In the hours of the evening, its green grass still flows, and its trees still stand, its waterfall still calming, and its many animals still wandering, is a land struct with a stigma, named a cursed place for the helpless to wander, the forest of Grinyar with its tall trees that hinder the brilliance of the day-star above. And in its midst, its beauty being explored, on their feet are a company of 45 who are investigating its dark corners, discovering one of its victims, as Ezek kneels in inspecting its tainted spectacles.

"You found something?" A soldier asks him, seeing as he pays close attention to the brushed-downed leaves before him.

"Look," Ezek curls the leaves, showing to him the smudges that corrupt their natural colour. "Blood. Looks like it's a day old or so too"

"Huh, I guess we're close then," The soldier figures.

"Likely, yeah," Ezek responds, getting up as he begins looking around the surrounded areas, walking through the line of leaves before him as he sees more droplets of blood on the flatten leaves.

"Way to go, chimaera slayer! Alright, that's another lead since the last day we've been here," A second stretches, inhaling the fresh air around him.

"Huh..." Ezek stops, as at the end of the line, is a small pool of blood he discovers, its circle ruined by the dirt that has climbed onto it. "I thought red boars eat whatever they kill in its place"

"Who knows? Probably because of the change of location. They may be big and wild, but they can be careful creatures at times. Ah! Isn't that right, big guy?" The second calls, as comes a third, an orc with a mighty war hammer upon his back, Kraydor who has once again entered the forest.

"Hm. It would seem so, Andreas," He replies, as he too kneels in checking the area as well. "They've probably formed a nest, one close by, together until they've become used to their new environment"

"Man, what the hell is happening?" The first questions, shaking his head as he begins to wonder about all the things that have been happening in Verencia so far, as they begin their pace once more in the dense forest. "People going missing, and then there are these bastards running around. And it's happening all over the country too. Yeesh!"

"What? You scared, Joshua?" Andreas laughs.

"I'm not! But this is a bit creepy, you know," He hisses. "...I would probably be at the brothels by now, relaxing if it weren't for these dumb freaking....ugh!"

"Yeah, yeah, you'll get as many blows after you're done. For now, have your asses focus on the mission/ I'd like for us to leave with actually getting something done, alright?" A fourth comes, frightening the annoyed Joshua who scratches his head with a blush on his face. "Don't jerk yourself beside the rest of us either"

"I...heh, of course I won't...c-captain," Joshua assures, embarrassed at his wish being exposed to his captain.

"Chimaera slayer!" The captain then calls, grinning at the sight of Ezek who smirks. "Do our jesters entertain you? Never knew you would be one to have such a nice smile"

"I don't know. I'm just reminded of a couple of weirdos, that's all," Ezek states, as through them he is reminded of his family, the red revolvers that he wonders about, pondering at their well-being.

"Ooh, chimaera slayer," Joshua gets near him, putting his arm over Ezek's shoulder. "If you went there, and saw what I saw, you would be acting the same as I am"

"No, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be," Ezek tells him, as he slides off the hand of Joshua from his shoulder.

"Really? Then, what about you, Kraydor? Surely a big guy like yourself needs some pleasurable relaxation once in a while. Well, don't you?"

"Hm," Kraydor simply sounds, walking in front in giving no words to Joshua.

"Well, I guess you're alone with the passion for the girls you speak of, Joshua. Don't worry, surely you're enough to take care of them all. Ain't that right, big boy?" The captain teases the man, having the soldiers laugh at Joshua who stands alone.

"Aw, come on. No way I'm the only one who enjoys it," He figures, as his comrades pass him with taunts they tease him with. "Hm...traitors. Yeah, I'm talking about you ladies as well. I know you. Hm"

With their little chatter going forward, above one of the forest's many spectaculars they reach, its roaring prowess moving through the land it has shaped itself to adapt to; the calming waterfall along with its river that presents to them a rainbow that glows for their eyes to look upon. And to the sky Kraydor looks to, as in his mind, is the day he saved the father and son who were almost killed viciously by the boars, as everybody else lay their eyes upon the rocks he eroded in the fight.

"This is where it all commenced," Kraydor tells them, seeing below the Wine rose at his feet, its red colour strong and beautiful. "The moon was full that day, beautiful as I was walking through the forest, only for me to see their dead party member, and the father and son in their terrors. I hope now that they're doing alright, as it saddens I could not help the others"

"Don't worry, big guy. You did what you could," Joshua lays his hand on Kraydor's arm, nodding as he believes he did his best.

