We've been walking for quite a while already and Treek has taken up the lead again, while Nina and I continue to head after him. After noticing my rage, he gave it sometime before saying another word to me, but even if he might think that my wrath has subsided, it is still there, bubbling and growling in the inferno that is my newly awakened ember.

The density of trees has increased once again and we find ourselves in quite the dense forest. And with their canopy blocking out more and more of the sun, the forest floor has become less and less wet, making it much more comfortable for me to traverse the terrain without the constant tingling in my feet while less and less shrubbery covers the ground.

It has gotten quite a bit darker and after Treek took over the lead, letting me fall into second place, Nina took the chance to ask me if there was anything she could do to make me feel better. But after I thankfully declined her offer, the journey continues on without any conversations being held.

Yet the mood changes quickly when Treek suddenly stops in his tracks, causing both me and Nina to almost walk into him.

"What's the matter?" Nina immediately asks him, while I think that Treek was going to tell us even if she didn't ask.

"Over there." The Treecko responds while pointing to our left.

There, a couple of dozen meters away from us, I can see a small wooden hut. Build from very dark wood and shrouded in shadows, one could easily miss it when looking over the area. And with no light coming from inside, it appears to be uninhabited while reminding me of the abandoned hut I found together with my wife at the shores of the Davira Sea. But obviously they aren't the same while I begin wondering what this random hut is doing out in the middle of nowhere, hoping that it would have nothing to do with the library or distract us from rescuing the kids.

"We should check it out." Treek advises before I immediately step in.

"No, we shouldn't." I begin scolding while navigating myself to stand between Treek and the hut. "Unless that's where the map tells us to go, we don't have time for exploration and have to carry onward in our rescue."

"Well..." Treek begins. "It's not where the map tells us to go, I think." He explains while, sounding unsure as we can't be for certain about the map's accuracy. "But we should definitely check it out."

"Why?" I retort, already feeling like I would have to steal the map to head off on my own.

"There could be supplies." Nina inserts, making me feel a bit dumb for not thinking about it while both her and Treek must have shared the same thought.

But before I can state another denial, Treek continues talking. "Come on, Cyder. We had neither dinner nor breakfast. We're starving."

Still determined and only slowly starting to get persuaded, Treek continues to take any chances I might have had for responding as he doesn't stop speaking. "As a matter of fact: we should start eating on a more regular basis. And notice how I'm the one saying that and not Nina."

I roll my eyes and try to mention my concerns before I give in and endorse the plan. "What if isn't abandoned?"

"We'll make sure it is before going inside." Treek immediately states the obvious response. "And if it isn't, we'll be on our way again in now time."

He takes a short pause while already waiting for me to respond, but when I don't do so immediately he prompts me to a second later. "So what do you say. Can you do us all a favor and let us hopefully get resupplied?"

"Ugh..." I finally say now that I'm given the chance to make myself heard. "You're right. - Let's go. But we should only take what we need."

A smile forms on Nina face as she is most definitely pleased by the thought of getting something eating again.

And not wasting any more time, both she and Treek start heading towards the hut, with Treek leading the way and me trotting behind the two of them.

"Don't even think about taking another step!" A voice suddenly shouts, seemingly coming from everywhere without me being able to pin-point its exact location.

Both Treek and Nina instantly freeze with the hut still ten meters away for them, while I find myself doing the same and stop moving.

"Don't come any closer unless you want to end your life." The voice repeats itself, as I get a chance to analyze its tone.

It sounds like it's a female speaking. And while I can't be sure of the species, it doesn't sound like a 'mon acting out of hatred, but more like a 'mon acting out of distress.

Yet it made its point very clear and nobody dares to move a muscle while we continue standing where we are, willing to comply with demands as they come.

"We're not here to..." I try to speak up, but get interrupted by the voice furiously silencing me.

"Don't talk!" It shouts. "I know why you're here and I thought I made it quite clear that I'd never let you have them!"

'There must a misunderstanding.' I think to myself, honestly not knowing what the voice is referring to.

"Look." Treek tries his luck in talking. "We're not who you think we are. So if you just let us..."

But just like me, he too is interrupted by the voice shouting at him.

