“What’s the situation?” Sebastian asked once everyone had gathered in the study downstairs.

It was huge and absolutely filled with books on shelves that spread from the floor all the way to the ceiling, which had to be at least twelve feet tall. The walls were absolutely covered except for the part where a giant monitor was displaying different notes and pictures relating to their mission. Nearby was a console where Anzu was seated, typing and clicking away as Asha spoke.

“For months now, locals have been disappearing in the nearby forest. At first, nobody noticed because it was mainly vagrants and the unseemly members of their city.” As she said this, pictures of disheveled looking people appeared on the screen. “Not uncommon in a city like Dutour, but what started out as an occasional disappearance has quickly increased.”

“Why weren’t we called in sooner?” Kira asked.

“Because the mayor didn’t feel it worth mentioning,” Sebastian smirked.

“That is until it hit home.” Asha continued.

With her last statement, the pictures of the other victims disappeared and were replaced by a beautiful woman dressed in expensive-looking jewelry and clothing. She was drinking from a big bottle of alcohol and looked to be having the time of her life.

Asha dramatically waved over the screen. “Meet Mina Lane, age 23. Heiress to the Lane fortune and eldest daughter of Mayor Ferrell Lane.”

Anzu snorted, “Of course. The spoiled socialite goes missing and suddenly now it’s a priority for us.”

“How long has she been missing?” Yuki asked, concerned.

“Six hours. Her Sihir Carriage was found at daybreak abandoned near the outskirts of Rivierden. Nobody saw or heard anything suspicious.” Asha replied.

“It’s unlikely that she could have gotten far,” Zephyr said as he stood up to get a better look.

“Which is why we are keeping our search within the confines of the Anemasu province. Now, for everyone’s assignments.” Asha responded as she began handing out print outs. “Anzu will be staying here as mission control. He’ll be handling research, communications, and R.A.B.I.T. hole requests.”

Anzu gave a thumbs-up while continuing to type at the computer with his other hand. Rift noticed how focused and in his element he was. Rightly so, being the tech specialist, but it was admirable seeing how seriously he took his role.

Asha continued, “Kira and I will head to Surnach. As it is the closest border town to the east it is possible that whoever has Mina headed there in order to cross over into the Terra province.”

“Glad to,” Kira responded with a smirk as she gave her a wink.

Asha grinned and rolled her eyes. “Rift, Yuki, Zephyr, and Sebastian will head to Rivierden to look for any further leads. Everyone understand your assignments?” She looked everyone over as they answered in the affirmative. “Good, now everyone grab your gear. We head out in five.”

----------------------------

Rift groaned as he picked himself off the ground. R.A.B.I.T. still wasn’t getting any easier, but it was necessary given the severity of the issue at hand. He looked around as he dusted himself off. Over the hills up north, he could faintly see Dutour. To the East was the ocean quite a ways out. South was an entrance to a nearby forest, and just off to the west was Rivierden. Sebastian and the others were already talking to the farmer who had found the carriage.

“It’s as I told the guards, I was on my way out to my fields when I saw the carriage in the ditch. I figured it was a buncha kids that had way too much of the sweet stuff. I checked it out, but nobody was in it.” The farmer said, annoyed that he had to repeat his story.

“And that’s when you reported it in town?” Sebastian asked.

“That’s it! Went out to my fields and just as I was getting into a good groove the wife called out that you had more questions for me. I’m sorry, I really am, but I don’t got nothing else to add. Now can I go back to what I was doing? Some of us don’t have the luxury of taking time off, I’ve got mouths to feed! Plus, with all the livestock I’ve lost over the last year I’ve gotta keep a constant eye to make sure I don’t lose anymore!” The farmer answered with a huff.

Zephyr’s expression suddenly changed to one of concern. “Wait, you say you’ve had livestock go missing? Like, they ran off?” He asked.

The farmer rolled his eyes. “No, no, no! I know how to keep livestock young lady. Been doing it for fifty years! Ain’t let a single one get away from me before, but about a year ago I noticed that overnight they’d go missing.”

Everyone listened intently. It was strange for a farmer to lose that much livestock over such a short amount of time. As he explained, it was typical to lose a couple of the smaller animals to wolves or other predatory wildlife, but the unusual part was the amount that was being taken. Not to mention, he would also find their carcasses placed back in the pins with all of their blood missing.

“It’s like they were put there to taunt me! I took it up to the Mayor, not that he cared any!” The farmer finished.

Sebastian smiled brightly and extended his hand. “Well thank you, Mister…?”

“Mayhew! Yvon Mayhew sonny, now I’m heading out. Young people these days don’t know how to respect other people’s time…” Yvon ranted on as he pushed past the group and made his way down the road, still continuing to babble to himself.

