Recognition dawned on Ivan immediately he spotted the creatures lurking in the darkness. He had his earlier suspicions, now they were confirmed, and as the pieces came together in his mind, a chill ran down his spine. He connected the creatures to a particular creature he read about in a bestiary encyclopedia at the library of knowledge some years back. His heart pounded in his chest as the memories came to him.
"Shades!" Ivan gasped, his voice with dread.
The creatures ahead of the group were no ordinary creatures. They were magical beasts known for moving and hunting in packs, known as shades. They resembled the normal hyenas with a hunched posture. However there was a notable difference to them. Majority of their bodies consisted of shifting shadows, giving them a constantly swirling and ever changing form that rendered their outlines almost imperceptible in the dim light of the cave.