"Silence!" He is interrupted, the voice sounding even angrier than before. "I'll tell you when you can speak."

We do as is requested of us and no sounds can be heard for a moment. I notice another rusting in the canopy above us. But not daring to make a sudden move, I decide not to look up and simply hope that it was just a random breeze.

'We must have walked into a trap.' I find myself thinking. 'I have to tell Treek to escape on my mark.'

"Treek." I try to whisper in his direction but fail to gain his attention. The distance between us is just too great, I don't want to risk speaking any louder out of fear of how the voice commanding us would respond.

But any further tries I would have attempted are cut short when the voice finally ends the silence and starts talking again.

"Now tell me: why did you come back?"

I really don't understand what is going on and in an attempt to relieve some of the tensions flowing through the air I begin speaking for the group. "We're not who you might think we are."

"LIES!" The voice shouts, making me flinch from the sheer volume. "Are you taking me for a fool? Do you think I wouldn't remember you?"

'Where is the voice coming from?' I start wondering to myself more and more as it still appears to be coming from everywhere at once. 'There must be some really smart trickery going on, using echoes to reflect the sounds from all around us.'

"I ask you again: why can't you take a hint and leave me and the kids alone?" The voice repeats its question, sounding a bit like it has begun crying.

"Haven't you already taken enough from me?" It elaborates, followed by a silent and weak sob.

'What is it referring to?' I wonder to myself again.

"I remember now!" Another voice suddenly speaks up, as I turn towards Nina to see her being the one who has spoken. "You're from Remiku."

"So you do remember!" The voice shouts back, making it quite obvious that it is crying while I start to understand what is happening.

Whoever the owner of this voice is must be someone from Nina's past. And when we showed up and started heading for her home, she recognized her.

"Listen." I begin speaking, hoping that I wouldn't get cut off by the voice as I lower my guard and take a more relaxed pose. "We're not from the military if that's who you think we are."

"Why should I believe you?" The voice retorts, sniffing and getting ahold of itself again. "And why did you bring a soldier?"

"Former soldier." Treek answers the question. "The Zorua you see before you, has stood up to her superiors and all of us are on the run from the governments, like I assume you are too."

"LIES!" The voice shouts back at us. "How can you expect me to believe such a lie? I'm not a racist, but you can't expect me to believe that a dark type saw the error in its ways."

Nina suddenly starts moving again, heading for where Treek is standing while the voice tells her to stay where she is twice, before the Zorua arrives at Treek's side.

"I don't expect you to believe me." She begins carefully.

"Good, because I don't!" The voice instantly interrupts her, sobbing again the process of responding. Yet Nina ignores the interruption as she continues.

"I'm sorry for what happened to your town. And I assume you lost someone that meant something to you."

"You're Arceus damn RIGHT!" The voice shouts back filled with rage, interrupting Nina again while I'm fascinated by the courage the young fox is showing with her actions.

I get distracted with yet another rustling in the canopy up above. And with Nina distracting the voice I dare to take a look, managing to glimpse a shadow swiftly vanishing before I can make out what it was.

"But consider this." Nina continues, giving the voice a chance to interrupt her. Something it doesn't do as Nina is allowed to continue talking.

"Look at who is with me." She continues as I understand what she is going for. "Have you ever seen a unit containing a Quilava or a Treecko?"

The voice doesn't respond and silence settles back in for what feels like an eternity. Not even the leaves above us are rustling and nothing can be heard while I start to reconsider the thought of running away.

But just as I'm about to commit to the plan and whisper Treek to follow me, hoping that Nina would take the hint and follow us shortly, the door of the hut slowly opens before a Marill slowly steps out of the shadows filling the inside of the building.

The water type remains standing inside the door frame, glimpsing over the three of us and sending me a glance I can't quite interpret.

A few more moments pass and I start feeling like I should say something, but before I can open my mouth or do anything, the creature starts talking to reveal its voice to be the familiar tone of the 'mon that had been talking to us before, only this time making it clear that the words are coming from her.

"Then who are you?" She asks, glancing over each of use while stating the sentence, before finishing and keeping her eyes fixated on me.