Once Sephiro and Darion had gotten a reasonable distance away from the battlefield, they carefully placed Eder and Soren on the ground.

Eder hadn't regained consciousness yet, and Soren stayed quiet, waiting patiently for her HP, MP, and Stamina to replenish. Sephiro gave Eder another health potion, and used First Aid to wrap bandages around his wounds.

Then...

"Mr. Sephiro!" Darion yelled urgently.

"What is..." Sephiro turned his head and furrowed his brow.

Monsters appeared in a corner of the Black Forest. They were Shadow Leopards! 

"Damn." Sephiro pulled out his bow and notched an arrow. Darion also drew his gladiuses, ready to attack at a moment's notice.

Swish.

The Shadow Leopards simultaneously sank into the shadows. Neither Sephiro nor Darion knew where they'd show up. After all, they could appear anywhere within the Black Forest.

Haahk!

The Shadow Panthers aimed for the weakest one (Eder) first.  

"No!"

Sephiro and Darion responded immediately. Man and beast engaged in battle. Though for Kang Oh's party, it was an undesirable one. 

'Ugh, please...