"Hmm," The captain sounds, going onto her radio as she looks to the west. "B team, status? Over"

"Captain! It's a dead deer with its flesh ripped out," They inform over the radio. "It looks like it was done hours ago too, over"

"I see. You're probably as close as we are as well then. Good job, out," She tells them, and goes off a gun they hear from the north, with birds flying away at the echoes that stream across the air, going onto her radio to where she begins receiving a message from the other group.

"S-Sorry, captain," They tell her over the radio. "We thought we saw something, but it was actually a fox...over"

"Team C...? Tsk. Hey...when you give in to that fear of yours, what do you think you're doing? Over," She questions them.

"I...I'm messing up, captain," They answer.

"That's right. And when you do so, you are putting at risk all the members of the company. Did you know that?"

"I'm sorry," They tell her, their voice shaken at the seriousness of their captain, guilty of their mess up.

"Don't be sorry, and I do not mean to guilt you, soldier. Learn to control your fear, then nothing can hurt you if you do so. Be calm, do you understand?" She teaches them, shaking her head at their easily shaken selves, as the soldiers around her are intimidated by the aura she begins to emit, even shivering Ezek and Kraydor who barely knows her in feeling her frustration.

"Yes, ma'am, o-out..." They end their call, continuing their search in not wanting to upset their captain.

"Heh, these rookies gotta learn how to control themselves. Tsk," Joshua smirks, shaking his head at their clumsiness.

"We are still rookies too, you know," Andreas reminds him, flustering Joshua who stands like he's better than all of them.

"W-Well, we aren't that inexperienced. Yeah, we are far better than they are, that's for sure"

"Are we??" Andreas smirks, tilting his head.

"Ngh! What we should've done, is to have gotten more seasoned soldiers, like ourselves," Joshua brags. "We aren't that bad"

"Hm, they aren't the best soldiers, but we'll need as many eyes and feet as we can get right now," She informs them. "As said, they are also other things happening. Let's just hope they aren't eaten by the boars because of it"

"By the way, what happened to the original captain? I'm sure I heard it would be a 'he' that would be captain here. Did I miss something?" Ezek questions.

"He suddenly went ill, so I took his place," She informs him. "I was thinking it would be a good time to spend, for the rookies to gain their experience as well. These monster may be dangerous, but like all of them, once you've learned enough, then they won't be as scary as you think"

"As expected from our captain," Joshua grins. "Like granddad, like granddaughter"

"Pshh. I don't know, I've been hearing that I'm scarier than he is. But he does have more achievements than I do," She smiles, humbled by the one before her.

"Yes, you still have his blood though," Kraydor chuckles. "I remember hearing a story of when he was trapped in a den of screechers. Somehow he grouped them all in a circle and threw his cigarette into the pit of oil he left for them. And that's how he got his scar on his eyes as well"

"Ezek," Joshua points to their captain. "Sigrid Hauge; Granddaughter of the old wolf, Vernon Hauge of Strongcastle"

"Huh, really? Well, the more you know," Ezek nods, amazed at her relation to the commander.

"And you Chimaera slayer; partner of the Red Revolver, I hear," Sigrid invites. "Good to see that the old legend is still alive and well. How is he, by the way?"

"Not sure. I haven't seen him in a while, to be honest," He tells her.

"Ah. A falling out amongst partners, I assume?" She rubs her chin.

"Heh...you could say that, yeah," Ezek nods as he smiles.

"What a coincidence, huh? Partner of the red revolver, and granddaughter of the old wolf on a mission together. Isn't that something?"

"Maybe it is. But for now, let's not make the boy uncomfortable. Ask for your autographs later?" She orders to them.

"C-Can we get one from you as well, captain?" Joshua charges, the other soldiers behind his question with fire in their eyes.

"No," Sigrid subtlely expels, shutting down their enthusiasm from her cold answer. "Em! So Ezek, what about your new partner I've been hearing about, where has he gone?"

"To the mountains...with a bunch girls too," Ezek smirks.

"Ah. A lady's man, I see," She says.

"You can say that too," Ezek chuckles, hoping Nahshon is reminded of what he told him in that night at Appleton, as Sigrid receives another call on her radio, all stopping as she does.

"Team C reporting, over," They say, their voice quiet in the call to the captain.

"Team C? What's the report? Over," She asks.

