Brigid

The deafening ringing in the girl's ears is all she hears as her blurry vision shows a horrid view of scattered flames and charred soil. As she struggles to her feet, the girl is behold to the heartbreaking sight the flora, teeming of vegetation and the souls they harbor, are now lifeless husks or their former selves. The destruction is vast and indiscriminate leaving her falling to her knees as she can't even avert her gaze from the horror.

It all happened so fast, if she knew... she knows that she is to blame for this.

"Puteri!" A familiar feminine voice overpowers the chilling sounds of crackling and popping from the scattered flames dotted across the shores. Still, the girl is incapable of moving a muscle.

Her wide unblinking eyes scan the ruins as her trembling pupils bear witness to her comrades, gashed with gruesome burns across their bodies. Some, still teeming with life, make the faintest of twitches from their limbs until they cease to move. A grim confirmation that she and someone dear are the only survivors.

She should take a small comfort in that.

"My lady! Thank the Spirits you are safe!"

The girl feels the lukewarm feeling of slender arms snaked around her shoulders.

"Penjaga..?" The girl's voice trembles as she struggles to recover. "I... I can't feel my... I think I'm...

"Hush..." The woman named Penjaga soothes, though her voice hints of haste. "Now is not the time! We must return to safety, and tend to your wounds!"

"R-right..." Puteri, with the aid of Penjaga, rises to her feet and the woman is gracious to help her maintain her footing with physical support and whispers of assurance.

"We will take this route in." Penjaga's softs words offer guidance. "It may be one used by Adrestia, but our allies from above will no doubt protect us."

As they travel inward into the thick of the wild along the dirt path, Puteri gazes up at the trees, feeling a sense of relief to see, frantic looking people sheltered within the branches offering hand signs that the path is clear.

A small comfort for the wounded girl.

Nothing they wouldn't do to free our home...

"This is the main route for the outsiders..." Puteri notes. "But... how are they not..."

"I do not know... but I do not think they plan to lure us into a trap."

"Heh... must be spreading themselves thin... better run back to Adrestia while they still have the chance!"

"Save your strength, My Lady."

Puteri complies but she cannot still shake the chilling memories of what happened back there. Everything appeared rather seamless as she and her friends crept into their positions while their allies from Fodlan were conversing with those...

The thought hits Puteri.

"Penjaga... what... what of our allies?" Puteri queries in a raspy voice. "The... mercenaries?"

"Alas I could not find them... though it is safe to assume that they are still living given that they are not one of our dead."

"Grr... so they left us?! Just like that- Agh!"

Puteri jerks from the sharp sensation jabbing her leg.

"My lady?" Penjaga expresses her concern and slows her pace.

"My leg... there's something... in my leg... I can't move it properl- AGH!"

"Remain still! I'll set you down to examine it."

With Puteri resting aside the mossy trunk of a tree, Penjaga carefully examines her leg to find a some jagged form of strange metal is embedded deep inside. The older woman frowns, fearing that any motion will rupture the insides. Still, she cannot leave her here.

Penjaga glimpses at her surroundings to see that wisps of spirits playfully frolic through the jungle. But some are suddenly drawn to the duo. She smiles seeing their concern.

Knowing her strategy, Penjaga rests her hand on Puteri, careful of avoiding the nasty gash.

Penjaga starts softly, "This will feel slightly uncomfortable, but this will help you, My Lady."

"..." Puteri steels herself and shakes a curt nod.

"Spirits of the forest, who watch over our hunters to provide them safe and bountiful hunting, hear my plea and offer your aid to this warrior as she ensures to provide you with protection and devotion!"

Then, like a snake slithering from the grass, vines from the earth started wrapping around her leg, gently squeezing it. Puteri lets out a pained grunt but exhales allowing the magic to continue. At this point she can barely move it much less feel it.

"It will stop the bleeding, and will keep the debris from wreaking the inside."

"That's all it took?" Puteri forces out a pained chuckle. "I was expecting it to be more rough..."

"Heh... you and your jests. Now come!"

But as the Penjaga helps her lady to her feet, the duo hear a low sinister growl from behind. However, there is no trace of fear in their eyes as they hear it.

"Looks like our backup showed up!" Puteri grunts with a relieved smile.

