Varian heard the chaos erupt as soon as it started. There were hounds everywhere, their mad, red eyes stared pitilessly at him, and their sharp teeth stood at the ready to maul his flesh from his bones. Varian drew Cortex and stood in a defensive stance. He would protect this group with his life.
He saw three rush him at the same time. Varian threw a fireball at the closest mutt, killing it instantly. The other two circled him like wolves tracking a deer. He readied another spell and prepared to strike. However, just as he was about to let loose his fire, one of them attacked. The dog flew in the air towards Varian's chest faster then a bird could fly. Varian only managed to put up his arm in defense before the angry hound latched its jaws onto his flesh. It hung on Varian's magic arm, giving the other hound the chance of a life time to attack. It ran swiftly towards Varian. Its dark legs moving faster then you would think a hound's legs could. The hound clawed Varian's leg, forcing him to the ground in an instant. It took all his strength to raise Cortex and strike the hell hound off of him. The mutt fell from Varian's arm bloodied and dead. The other hound attempted to bite Varian's back only to be met with a fire wall. The hound erupted in righteous flames, howling to the sunless sky as died.
The group started moving out, trying their best to run away from the scene of pain and battle. But just as they were about to leave, Varian could feel a trembling in the ground. Something powerful was on its way, and it was close. The wind started to whistle and the trees started to bend under the pressure. Eventually the trees and brush started to part way and what he saw shocked him. A vampire, already transformed, was controlling the death hounds and the very nature itself. Varian knew that the group, in their current state, couldn't hope to defeat the monster.
What Varian did next would leave questions in the minds of the survivors of that night. He walked, stone faced and calm, towards the horrid monster. His sword at the ready and his injured hand raised to show a fire spell. Varian looked behind him and ordered his comrades, "LEAVE! NOW! There is no reason for us all to die here. I'll hold this... thing off."
As Varian said this, the creature's massive claws raised above its head, ready to end Varian's life. The claws swiftly fell on Varian's right shoulder, digging into his flesh. They were faster then a dragon's flight, too fast to dodge. Varian realized he had one opportunity to kill this beast... and he took it. He took the vampire's green arm and held it with his left hand. Then he swiftly turned, so that his back was against the vampires torso. After that, he took the vampires hand and placed it on his own chest. Then, Varian took Cortex and stabbed through the vampire's hand, his own chest, and then finally the vampires chest. The strike trapped the vampire to Cortex, killing it, but it would also kill Varian. All of this happened in one swift, elegant movement.