Etrian VS: Black Bird Edition

Anyone?
(Also Pako's not being controlled directly)

Merrick used Front Guard!
Urvan used Drain Thrust on Rafflesia A for 4 damage!
Urvan's line recovered 1!
Urvan used Drain Thrust on Ladybug A for 18 damage!
Urvan's line recovered 6!
Urvan used Drain Thrust on Ladybug B for 18 damage!
Urvan's line recovered 6!
Darian used Fire Formula on Rafflesia A for 45 damage!

As Urvan lunges with his spear over and over, Darian mixes up a slightly more potent formula.  "Alright, let's see...  This one, right?"  He hurls it at the monster and it explodes violently.  The flower hisses and recoils from the flames.

"I won't... be shown up... so utterly..." Pako insists, forcing herself forward, barely holding her sword.

Pako attacks Rafflesia A for 20 damage!
Ladybug A attacked Merrick for 0 damage!
Ladybug B attacked Merrick for 4 damage!
Rafflesia A attacked Merrick for 2 damage!
Yvan attacked Rafflesia A for 30 damage!

Yvan follows Pako in, ducking under a lashing vine to slash at the monster before dragging her back to a defensive position.

"The tide... is turning!" Pako insists.  The rest of her guild finally finishes with the moles and comes running to attack the enemy from the rear!

Ladybug A took 30 damage!
Ladybug B took 22 damage!
Rafflesia took 43 damage!

"There!"  An arrow goes flying through the enemy line as Muan seems to burst out of the shadows at the enemy's flank.

Ladybug A took 56 damage!
Ladybug A was slain!
Ladybug B took 64 damage!
Ladybug B was slain!
Rafflesia took 31 damage!

Muan clicks her tongue in disappointment.  "Dammit, still alive?  Hey, all of you, get back!  This is a high-tier monster, it's not supposed to be part of the test!"

Yvan - HP: 36/36 TP: 20/20 Force: 15
Merrick - HP: 38/43 TP: 24/34 Force: 0
Urvan - HP: 31/41 TP: 6/25 Force: 45
Wulf - HP: 0/30 TP: 21/34 Force: 0
Darian - HP: 23/29 TP: 22/42 Force: 15

Rafflesia: 10%

(A) "We're finishing this fight!  All-out attack, CHARGE!"
(B) "We're finishing this fight... but with tactics!"
(C) "K"

"K!" you call out.  "Everyone, pull back!"

Everyone in your guild is quick to retreat to a safe distance.  Pako continues to stubbornly stand her ground, rambling about reclaiming her stolen honor or something.  Fortunately, Muan's backup comes flooding in and a small group of experienced adventurers effortlessly cut down the weakened plant before it can do further harm.

"Take care of the rookies!" she orders.  A Medic comes by and helps to patch up your guildmates, as well as Pako's.

Yvan - HP: 36/36 TP: 20/20 Force: 15
Merrick - HP: 38/43 TP: 24/34 Force: 0
Urvan - HP: 41/41 TP: 6/25 Force: 45
Wulf - HP: 30/30 TP: 21/34 Force: 0
Darian - HP: 23/29 TP: 22/42 Force: 15

Muan examines the corpses while they tend to you.  She turns back and commands the rest of the experienced adventurers.  "Alright, now escort them to the camp.  All the failed guilds will-"

"Failed?" you ask.

"Yes.  Failed," Muan says, matter-of-factly.  "Perhaps you think it's unfair, seeing as a high-level monster wandered down here, but being prepared for anything is part of the test.  And any guild that calls for help is disqualified, so-"

"They didn't call for help, we did," Pako cuts in.  "They came running to aid us."

Muan folds her arms.  "Is that so."  She shrugs towards you.  "Well, then.  Forget I said anything.  Now, tell me about how you encountered this thing."

"We found some fruit laying at the end of the path.  When we went to pick it up, a pair of ladybugs ambushed us," Pako says simply.  "Then they called in that monster.  And then a group of clawed moles attacked us from behind and it grabbed me, and..."

"Yes, I can see the bite marks.  Let me see that fruit."  Muan holds out her hand until one of Pako's guildmates manages to find the fruit a bit off to the side and hands it to her.  She examines it carefully for a bit.  "This... is one of the favorite foods of ladybugs.  So that explains why they were here, but why was this fruit down here...?"

"Maybe someone left it here?" Darian suggests.  "To sabotage the competition!"

"That seems pretty far-fetched..." Muan says.  "I expect one of the experienced guilds dropped it by mistake."  A look of realization crosses her face and she turns to you.  "Why are you still here?  Don't you have a race to win?"

"Right, the race!" you shout, already retracing your steps back to the last split.  With nowhere else to go, you head into a short path that opens up to a wide, open chamber with small ponds on either side.  The path continues on the other side, but you don't make it that far.

The mayor is standing in the center of the room, handing out small flags.  He offers you one as you approach.  "Well, congratulations.  You're halfway there.  Now you just have to get back out the way you came!  Be first and you'll be representing our town in the festival.  But be warned!  The way out will likely be much, much more dangerous..."

As if on cue, a loud "SCREEEEE" rings out through the labyrinth.  Lots of loud clicking and clacking echoes behind it.

"Oh, there they are now," the mayor says.

Wulf and Merrick look around apprehensively.  Urvan is shaking like a leaf.  Darian has an excited look plastered across his face.  Yvan's too tired to show much emotion at all.

"Maybe you should take a short rest?" the mayor suggests.  He indicates a few small benches set up in the area.  It looks like this is a temporary rest spot...  Judging by the mayor's stack of flags, you're the third guild to have made it this far.  One of the two groups ahead of you is resting here - oh, it looks like Alice and Ziggy and that troubadour caught up.  They sure do like resting, huh?  The fact you didn't bump into the other group on the way in means they've got a good lead...

(A) Rest
(B) Get moving