The two see a fierce looking stripped feline gracefully leaping from higher ground before gleefully pattering towards the two women. Puteri chuckles and begins to affectionately rub the beast's ear, causing it to rumble a low purr and rubs against her hand.

Not so distant chatter is heard and Puteri can see her allies appearing from the edge. She recognizes a familiar face.

"My Lady! I'm so happy to see you!"

"Ah, moh hak hei, Meili. You know its awkward, given we're friends and all!" Puteri grins

Meili nervously chuckles. "Yes, of course..."

"Please don't tell father about this, please." Puteri expresses her light-hearted plea. "I don't want to sit out the fight like my brother!"

"I'll..." The meek girl hesitates before continuing. "I will do my best. But... if he asks what has happened, I cannot make any promises.

Several fighters accompanying Meili emerge and one of them is generous enough to offer Puteri fresh water from his wooden bottle. Another offers her a ride on his back, much to the dismay of the beast savoring the affection.

"I'm relieved to see you, Meili." Penjaga warmly starts. "More so that you are safe, but I heard My Lord has relieved you from combat duties temporarily?"

"Uh... well I..."

"She snuck out with my party!" A small girl similar to Meili's height bounces towards her. She carries with her bright magenta hair, wide gleeful vermilion eyes, and a spring in her step. The girl then wraps her arms around the beast, much to its delight. "And HE loved that Meili came with us, right? Yes you are!"

Meili embraces Puteri tightly. "Its a relief to see you again, My Lady. When we saw the... destruction from afar, we feared the worse."

"..." Puteri averts her gaze and does not answer.

"My Lady and I are fortunate to survive the ordeal." Penjaga fills the heavy void. "However, we have lost sight of our Fodlan allies. It is likely that they evaded disaster and have now directly gone after the man they are seeking now that they have found them."

"Guess I'm not surprised." The unnamed girl mumbles, rubbing her knuckle on the beast. "Oh! I almost forgot, the weirdest thing happened not too long ago!"

"Oh?" Puteri looks at her inquisitively.

Meili speaks up. "We spotted the elephant being accompanied by outsider mercenaries. We prepared to ambush them, but before they could fall into our trap, one of them... acted strange, and they changed course."

"Yeah, some laeng tsai started talking to himself, it was kinda weird. But then... Well... he and the others moved towards the river away close to the capital!"

Puteri scrunches her forehead in concern. Did Adrestia know where they are?

"We need to let father know about this." She declares. "It is probably a coincidence that they switched directions, but still..."

"Understood My Lady." Penjaga concurs. "Meili, Tuzi, if you can accompany us, we would appreciate it!"

"Sure thing!" Tuzi chirps. "I was getting bored just waiting around here anyways!"

"You kept throwing fruit at me! Don't you dare tell me you were bored!" Meili accuses assisting Penjaga in lifting Puteri up.

"Yeah, well I got bored of that." Tuzi dismisses.

*FE*

"Uhh... you sure this is the right way?" Gil asks over the holo with Kira as he and his party pass under the abandoned ruins of the some form of a stone pyramid overtaken by nature.

With Gil atop of Xu Chu, Leonie carrying Kira's backpack for 'training' and Byleth on rear guard, diligently checking all corners with his weapon occassionally darting upwards, the party of four make their way down a large looming corridor where the opening looks as if it is beyond their reach.

"Well if there still some form of road or somethin', then I guess its smooth sailing!" Kira responds in a rather preoccupied.

"Well... there's a road... think its road, that goes under some creepy looking abandon temple thingy. In the same direction your in. That's good... right?"

"Gil as long as your rolling towards where I'm at, you're good."

"K, I'm still kinda at a loss here, why did you just told us to change course?" He darts down at a puzzled yet annoyed Leonie who is casting him a strange glare. He drastically whispers, "She's staring at me, K!"

"Look that route you were gonna stroll down had campers. They were waitin' for ya, or someone like ya. Long story short, you guys got decked."

Gil lets out a exasperated sigh. "Oh, Nay gong mut yeah? You even hearing yourself? You're saying like something bad happened to us?" He lets out a nervous laugh. "What's with you? You have some weird magic powers or something?"