"C-Captain, a lone boar, it's right in front of us," They inform her, intriguing everybody in getting near her in listening to the radio call. "What should we do? Over"

"What's your location? Give me your coordinates? Over," She charges, and so they give her, as the soldiers beside her ready their weapons and tools to prepare for the hunt. "Alright. Hold your position until we get there. If it moves, do not engage, give us the updates, and wait till we're there, out"

Now they race their way to their hunt, crossing the waterfall and onto the path of the third team, where the animals of the forest view them in their journey, some running from the presence of the soldiers who hold by their sides tools to kill. And there they reach, and behold to them is the sight of the creature with red thick fur, joining Team C in watching as the boar feast on its prey, a moose that has fallen victim to its hunger.

"Ugly bastard," Sigrid sounds, as she hisses at the sight before her, looking to see if they are any others at its side, and in her confirmation, just like her grandfather, commenced is the movement of the soldiers like pieces of a chess game, and with them, spears they set up in the position they are fixed in, as in its feast, the boar continues with tearing its food apart, not paying any mind to what's around it, as they now all wait on the command of their captain, within the bushes like predators ready to hunt another.

By the snap of her fingers, their ears flicking to the signal they hear in their quietness, blasted out of their launchers is a curtain of steel that penetrates the unsuspecting beast in their quick speeds, hearing its cry to the aching pain of its skin pierced, its instincts striking into it a mad fit as it tries to pull away from its retrains.

"Hold it! Spread apart and pull as best as you can!" Sigrid orders, and so the soldiers do, as they battle with the size and power of the boar, digging into the ground the tools that set into the earth automatically, giving it's escaping a lower chance, its body rocking in the desperation of its capture.

And out is a terrifying screech, it's bellowing voice itching the ears of the soldiers who hold it in place, creating another obstacle, as comes a herd of fallow deers that run through their operation, bouncing into Joshua whose grip is then loosed from the tool as he falls heavy, setting free one of its restraints in the process of his launcher drawn up from the earth, their regain on it too late as the monster pulls away even more like a chain of dominos falling, his launcher swung across the line of soldiers who were forced to the duck in its approach. And seeing their faltering, sounding in her disappointment is Sigrid who summons into her hands a sniper out of an item, launching into one of its eyes a bullet of a grand size that damages its vision, her attack chained by Ezek who also summons, shooting into its legs critical hits that down its attempt to escape, giving to a third a great opportunity he takes, Kraydor who finally silents the beast, slamming into its head his great war hammer that crushes it skull completely, ending its suffering at last.

"Yeah!!" Joshua cheers, joined by the soldiers as at last they've down one of the beasts they've set to hunt.

"Alright! Wrap it up!" Sigurd shouts, her smile like a wolf's as she's proud of their work been done. "Keep up the pace!"

So they begin their march once again, this time their spirits high as they've finally found one since being in the forest, with looking through every nook and cranny, careful in their search for the signs of the beasts nearby. And upon a second they embark on, and this time it is Team B who deals with it as Team A and C have done to the first, but stronger in their teamwork and more confident in their strength, coming to a halt as now the sun has put itself to slumber on the horizon, calling upon its midnight that leaves the forest dark grey and gloomy, having the soldiers draw their circles of protection, as now they've set up camp, resting for the night that has come.

"Skål!" The soldiers cheer, as now they bash their cups together on a successful day that they've had.

"Ugh! If only this was actually alcohol or even beer, this would be much better," A soldier complains, but still he drinks it.

"Cheer up, man! You'll drink as much as you want when this is over," Sigrid chuckles.

"I mean, we are inside protection, after all, but I shall not complain....before you eat my head off," Andreas says, looking at Sigrid who innocently smiles.

"You know the captain, she's a careful one," Joshua laughs, moving beside Ezek who still looks to be on his guard, his eyebrows crooked. "Ezek! Why are you looking all so agitated for? Come on, drink up!"

"Hm," Ezek sounds, as he's reminded of the scene on the capture and slaying of the beast.

"Team B, how you doing over there? Over," Sigrid goes onto her radio.

"We are doing alright, captain!" They respond. "We've set up our camp and are now resting, over"

"Great. Good job out there. We'll continue our search tomorrow. For now, enjoy some apple juice. Out"

"Yes, ma'am! Out!" They cheer over the radio, ending the call.

"Ah, what a beautiful night," She stretches. "And great job to you guys as well. We keep this up, and we'll get all of them in no time. Team C, I am very proud of what you've done as well. You rose from the fear that held you all back. I'm glad you've learned quickly from this experience"

"Thank you, captain," One of the members says, fed by Joshua more to drink as he comes over.

