When they arrived, the sky already dark red, the chief elder stood waiting for them.

He welcomed them home enthusiastically, and practically pulled them through the gate into the village.

"We're having a feast tonight!" he informed happily. "You all are the guests of honour, so make sure you show up!" A glare was directed at Jyl, who had joined the group a couple minutes earlier. "Especially you! No disappearing acts this time!"

"Of course, our guests are also welcome to attend. Though I would like a couple words with you first, if you don't mind."

While the chief elder led the three demons to town hall, the hunters all hurried home. They had been away for over two months, so they all wanted to be reunited with their loved ones as soon as possible.

The roads were lively. A constant stream of people travelled to and fro, carrying all kinds of articles to prepare for the feast. Long tables were put together, fires were lit, food was prepared. Soon the central square was filled with excited voices and enticing smells.

A group of musicians played their instruments, people gathering around them to dance and sing. Children were allowed up past their bedtime, while their parents searched for friends to converse with. Teenagers decided to test their luck, asking their crush to dance. Hunters bragged about their latest kills. Elders discussed which of their grandchildren was the most talented. Fights were started and broken up.

When the 'guests of honour' arrived, the feast was already good and well underway.

Though, no one was bothered by this. They immediately joined in: singing, dancing, eating, fighting, talking and generally having fun.

The villagers quickly swarmed them, asking for a story. The strangers too were soon immersed in the merrymaking, the differences in their appearance and their initial awkwardness attracting plenty of attention.

"You should have seen their faces when they entered the Forest for the first time!" Alcaeus told the tale to any who wanted to hear.

"Come on, let's go dance." Rina dragged her boyfriend towards the musicians.

"Serving under the emperor are the four lords, each ruling ..." Mirus explained to Aiden, the two sitting in a calmer corner of the square.

"Who's next?" Cecile called to the hunters, ready to test her mettle against them. Evelyn and Solon watched from a couple meters away as Lyall came forward.

He raised his spear and flashed a grin. "I think it's about time I even the score."

Near the head of one of the tables sat Arick and the chief elder, still deep in conversation. The elder, whose name was Daren and who was Aiden and Alcaeus' grandfather, was very interested in the state of the world outside the Forest. Most of all, he was worried his people would get caught up in the war, like the seven who had been taken.

"At the time, most of our more experienced hunters were away, dealing with a wandering Crimson Tiger. To this day, I don't know whether I should count us lucky or unlucky for that coincidence. It meant we didn't have enough manpower to fight back, but at the same time, I am unsure whether, unprepared as we were, fighting back would have ended well. More might have been taken, or killed.

In the end, the soldiers were in a hurry, so they took the capable hunters remaining in the village and left. I still regret not being able to do anything then."

Arick listened in silence as elder Daren recalled what happened that day. This man had been forced to watch as his village's young adults were taking, unable to do anything. Among them were his own grandsons!

It made him all the more determined to fulfil his end of the deal.