"Says the guy who's talking to the girl in her mind." Leonie lowly mutters.

"Gil, c'mon. Who ya gonna believe? Me or some chick?"

Gil purses his lips. "That sounds like something the Chief would say."

"And when has my sister ever let you down?"

"I mean... well it was intentional but still..." Gil sighs. "Never mind. She never let us down..."

"And when did I let you down?"

"Never." He says before adding quietly. "I'm grateful for that at least."

"Hell yeah! Now do me a solid and trailblaze your way towards my little marker would'ja? Sooner we make it to this capital, sooner I can be at work before the clock!"

"Right, and what happens if we make it before you and we come across those four back on the beach?" Gil queries with concern. "I got a glimpse of the big guy and I don't think I wanna piss'im off."

"There's four of you! Believe in yourselves!"

"Four?" Gil is confused. "Think you mean three? I don't think the cargo counts as... oh... you're talking about the elephant."

"Yup! So don't let anything bad happen to Xu Chu, hear me?"

"Can I just still point out the fact that I'm riding an elephant?" Gil states before expressing discomfort. "And I realize that just sounded wrong in so many ways."

Kira looks puzzled. "Whaddya mean?"

Gil shakes his head. "Never mind... Just... be there okay?"

She flaunts a thumbs up before the holo line is cut.

"So... can she hear me?" Leonie slowly starts still casting a weird gaze.

Gil looks down at her and takes note on her confusion.

How can I say, 'She just hung up on me, so no.' Without sounding like a weirdo. This... hallucination, probably doesn't even know what fax machines were!

"No, she can't." Gil stops and corrects himself. "Well... she might have, but you would have to talk really loud for her to hear you. But she can't because... yeah you don't know what I'm talking about do you?"

"Not really." Leonie bluntly tells him. "Annd... your friend... she was communicating to you in your head?"

Gil smiles relieved that she's catching on somewhat. "You're on the right track."

"Oh, okay then." Leonie looks satisfied.

"Wait... that's it?" Gil looks at a loss. "Not even gonna ask how we do it?"

"No." Leonie simply says. "I mean, I'm a little weirded out, but if there's some cool magic trick that can allow you to talk to people in their minds, I won't complain."

"It's not uh..." Gil grinds his teeth, not sure how to proceed. "It's not technically magic. More like... oh boy how do I explain this..."

"Oh! So... it's like a trick, then." Leonie's face lights up.

"Yeah! Something like that!" Gil snaps his fingers. "That's it!"

"Huh, imagine that!" Leonie looks amazed. "Maybe you can..."

Her trailing off leaves Gil feeling somewhat unsettled. "'Maybe you can' what? Please finish your sentence. Usually when sentences are cut off like that, something bad is bound to happen!"

Judging from Leonie's face, she does look a little alarmed.

"Just keep moving." Leonie orders. "Whatever you do, just keep moving and stay calm."

"That's usually code for 'panic and run'."

"Weird bugs are hanging on the walls. Very creepy looking bugs that fly. Just... keep... going..."

Confused, Gil cocks his head towards the walls and ceilings and breathes a sigh of relief to see what Leonie is talking about.

"Dragonf- Don't worry they're just dragonflies. They're harmless!"

"There are a lot of them, though." Byleth notes. "Too many."

"Heh! Already forgotten you were here!" Gil senselessly jokes.

Leonie shakes her head. "You don't get it. These things scare the poor guy out of his wits!"

Gil's brows shoot up and glances down at the Xu Chu who remains blissfully unaware.

He lets out a shaky chuckle. "C'mon, he can't be that freaked out by them right?"

"Hey! That's how we got trapped in the forest in the first place!" Leonie hotly states.

Gil is taken aback, somewhat frightful of provoking her. "Okay, okay! I believe you!" He looks down at at the oblivious baby elephant and gulps. "So uh... any ideas... to make sure he just... you know... keeps staring down that hole at the end of the hall there...? And nowhere else?"

"Don't panic." Byleth curtly suggests. "From what I heard, animals have a tendency to sense fear in humans."

Gil gulps and nervously bites his lip.

Somehow that just makes more anxious.

"I thought elephants were scared of mice?" Gil continues, sounding hasty in his words.

