"All right Mag. Gurk is heading your way," Janus said over the radio.

"Let me talk to Sheila. I want to hear it from her!" the hunter barked over the radio. Janus handed the device over to Sheila.

"He's telling the truth, Father. I saw him dash through the trees. Gurk's heading right towards you!"

"Good. And are the others with you?"

Sheila quickly looked around at the surrounding company. They all stared back at her with varying emotions. Eva was oblivious to the destruction around. Itzel and Enidri gave her looks of pure anger while Janus looked more accepting. "Just tell him the truth," the physicist said.

"Yes, Father. They're all with me."

"All right. I'm a man of my word. There should be an exit down by the edge of the swamp."

Enidri rolled her eye. "Great. Now I gotta go all the way back there," the swordswoman said with disdain under her breath.

"Pay attention to a tree that doesn't belong. Something other than the countless willows that fill that specific section of the Dome."

The physicist extended one hand forward, indicating he wanted the radio. Sheila obliged. "What do we do after that?" Janus asked.

"It's not hard. I'm sure an educated man as yourself would be able to figure it out, no problem. But give the radio back to Sheila. I want to make sure she gets back safe and sound."

"He already told us what to look for," Itzel said. "I'd say we just let Enidri and the kid head out while we stay behind and watch Gurk's back."

"You know how many trees there are that swamp? Even if it does look different, there's no way we're going to be able to find it time!" Enidri said.

"If you want more specific directions, you'll have to hand the radio back to Sheila. I want to make sure that all of you are with her," Mag said over the radio. "From here on out, I'm not talking to anyone other than my daughter!"

Itzel rolled her eyes as she watched Janus give the radio back to Sheila. "Which way, Father?"

"If you were heading towards me, start making your way west. Keeping going straight until you come across a set of toppled trees. You remember, right Sheila?"

The young hunter paused to look behind her. "Oh, I think so, Father."

"Keep heading that way. Shouldn't be hard to come across if you follow a steady path and you know where you're going."

"Thank you, Father. We'll start heading that way now."

Sheila stared at the radio as the Eco-Dome continued to crumble. The ground shook and split, creating long cracks in the ground. "Keep in touch with me!" Mag said over the radio. "And let me know if any of the others try to stay behind. Not sure why they'd want to. But I don't want them spoiling my last hunt!"

"Y-Yes, Father. I'll do my best."

"Good. Let me know when you reach the exit. There's a cod that you'll need to get through. If you had been with us on other hunts, you'd know what it was. That's why Bodahn was able to get so quickly."

"Can't you tell me what it is now?" Sheila with a shaky voice. Janus and Enidri started to walk away while Itzel pulled her arm.

"Like I said, I don't want any of Gurk's friends getting in the way. I'm going to need confirmation from everyone before I surrender the code."

"That's what I figured," Janus said under his breath. "Come on, Sheila. Let's get out of here."

"I'll keep you updated, Father. I promise!" Sheila said on the verge of tears.

"Thank you. Stay safe," Mag said in a calming voice. The young hunter held the radio in her hand, her fingers trembling as she stared at the explosions surrounding the support pillar. Itzel grabbed Sheila by the collar rand pulled her away from the collapsing section.

"If you stay here, you’re as good as dead!" Itzel shouted as she picked up her pace.

Sheila followed the others, tripping over herself as the ground shook. She tumbled over a stray rock, requiring Itzel to turn around and pull her up. "Don't you die on us now! We need you to get out of here!"

"Sorry, sorry," Sheila replied as she got to her feet. "I'm just... so scared..."

Itzel put an arm over Sheila's shoulder and guided her through the collapsing trees and jagged terrain. "I know you're scared!" the fighter shouted over the sound of explosions and crashing metal. "But you'll have to be scared later!"

"I can get us to where my father instructed," Sheila said as she hobbled over more contorted terrain. "We just have to head in a straight line."

"Easier said than done," Janus said after ducking underneath a falling branch.

"How's Gurk going to survive all this?" a sorrowed Itzel muttered as she trailed behind the group. She continued to look back at the collapsing Eco-Dome until Janus tugged on her arm, making her pick up the pace.

"Gurk's tough," Enidri said. She held Eva close to her chest as she shielded her from the smoldering debris that rained from above. "Mag's gotta hide behind trees and use guns. If Gurk finds him, it's all over."

