Stampede of Shadows (2)

The weight of the word sank in, and for a split second, everything stilled. Then the rumble grew into a deafening stampede as the beasts charged forward, their eyes gleaming with wild, feral hunger.

For a moment, Nessa's breath caught in her throat as her gaze darted from one set of gleaming eyes to another, the sheer volume of them overwhelming her senses. She took a quick step back, her mind racing.

"How… How are there this many?" she mumbled.

The tremors grew stronger, and Nessa's heart skipped as she caught sight of the beasts charging toward them. Her enhanced gaze sharpened, picking up on the subtle yet telling traces of mana that radiated from each beast.

Her voice came out in a low murmur, barely audible over the roar of the stampede.

"They're… all… Feral rank…"