"I think they're just scared of anything small." Byleth theorizes. "Similar to how humans are generally scared of small animals."

"Oh... that's enlightening..." Gil mutters.

"Why do you keep calling him that?" Leonie asks sounding curious.

Gil looks back at her with a raised brow. "Call what now?"

"An ella... ella.. fent." The short haired girl struggles with the pronounciation, like she's never heard it before.

"Uhh... that's what they're called: elephants." Gil gently pats the head of Xu Chu, much to the baby beast's delight and returns the gesture with his trunk brushing his face.

"That the Brigid word for behemoth?" Leonie guesses and glances at Xu Chu. "Huh. Now that I think about it, it does have a cute ring to it." She begins affectionately rubbing the side of Xu Chu cooing, "Who's a good elephant. Who's a brave boy walking through the dark scary tunnel?"

"Oh thank god we're out now!" Gil lets out a sigh of relief as the four step out into the lukewarm humid air. "Swear I keep this up, my shirt is gonna stick to me!"

"Hah! Never known a mercenary who whines so much!" Leonie criticizes, pride filling her voice. "I just started out, and I'm already carrying a heavy load and with leather armor on without so much as a whimper!"

Gil looks down at Leonie with a mild annoyed look on her face. He tries to think of something to say, anything like if she wanted a medal or thinking that she's now one of the big kids on the block, but he just groans and lets it go.

"Don't worry. Once we get back to base, there's this delicious drink that will completely refresh that..."

Gil becomes uneasy with Leonie stopping herself as she carefully scans her surroundings. "Uhh... why are you continuing to freak me out with ominous silence? Please say something."

"Shh!" Leonie sharply shushes him. "Listen..."

As Gil obeys and enhances his hearing, Byleth can see from an optical view that something is amiss.

"I'm getting a lot of concentrated activity coming our way." The trooper alerts the group and raises his pistol.

But Leonie doesn't look that alarmed as she glances up towards the thick tree branches covering the sky. "Look!"

Gil and Byleth gaze up to see that several monkey nimbly swinging and leaping to trees along with birds desperately flying in the same direction.

"Something's spook them." Leonie concludes.

"Heh... they're the ones spooked?" Gil shakily says. "So many freaky looking monkeys..."

"They're vacating the area where our RV is pinpointed." Byleth pinpoints.

"Which means..." Gil eggs him on.

"Captain Jeralt!" Leonie cries and unleashes her spear and sprints forward with no signs of fatigue despite the heavy backpack encumbering her.

"Hey, wait!" Gil shouts impulsively raising a hand out. "Dammit! Doesn't anyone watch ANY horror flicks?! Splitting up is the most cliché way of getting us killed!"

"Then you better keep up with her!" Byleth barks firmly smacking the rear of Xu Chu.

The result is instant and the baby elephant rushes forward amok.

"WOOOAAH!" Gil desperately dives down on Xu Chu clutching him tightly, being violently rocked and bounced. "Don't spank the baby! DON'T EVER SPANK THE BABY!"

With Xu Chu carrying Gil, Byleth keeps up the paste with his weapon raised, hinting that combat will commence.

*FE*

"What the-" Balthus sounds alarmed. "Mean to tell me that The Blade Breaker's in town?! What gives?!"

The tank of a man just finished bashing to Imperial Marines against each other before seeing the grizzled mercenary accompanied by the girl from earlier flanking him and his friends.

"I'm the one who should be complaining." Jeralt snips unsheathing his sword. "I'm caught up in a mess you started!"

"This isn't good." Hapi bluntly states, barely beating back the enemy magic users.

"Well now... goes to show..." Constance huffs heavily before continuing. "How desperate the Vanguard is... to hire sellswords to do their dirty work!"

"Yeah, problem is that money's well-spent." Yuri says crossing blades with Commander Ladislava. "Constance! Cover!"

"Gladly!" The blonde girl cries with joy and begins to cackle as magic fumes from her hands. "Ahahaha, I've heard legendary tales of your feats, Captain. Try not to disappoint."

Jeralt narrows his eyes and prepares for her magic strike.

Yuri summons his dexterous abilities and fluidly twirl kicks Ladislava in the face. The Commander flies back, nearly falling into the river.