"But that's what I'm worried about!" Itzel said louder than the surrounding destruction. "Mag's going to take some cheap shots! And if Mag doesn’t take Gurk out, then the collapsing Eco-Dome will get him! Or any of the Essencima wandering around here."

Enidri slowed her run down as she brought a screen in front of her face. "I know you're worried right now, Itzel, but think you can be quiet for a second?" The swordswoman took a look at the ground, making sure her path was clear before looking at her projection. The screen flickered, but the further she moved, the steadier the image became.

"You can get a signal?" Janus asked, stunned.

"Couldn't get one before. But now that there are holes all throughout the roof... it looks like I can get a clear image!" the swordswoman said before coming to a halt.

"Call Ringa and Brielle!" Itzel said.

"On it." Enidri tapped a few buttons on her shaking screen. Static covered the projection, making the picture fuzzy. Ringa's distorted face showed up in front of them.

"Eni...dri?" The detective's words were broken up. "Everything fine? I can... barely... see you..."

"No! We're a tough spot right now!" she slowly clearly. "The Granis! You know them?"

"We were there... not too long ago..."

"Well, come back! They've been hosting illegal hunts and Gurk is their latest target!" As Enidri finished her sentence, a falling piece of steel crashed behind them, making everyone jump forward.

"Where are you?" Ringa replied, her image become somewhat clearer. "Doesn’t look like you’re in a desert."

"It's their Eco-Dome! We're about to escape, but Gurk's getting left behind. We need all the help we can get to make sure he gets out of here alive!"

"It'll be a few hours before me and Brielle and make it over there. But I know someone from Sano Mosado who should be closer by. I'll send him to investigate first."

"We'll take any help we can get, Ringa!" Itzel pleaded in front of the screen.

The detective turned her head. "Brielle. Get in touch with Dallas. Now."

"What's going on?" the enforcer asked.

"It's an emergency. Itzel and Enidri need all the help they can get and as soon as possible."

The picture became clear enough that Brielle could be seen typing away at her projection. Ringa faced the group again with a somber face. "We'll be heading out there shortly. But it's a long trip, so we'll be there way after Dallas. Anything else we should know?"

"We'll call you again once we get out of this place!" Enidri said as she turned her head toward the warped beam embedded in the ground behind her.

"Sounds like a plan. Over and out," Ringa said before ending the call. Enidri's sword disappeared and then she faced the rest of the group.

"You heard everything those two said, right?" Enidri asked the others.

"They're sending back-up," Itzel said, her face relieved of some of the stress. "Hopefully they'll have a carrier that can haul Gurk out of here."

"Let's just hope they're not scared of a few crumbling structures," Enidri said as her eye scanned the shattered glass above.

"What about us?" Sheila said, one foot stepping forward. "Should we wait for law enforcement too? Or should we keep going to the secret escape my father talked about?"

"There's no way they'll be able to fly a large enough transport to fit all of us through this place's ceiling," Enidri said. "Besides, if we have an opportunity to guarantee Eva's safety here, we might as well take it." She gave the duckling a pat on the back, making her squawk quietly.

"Just... keep guiding us in the right direction, Sheila," Itzel said with a sigh. "We'll just have to hope this Dallas person can get Gurk out of here before the entire place crumbles on him."

"And my father," Sheila said as she hung her head low and continued to lead the group further into the swamp.

"Sure kid," Enidri said with a roll of her eye. "Mag definitely seems like the guy to just walk into the custody of enforcers."

"But... but..." Sheila stammered as she pushed toppled branches out of the way. "Father would never put his life at risk like that if he didn't have to! I still need him! Mother does, too!"

"Seems like to me that your old man has a bit too much pride. He'd rather go down a hunter than live a prisoner," Enidri said.

Sheila went silent and kept her head low as she guided the party through the crumbling swamp. The thick stench swamp odor filled the air once the young hunter guided them past the trees. Bubbles emerged from the boiling water, sending puffs of steam through the air as they popped. She pointed to a large evergreen tree in the distance that remained intact unlike the warped and decaying willows that lay around it. "There!" Sheila shouted. "That must be what Father was talking about!"

Enidri placed one hand over Eva's head as the bursting bubbles from the swamp sent scalding liquid across the area. "Maybe we can discuss what to do next after we get out of this place," she said as she darted to the tree.