"Are you alright, chimaera slayer?" Kraydor comes, asking Ezek in concern of his cold expression.

"Yeah. Is it because of the face? Don't worry, big guy, it's a normal for me," Ezek smiles, chuckling with Kraydor who understands. "What about you?"

"I am well," Kraydor states, as a soldier begins singing a song that soothes with the night, all pleased by her great voice. "But within, I cannot help but have this sense of... anxiousness"

"Yeah, likewise," Ezek nods. "What's on your mind?"

"The day I saved them, once again. It's been a memory that has stuck itself to my mind, as that night, one of their members was killed, and the other....no one knows what has happened to her since her disappearance. Now, there have been many search parties that I've seen across the land, so many people gone, like a whisk in the corners we cannot see"

"I'm telling ya. It is a strange thing, huh?"

"Yes, it is. My only hope is that they can return to their family, whole if we find them," Kraydor nods, hoping the gods have mercy on the souls that have disappeared.

"Aye. I cannot imagine how the families must feel," Sigrid comes, sitting in between both of them as she drinks. "I've seen many crying their eyes out, even the old man's face looked too disturbed, something I've rarely seen in all my years. Yeah, may the gods help us in our troubled times"

"Hm," Ezek sounds, as now he becomes worried about what his family is up to, and so he also begins thinking of Nahshon who has gone up to the mountains, shaking his head at the naiveness of the boy, as he hopes it doesn't get him killed.

"Damn it, I need a piss!" Joshua gets up, holding his lower belly as he squeezes his filled bladder.

"Joshua! I hope you aren't making excuses to go jerk off," Sigrid teases him, flustering the man who gets shiver from holding his pee.

"Don't worry, Captain, I'll go watch him. I need a piss myself. Well, come on, friend. Let's go twinkle on the pretty flowers, eh?" A soldier says, getting up as he grabs Joshua, and so they both head outside the ring with laughing together, reaching to a distance where they chose their chosen trees, the soldier letting out his stream with a sense of relief that sounds from his mouth, while Joshua struggles with unzipping his pants, both hearing the calming ambience of the forest around them. "This forest is quite peaceful for what happened in it, ain't it, Joshua?"

"Yes, sir. Damn it, what the hell is wrong with this zipper," He groans, his bladder feeling like it is about to burst. "Finally!"

"Ah," The soldier finishes, laughing at Joshua who has just set himself free from pants. "Looks like she was right. Are you sure you aren't forcing it so I can leave before you? You really want that jerk, huh? "

"Parc, that's not even possible, come on man," Joshua complains with finally letting out his own, shaking his head as the man laughs.

"Ah, boy. Heh, Joshua, what do you think about the captain?" He asks, going by the stream he sees to wash his hand.

"The captain? Well, she's cool, why?"

"That's not what I'm talking about, brother? I see the way you look at her at times," The soldier grins.

"Huh?" Joshua sounds, confused at the man's words.

"Yeah, you know what I'm saying. I see how hard you get, always looking at her ass thinking I wouldn't notice," He teases.

"Pshh, no I haven't," Joshua laughs. "And that's just weird, man! I'm a gentleman, you see. And don't be looking at my crotch without my permission, the fuck?"

"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya. You must imagine bending her over a lot, huh? Just picture a strong woman like her under your weight, her ass pressed against you as she's all arched and moaning for you to stuff it down into her more. You would love that, wouldn't you?"

"Shut up, man! By the gods!" Joshua commands, getting a hard-on that creates for him a difficult time as he's still going strong. "Shit!"

"I'm just messing with ya. Calm down," The soldier continues to laugh, waving his hand into the stream of water, and there he stops, turning his head to the clicking of a branch he hears, into shocking Joshua as he yells with the leaves brushed against.

"Parc? Tch! Very funny, man," Joshua finishes with flashing his partner, going around the tree with annoyance in his sigh, and there he understands as Parc is really gone, seeing only blood that leads beside the stream, slowly increasing his fear at the sudden change of mood, with the forest's ambience turned creepy in the sounds it makes. "....Parc...? Parc!!"

He begins running around the area, looking for his friend with his heart racing, his eyes flashing around the darkness, summoning a ball of light as he begins hearing rustling within the bushes around him.

"Parc! By the gods, this isn't funny! Parc!!" He shouts, not believing that something had happened to his friend, and so he decides in running back to the camp, into tripping over an object that he turns his light to, his eyes going into a tremble as he recognizes what lays before him, as by his feet, his body still on the floor, is Parc he finds with his throat cut open, blood dripping from his body as his eyes have gone cold.

