"Seems life finds a way," Vern noted in disgust. "It would seem our Pig problem was silently turned into a Boar Problem,"
"That would explain the basic trap," Gunter noted. "the more a feral race evolves, the smarter they become! Billie, come back and group up; we don't know how intelligent they are," Billie took a step closer to the severed arm instead as the path to Gunter was struck with multiple spears.
Several of the Boar Goblins Squealed at them, making Billie flinch. "Oh, I hate everything about all of you," she decided as the creatures moved in.
The boldest of the Boar Goblins ran towards Billie with a raised spear, only to be cut down by an Arrow impaling itself into its face.
"Nasty ferals," Vern said. Zoey, stay back. Your clothing provided the least amount of protection. Gale, cover her!"
"Do as he says, Zoey," Billie said when she saw the defiant look on Zoey's face. Zoey stood complacent, and Gale looked at her. Then, she glared at Billie as she set up a protective barrier around herself.
"Now would be a great time to jump in," She noted.
"Yeah, but I typically don't like to kill things just because they look gross," Billie said with a shiver as the Ferals began licking at the Barrier as their eyes explored Billie's body like it was a freshly baked Pie. "Lucky they're gross inside and out, so my dilemma is solved,"
Billie Spun her staff before remembering she no longer had a blade and instead used the sharpish end of it to whack the creatures if they got too close to her Barrier; after she got one in the eye, they backed away from her and decided to focus on Gunter and Vern, Gunter held up his wooden staff and whipped it across the air, a green liquid spilled out in front of him.
"Acid Downpour," The Ferals stopped and took great care not to touch the puddle.
"I'm fairly sure they have a limited understanding of words," Billie noted. "That or they know what acid is and to avoid it,"
"Seems so," Gunter agreed as he held up his staff and fired a concentrated ball of Acid at the Boar Goblins, who scattered to avoid it; one made it past Gunter and ignored him due to the threat of Acid; Vertoowas to busy swearing about not having a sword as he jabbed his knife into the eye of one of the ferals that had come from the trees straight to them, his knife broke when he tried to pull it out, forcing him to swat at them with his bow. The Boar Goblin who had gotten through was running towards Zoey as she looked to be the most exposed.
"Zoey, you may kick the shit out of it," Billie noted; Zoey shot past Gale and punted the Goblin; the small creature hit Billie's barrier, and she jabbed at it to make sure it was dead. Gunter and Gale had given Vern some distance from the creatures, allowing him to shoot at them; however, only a few hits managed to be a killing blow.
"We've only killed like five of these little fucks," Vern noted.
"Zoey," Billie called out, deciding she had taken enough time to observe how hard she was permitted to go, "Summon your axes and join the front line," Zoey reached into her inventory and pulled out her axes.
"She has weapons, and you forbid her from fighting?" Gale demanded as she drew her sword. "Oh, this chick rubs me the wrong way," Gale joined in the fight and began hacking away at the Boar Goblins.
"She's only wearing rags," Billie muttered, repeating Vern's concern from the start of the fight. She dropped her barrier and walked up to the back line before tapping her staff and placing a circle beneath most of the remaining boar goblins.
"Pillar of flames," she said simply. The boar goblins turned to her as the magic activated, killing most of them. One managed not to get caught in the spell and jumped at Billie, its tongue flapping out. It was smacked downward into the flames with ease.
With most of them dead, the remaining 4 Boar Goblins attempted to flee; Zoey slashed two of them down, Vern put an Arrow in the back of one's head, and Gunter nailed the last one with acid.
Billie wiped her shoulder off and knew what Vern was about to do as he began rapidly advancing towards her. Once close enough, he pulled his fist back and decked Billie in the face, who allowed the attack to send her sprawling across the ground.
"I'm not working for this bitch," Vern snarled, "Don't attack my ass!"
"She is wearing rags; you said as much yourself," Billie repeated as she picked herself up and patted her chest. "And if you truly want to ditch me, you're more than welcome. The Guild warned me you'd probably do as much; the punch was expected to,"
"Of course, they fucking did," Vern hissed as he angrily kicked the ground.
"Vern," Gunter said sternly; Billie saw what Gunter was about to do and stopped him.
"No need to smack him," Billie told Gunter, who stopped. "I've been punched by far worse than that,"
"That is true," Zoey replied, very clearly wanting to smack Vern.
"Vern," Gunter repeated. "We have a job to do, like it or not; we can't keep quitting on jobs just because you don't like someone, so man up and keep going, or you'll never pay off that tab, and we'll be stuck going back to that town forever," Bree could tell from Gunter's voice and Gale's glaring that she had acquired the animosity of all three of them.
"She is wearing rags," Billie gave up pointing that fact out since, in truth, the reason for Zoey hanging back was to try limiting her strength to what humans were capable of, "at least she knows how hard she's allowed to go now,"
"Shall we carry on then?" Billie motioned down the path.
"Since your staff works so well, how about you take the lead," Gale replied.
"K, just tell me if I somehow end up taking us the wrong way." Billie took the lead. The three very visibly began protecting Zoey and left Billie to defend herself.