Alex and Sunny struggle on through hunger, exhaustion, and fear while their pursuers gain on them. When Sunny reports that the hunters have not been fooled by a false trail and are searching with multiple parties, Alex and Sunny realize they cannot double back. From a ridge they see a town below in flames, already being sacked, and despite knowing how dangerous it is, they decide the chaos of the burning town is their only chance to shake pursuit.

As they descend, they pass terrified refugees fleeing the other way, confirming they are walking straight into disaster. Sunny leads Alex off the road and through orchards and back ways, aiming for the river in hopes of finding a boat and using the water to break the hunters' trail. Inside the town, Alex witnesses soldiers looting houses, hanging bodies, setting buildings alight, and beating civilians for valuables. Sunny repeatedly vanishes into cover, guiding Alex in short bursts from hiding place to hiding place and using stealth to keep them moving.

The danger worsens when Alex is nearly exposed several times. Sunny creates a diversion by appearing on rooftops and taunting a group of soldiers as an elf, drawing their attention so Alex can slip past them. Alex then stumbles into more soldiers, lashes out clumsily, and flees through alleys, over walls, and into a graveyard beside a burning church. Overwhelmed by smoke, panic, and the violence around her, Alex is close to breaking when Sunny finds her again and pulls her onward.

Looking back through the crowd, Alex finally sees the hunters at close range and spots the towering, tattooed werewolf leading them. Sunny gets Alex into a forge, where a dead soldier lies on the floor, and together they discover that the town square ahead is full of looting troops, with the river visible beyond. Because sneaking across is impossible and retreat would mean running back toward the werewolf, Alex makes a risky choice: she takes the dead soldier's cloak, helmet, and dagger and walks openly into the square, pretending to belong there.

At first the disguise works. Alex copies a soldier's swagger and almost reaches the alley to the river, but a burly soldier stops her and makes her help load a trunk onto a wagon. While Alex is trapped there, Sunny signals that their hunters have arrived. Thinking quickly, Alex loudly presents the newcomers as suspicious intruders and possible thieves, provoking the looters to challenge them. The confrontation erupts when the werewolf howls, terrifying a nearby horse and throwing the square into confusion. While soldiers and hunters clash, Alex runs for the quay.

At the river, Alex unties a rowing boat and discovers Sunny has already reached it. Alex rows them away as the sounds of the sack fade behind them and dawn begins to replace the firelight. Alex briefly celebrates their escape, but the triumph is cut short when Sunny admits that the panicked horse kicked her during the chaos, leaving her hurt even though they have survived for now.