Sebastian’s fake smile quickly faded as he turned to face the others. “The Mayhew farm borders the forest to the south. That’s where we need to head next. Whatever has been feeding on the local livestock is connected to this. Agreed?”

Rift and the others nodded. It was obvious something with a big appetite had been lurking around here for quite some time. The escalation in occurrences, and not to mention the type of prey, made it possible that Mina’s party had been attacked by whatever was making the forest home. She could have sought shelter in the woods, but that was unlikely since the town was closer and more practical to reach. Meaning, it was more likely that the beast had whisked her away to its den.

“Control, this is Rose. Any updates from Alpha?” Sebastian said as he held his finger over his earpiece.

“Negative, nobody has seen or heard anything in Surnach.” Anzu’s voice answered through their coms. “Instructions for Alpha?”

“Have them meet us in Rivierden. We’re going to investigate a lead in the Serene forest just south of here. There’s a possibility that some sort of beast is behind this.” Sebastian responded. He turned to the others, “Let’s go.”

The others nodded in agreement and the four of them made their way towards the forest. Rift looked down at the device they each had been given before leaving the Hallowed. They were similar to smartphones back home, but with a lot more functionality. The time read it was already after 6:00 PM, which meant the sun would be setting soon. Grigori had excellent night vision, but it was far from perfect. They’d still be in trouble if strayed too far in without any moonlight to guide them.

As they entered the forest the four of them began talking about their ideas on the mission but, as it normally does for teens, the topic switched around to many things. From how all of them had theories on what Lady Reina really looked like to Rift’s theory that Weiss doesn’t sleep. Instead, he said, he thought she just constantly moved around, finding ways to keep busy. The topic of their arrival to Araphel was eventually brought up, and Zephyr volunteered his story first.

“Well, I had an okay childhood. I was just lonely.” Zephyr started.

Yuki raised a brow as she looked over to him, “What do you mean?”

Zephyr continued, “Well, I mean my parents were good enough to me. I just never seemed to fit in anywhere. Other kids weren’t really mean to me, they just didn’t acknowledge me. I tried making friends, but no matter how hard I tried nothing seemed to convince them to want to get to know me. It didn’t help that we were constantly moving.”

He closed his eyes as a gust of wind washed over him. “Mom and Dad were always so busy with work, so it was just the family dog and me for most of my life. I don’t think they would have realized I was even gone if it hadn’t been for Weiss approaching them about bringing me here. They didn’t even really listen to what she was saying. I don’t think they even remembered they had a son, honestly.” He said, his smile tried to hide the deep pain in his eyes.

Yuki grabbed his hand and gave it a soft squeeze. “I was found by the local monks of a small mountain village. According to them, my hair was always this pale white.” Yuki said as she stroked a few strands. “Because of this, the villagers saw me as the vessel for their deity. I was trained in their spiritual ways, and although they were strict, they showed me the same love as a real family. When Weiss came for me, I didn’t want to leave, but she promised that my village would be well taken care of… and that was enough for me. My name, Yuki, is the name of the village’s deity, and Yamamoto is the name of my village.” She finished, with a hint of sadness in her voice.

Sebastian moved closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I lived in a slum in the poorest part of the country, but we all took really good care of each other. The only problem was that the cartels made life a living hell for any that dared cross them. When I turned nine my parents were killed by a gang of cartel thugs.”

His eyes slightly glazed over with tears as he recalled the event. “My powers chose to awaken in order to protect myself from seeing the same fate as them. I was out of control, and it took all of Weiss’s energy to stop me. She brought me to the Bastion and served as my guardian until I completed my training. My father’s name was Sebastian, and my mother’s was Rosa, Spanish for Rose. I took their names to remind me of where I came from.”

They stopped at a clearing and Rift decided it was his turn to share. “I never knew my parents.” He looked up at the moon beginning to make its way over the horizon of trees. “The family that took me in was abusive, but I ran away and decided I was better off fending for myself. I was lucky, though. He smiled as the Wu’s faces popped into his mind. “The Wu’s were a family that helped me get back on my feet. I wouldn’t have made it without them.”

The four of them gazed knowingly at each other. They all had it rough growing up, but they each found friendship and family in each other. Sebastian was about to say something when the ground beneath them began to quake. Animals fled in terror as the trees around them shook violently. Rift placed his hand on his pistols’ hilts while searching the forest around him.

“What in the hell is that?” Yuki cried out, also readying her weapon.

Seth drew his sword and yelled out in response, “An Earthquake?”

Rift steadied himself and saw movement from the trees just ahead of them. Its shadow was enormous which is why he hadn’t noticed it sooner. Now, it was finally on them and there was no running away now as it entered the clearing and the moonlight illuminated all three of its monstrous heads.