Ben was slowly beginning to stir once he felt a nudge against the side of his face, his eyes blinking several times to sharpen his view until they settled upon Blackclaw, who was slightly pulling back upon noting that he was finally awake.

"We need to move… these hunters, they are here.", the distress was evident in her tone, her eyes shifting to the entrance of the den with a slight growl before she redirected her attention back towards him, worry crossing her gaze.

"But this is your home, I can't-"

"Glowscale, you needn't feel obligated to protect it. All I want is that you come with me, we will find another place to live, a better one! One, where…", a horn sounded from outside, tearing Blackclaw out of her thoughts, her words being left unspoken the moment she heard something approach the entrance. And her eyes narrowed.

If that was how it had to be, then she would protect him. Just as he once did.

"Wait here. I will call for you if the need arises.", holding a hand up, the Guildmaster signalled for the others to stay behind, stationing them in front of the den.

"But, wait- it is here? That monster might be in there, and-", the hunter was silenced when the Guildnaster gave him a glance.

"I know. But the trail is ending here, and I will see for myself what has transpired.", receiving a nod in return, the hunter remained silent and stayed behind, signalling for the others to do the same. Internally, the Guildmaster was glad that it went with no other complications, and he already knew what was awaiting him inside.

There were only two possible outcomes, and if Ben wasn't willing, then he wouldn't have a problem to remove him as well. All, so that this small secret wouldn't be discovered.

Just as he took his first step into the den, with the shimmering stone in hand, he was met with the presence of the two monsters that he was expecting. And it didn't take long before their eyes were upon him, one of them growling loudly in a warning just as he halted a few paces in front of them.

And he could almost witness how the other one was seemingly frozen in place, its eyes trained on him in a way that almost gazed through him.

…

"You…", Blackclaw glanced at Glowscale in mild confusion, albeit she immediately shifted her attention back to the intruder with a snarl, intent to keep to her promise.

And yet, the hunter seemed to almost smirk, his eyes solely directed at her ma- at him.

"You look different from the last time I've seen you, you've made quite a scene… your friends are desperately looking for you.", at this, Ben couldn't help but raise his head slightly.

"And yet, here you are, it almost looks like you've made a new friend as well… if they found out, things would never be the same anymore. Normally, I could have simply let you be, for you will never be able to speak to anyone about it… but I see that this is not an option anymore. Not with the persistence of your friends…"

Blackclaw grew more confused with each word that this puny hunter spoke, and the way he simply stood there, ignored her presence…

Such arrogance.

"What is he speaking of?", her words were met with silence, causing her to shift her head towards Glowscale entirely, worry now reflecting in her eyes at the way he was seemingly almost… afraid…?

However, her eyes narrowed once more as the hunter suddenly pulled out his sword, a threat that crossed a line.

"It would be easier if you just stood still… will you?", circling it once, he held it at his side, and it was then when Glowscale suddenly moved, standing in front of her to her shock. Why would he fight without her-

"You shouldn't get involved, it is not meant for you…", before she could utter a single word to change his mind, he charged ahead, intent to swipe at the Guildmaster with his tail. Anticipating it, he rolled to the side before he slashed into Ben's side, the sword cutting into a part of his fur. Snarling at him, he swiped his tail once more, catching him off guard this time.

The Guildmaster flew backwards, stumbling slightly as he regained his balance. Without giving him room to breath, Ben fired a concentrated blast of water. Witnessing it in the last second, he stepped to the side to avoid its impact, but Ben merely narrowed his eyes before he moved his head to the side, catching the hunter still in the aftermath.

Being thrown to the ground this time, the Guildmaster sheathed his sword to Ben's surprise, a frustrated grunt escaping him just as he rose from the ground.

"You've grown into your new life, haven't you? I think you have forgotten your place…!", suddenly, he held the stone in his left hand high into the air, and before long, it started to emit a faint glow. Ben shifted back the moment he laid eyes upon it, and as the light began to grow stronger with each moment that passed, pure and utter dread crossed his eyes.

…

As the blinding light finally subsided, Ben was left standing before the Guildmaster on eye level once more, and the moment he lifted his hand in front of his face to reveal the undeniable truth, he didn't dare anymore to turn around and face Blackclaw. He could almost feel her eyes that were solely trained upon him, and he knew that his worst nightmare had come true.

And she never knew. Until now.

"Wouldn't you look at that, why so shy all of a sudden in front of your friend?", Ben could merely grit his teeth, feeling the cut that the Guildmaster had left upon his side still, holding a hand over his injury.

"I won't give you another chance. The risk of having you spill this little secret to anyone will always be there… I hope you do understand. But maybe I won't even have to do anything, I bet another one might see you in a new light as well.", laughing aloud, Ben was left defenseless, being clad only in the same armor that he had worn on the night that had changed his entire life.

He couldn't face her anymore… but he wouldn't forget the time he could spend with her. Never. He had learned so much during his time with her, of how ignorant he was, how he had viewed the world…

… and all of the monsters.

The Guildmaster merely hummed one last time before he drew his sword once more, intent to finally end it before he charged at him again.

Until suddenly, he was violently thrown away as a tail struck him with full force, knocking him against the next wall. Ben was frozen in place once he witnessed Blackclaw standing protectively in front of him, screaming with rage as she glared at the Guildmaster, the very tips of her flappers having gained a crimson colour.

His body was shaking, unable to believe what was happening in front of his eyes, and yet, his breath was taken away the moment she turned her head to finally meet his gaze once more, and he couldn't look away anymore.

'Don't push me away… I don't care what you truly are, I have seen who you are in your core.'