He screams from the discovery that jogs his heart to greater speed, crawling back with his legs rendered weak and his body chilled, turning into another sight that stops him, by a figure that smiles at the man crippled by fear as he freezes in its presence, his life flashing before his eyes, the captain being what is mostly on his mind, mumbling her name as within its hand, is a knife he sees raising into the air, screaming as he musters his strength to fight. And there the camp hears his screams, their party eased into quietness to the agonizing cry of fear they listen to, everybody on their feet as it goes on, echoing within the forest alongside its creatures.

"J-Joshua!! Parc!!" A soldier shouts, taking up his gun as he and the others begin to pace outside the circle, and into his head they see his demise, going to the ground with colours of red spilling from his face, everybody in shock that freezes them in their place, as in his eye is a bullet they discover resting within, and so Sigrid begins to inhale with all her might, her finger pointing onto the outside with eyes that give them a quick understanding of the situation began.

"Find cover!!" She then commands, and into the bushes they run to as ordered, as fired off are numerous shots that brings even more to their death, commanding all soldiers to shoot within the darkness before them, their formation weakened as comes heavy fire from the left of them as well, into a red boar that charges through their numbers from the right, bashing away the members who were unlucky to stand in its way. "Fall back!"

And so they all do, backed up by the force they can't see, their formation jumbled by the beast who harasses them, controlling their fear in the fight for their lives, dwindling the opposing force within the bushes, hearing their slight sounds of pain before they die, and there Ezek realizes that sound as he knows it from a past scene.

"What the...?" Ezek sounds, and comes the boar that he was too slow to dodge, pushed off the edge with the bounce of it running around, messing his body with leaves and dirt as he tumbles his way down, his body heavy as he had almost lost his consciousness, getting up from surviving the small fall in hearing above his company who has retreated, and so he begins sneaking his way back up, through the tall foliage in going around the slope as he ascends in returning to see what has happened, reaching the sight in hiding within bushes, his eyes shaking in not believing what he sees, as the camp is raided of it supplies.

His allies tied up and place like a circle, there beside them he watches as another's pants are pulled down, revealing to the enemies his genitals they laugh at as the man cries in begging for his life, their guns equipped with silent modification by their sides, and camouflaged armour similar to their own, there Ezek comprehends that before him are goblins that have attacked them. He watches as they stretch the man like a star, pulling him into the air as now one of them presses its knife against his parts, hearing his begging for mercy that pleasures them more. And into his genitals its knife pushes through, tearing into his flesh that rips at the motion of their blade before him, as they menacingly laugh in hearing his screams that reach to the birds that fly away, terrorizing the ones beside him who hears his suffering, ripping it off his genital with a strong pull, holding it into the air as they being dancing around him who has gone unconscious to the pain.

There the blood of Ezek boils, summoning into his hand his rifle as he slowly begins to rise up, and so he's stopped by another who grabs his shoulder, looking to see his friend by his side that confuses him, Nahshon who shakes his head in telling him to stay calm, turning his head to the goblins once more, realizing it was just his imagination as his friend is now gone. Thus he hisses, as slowly he begins crawling back, watching as his comrades are dominated by their fear as some cries with great shaking, understanding that he may be surrounded, knowing his loud firing would attract them, hesitantly turning into crouching his way past the numbers he sees, feeling sorry that he cannot save them on his own. But so he's stopped again, frozen as he slowly turns his head to a voice crackling in laughter, a goblin who rushes in attacking him with its knife, dodging it strike and into a struggle with its attempts, pushing it against a tree with shoving its knife into its throat, scratched by the creature as it life fades away, shifting his gaze to the tree he sees a bullet piercing into, hearing as the shooter calls at its friends who also lays eyes on Ezek.

And through the forest he begins dashing within with his body bloody from his kill, bullets close to piercing his skin as he hears the screams of the others suffering in their fate, onto hearing the sounds of rushing water, seeing the waterfall that comes into his vision, and so he runs with jumping off the cliff, gasping as he splashes into the water below, witnessing as gunfire slows beside him in the heavy gravity, the blood off his body rising off of him as he begins swimming to where he sees a spot, a secret cave he finds resting underneath the water, inhaling the air he craves as he finally reaches his head above, hearing as the goblins laugh in thinking he probably died as he drowned, as they see blood rising atop the water, going back to the camp feeling good about themselves. And there he rests, his feet upon a rock as he keeps his head above the water, angry at the change that the dusk has brought.