"Ugh! My gut hurts!" One of the burly men saved by Sparrow's group groaned in pain as he gradually roused from his sleep.
His sudden movement drew the attention of Sparrow and the others, who turned to look at him.
As he fully regained consciousness, the man froze, wide-eyed, as if he had been caught in the headlights of an oncoming car.
His gaze darted around, his mind racing to process what had happened.
One by one, the remaining six began to stir, with the leader being the last to wake.
As soon as their grogginess faded, they immediately slipped into defensive mode, sensing the weight of several sharp gazes fixed on them.
Panic surged through them as they feared they'd been caught and dragged back to the shelter.
The accusatory stares of Sparrow and his group made them feel as though they had inadvertently wandered from one dangerous den to another, having barely escaped the wolf's den the night before.