His eyes widened immediately, the voice almost vibrating in his mind as she gazed at him, a purr directed at him. But before he could truly process her words, the Guildmaster shakily got up from the ground, his vision blurry.

"You…! Hunters, I need your aid, come in here!", Ben quickly broke out of his trance, and both him and Blackclaw directed their attention back towards the threat in front of them. However, his voice was left unheard, causing him to turn his head in growing frustration and fear once he noted the sounds of a fight outside, the clashing of steel and several outcries sounding just from outside of the den.

"What is going on…?", his voice started to quiver once he shifted his eyes back towards the glaring and furious Mizutsune in front of him, her eyes piercing through him.

And Ben could have sweared that he saw a smirk upon her snout.

Without thinking about it, the Guildmaster turned and ran, leaving the confines of the den to see what was going on outside, escaping the wrath of the Mizutsune. But the sight in front of him was not any better, for his hunters were occupied with a Lagiacrus that was wreaking havoc among them.

A group of his people was thrown away with an electric shock, a roar forcing the rest to cover their ears. But his eyes narrowed once he witnessed three familiar hunters jumping off of its back, drawing their weapons in preparation before they engaged the rest of his own hunters.

"These impudent fools… how…?!", hiw words were stuck in his throat once he heard the other monster growling from behind, and he wasted no time in joining his people to defend himself.

They would pay for this…!

…

Ben couldn't help but stare at his friends as he stepped outside of the den, witnessing the raging fight and the Lagiacrus among them. They were fighting alongside with it…?

However, before long his head was gently directed into Blackclaws direction, her tail brushing the side of his cheek just before their eyes met once more.

'Come with me…'

For a long moment, Ben couldn't tear his gaze away from her own, until his eyes shifted to the battle ahead. They were numerous… regardless how this fight would end, he could never return to the life he had once known. His friends, his experiences, and his memories with them…

… but despite of it all, he could never forget how foolish and ignorant he had once been. All of these monsters, he had never regarded them as anything more than that. But it was her who had shown him the truth, who had shown him a world that he had never considered before. A world that was beyond anything he could have ever imagined.

And still… it was him who had almost hunted her down.

"You know… you know what I am now. Don't you remember…? I-", before he could utter yet another word, he was silenced when Blackclaw shifted her head in front of his own, her warm breath mingling upon his skin.

'I do. On that day, I thought that my own naive actions would have been my end… I thought that, perhaps, you would be different than the others…'

Each word pierced Ben in his heart as the memories coursed within his mind, reminding him of his own actions. But as much as he wanted, she didn't allow him to look away.

'... and you were. Now that I know, you came back… you have changed from the way you once were… you have grown into something that I came to treasure like nothing else, despite what you may be…'

Her snout gently nudged against him before she tentatively licked him once against his cheek, a purr resonating from her.

'... and I forgive you, my mate.'

In that single moment, tears threatened to form in his eyes as he looked back at her, and before long, he hugged her face deeply, his form trembling against her. But as much as he wanted to…

… he couldn't just leave. Not yet.

"I need to help them, I owe it to them… please…", Blackclaw shifted her gaze to the fighting hunters ahead, witnessing the Lagiacrus pulling back in pain as the hunters fired a barrage of bullets against its hide, piercing it on many parts.

Ben watched her in wonder as more and more foam suddenly started to coat her fur, bubbles beginning to float in her proximity before she gracefully jumped into the air, twisting her body to focus a large bubble into the majority of hunters who were threatening the Lagiacrus. Before long, they could only watch in surprise and confusion as it impacted on the ground, covering themselves and the ground in even more foam.

However, they realized the imminent threat too late as Blackclaw concentrated large amounts of water in her mouth before she released it in a concentrated blast, firing it into the masses of hunters that were deeply covered in foam. Those who were unfortunate enough were hit immediately, but even those who tried to move away quickly slipped on the ground in shock before Blackclaw merely shifted her head to the side, knocking them away with her blast as well.

Thus, it finally allowed the Lagiacrus enough time to breathe before it took its revenge upon the aggressors and fired another ball of pure electricity at them, the amounts of water increasing the efficiency and impact as the hunters cried out in agony, slumping paralyzed to the ground. It was then when the three friends noticed Ben's appearance, along with the Mizutsune at his side.

He wanted to reassure them, to thank them for all of their efforts, but even as they waved and he could see their relieved expressions, Blackclaw held a claw in front of him, gently but sternly halting him in his path as she witnessed that the remaining groups of hunters were merely reorganizing themselves under the command of their leader, and they couldn't fight them off forever.

She had done as much as she could, and his friends are now given another chance to flee for as long as a part of their aggressors were left paralyzed on the ground.

'We have done what we could… they now have a chance to save themselves.'

She could see the way he wanted to protest, but the moment she imagined what would happen if they stayed, she couldn't allow it.

'Get on my back…'

She lowered herself slightly, allowing him easier access as she watched him, but even despite the hesitation in his eyes, she shifted her head to meet his gaze, her silent plea obvious within her own. And after a last moment of hesitation, he finally relented, carefully climbing upon her back while she regarded him carefully until he was safely nestled between the flappers upon her back and her neck. Wasting not a single moment, Blackclaw turned around and used the foam to her advantage, gliding through it to finally escape the proximity of the hunters.

It allowed Ben only a fracture of a second to take a last glance at his friends and his former life, knowing that it would never be the same anymore. But knowing that they would be save, and that he could finally live free from any of his past regrets…

'We will find another place, somewhere, anywhere where we can live in peace…'

… he didn't regret it, he never would.