.
It appeared to have straightened its back, actually.
No matter.
He pulled his sword while running, and when he was less than ten feet away, the gorilla began swinging its hands wildly, hoping it would stop Blanc's approach.
But it didn't.
At the speed Blanc was moving, he managed to roll between the gorilla's swings and legs, and when he came out of the spin, with a roll and swords pointed forward, he severed the gorilla's calcaneal tendons.
The gorilla growled in pain as it crashed to its knees.
Its death was not far, and it seemed it welcomed it.
But Blanc was not the person who had to send it on its way.
"Hurry, Miyanna, now it's the time!" Blanc yelled.
And what followed was Miyanna running, curved sword pointed forward towards the giant beast's heart.
And with a battle cry that sent shivers down Blanc's spine, he took a step back from the gorilla just as Miyanna's curved sword pierced the gorilla's heart, leaving through the gorilla's back, and curving towards Blanc's neck, stopping mere inches from it.
Three dead.
They had won.