"Balthus!" Yuri calls, nodding towards before he barely has time to react to Kira's instant pop up close to him. "Woah!"

Balthus casts a worried gaze over to Yuri, but knows he can hold his own for awhile and focuses on Jeralt. He waits when Constance summons the soft gush of wind and concentrates it into a strong brief gush, carrying the wet dirt crashing to the mercenarie's face.

"All right!" Balthus cries pouncing on his blind target.

Balthus feels a sense of pride as he lands a successful blow to Jeralt's jaw. He follows through with a few more strikes, eventually knocking the blade out of his hand! Of course, he's obviously no pushover in battle, but still, to land a hit on Jeralt, THE Jeralt, the legendary Blade Breaker, that's a story to tell over a nice drink! Not that anyone would actually believe him.

This moment of pride is quickly cut short, however as Balthus watches with uneasy eyes as Jeralt brushes off the strikes like it was nothing. He quickly intercepts Balthus's arms, bringing their fight to a brief standstill before Jeralt overpowers him with a brutal blunt bash of his head against the spiky mullet hunk.

Balthus grunts in pain as he falls back quite a distance. His vision goes blurry but he forces himself to his feet staggering in the process.

Kira cries out as she feels a blast of energy hit her armor. Thankfully, deflection will leave her with a few faint bruises, but she feels the wind knock out of her.

"Friggin magic isekai mofos!" Kira growls as she clashes her blade with Yuri before landing a decisive kick to his shin giving her breathing room.

Kira cocks her head towards Hapi who's unleashes another burst of some dark magic at her. But Kira's reflexes allow her to whip our her pistol and fires one shot.

Both girls fall to the dirt. Kira grunts loudly as she feels something smarting in her chest.

"Dunno how much this armor can hold against fantasy crap!" Kira wheezes as she forces herself, finding the resolve to brush off the pain.

Hapi on the other hand, collapses, clutching her gut, her teeth grinding to the point of breaking.

"Hapi!" Constance cries out and unleashes a series of insects onto Kira. "Keep your distance, you imbecile!"

Kira growls and begins waving her Katana around, slicing away at the swarm but not before leaving fresh cuts across her face, and raw markings on her armor.

"Hapi!" Constance rushes towards her friend for assistance. "Turn over, let me observe the wound!"

With Constance's aid, Hapi turns on her back, leaving the red haired girl sucking the air through her teeth. "Feels like my insides are really hating me right now!"

Constance feels the warmth leaving her body, and the color on her skin evaporates as she sees Hapi bleeding profusely from the wound in her stomach.

"Yuri!" Constance cries out, sounding desperate.

Yuri flicks his wrist towards two marines advance on him, only to fall with two throwing knives to their head and neck. He turns to face his friend in a dire state and knows that they cannot keep up this fight.

For Hapi's sake, they need to fall back to the hideout!

"Just me... or is the ground... feeling... rumbly...?" Hapi weakly mutters.

At her words Constance can feel the ground trembling lightly, but her chest tightens when the shaking intensifies. Yuri and Balthus, however, are too preoccupied with battle to notice.

Balthus continues to struggle against Jeralt, as they resort to hand to hand. Every strike is easily dodged, deflected, out countered until Jeralt seizes his dark grey hair and slams him on his back before brutally smashing his six-pack.

Balthus gasps and jerks up before groaning in pain.

"Think I know you." Jeralt coolly says examining his battered face. "You're that guy from the Alliance, right? Got quite the bounty on your head."

Balthus lets out a strained chuckle. "Came all the way here just to see me? Could have at least ask me out to dinner first."

Jeralt scowls and pastes his face with his foot, leaving Balthus laying there not moving a muscle saved his pained facial expressions.

Yuri flashes an alarmed glance at his unconscious friend before being forced to fend off the girl with the razor sharp sword. Clashes with blades allowed Yuri to unleash a duo of throwing knives at Kira, but she is able to deflect one with her armored arm, while another merely cuts her cheek. Yuri notices a droplet of blue liquid trailing down to her chin. His brow furrows in confusion, but shoot up when he notices the cut itself. Either his eyes are playing tricks, or her cheek mended and healed the wound until just blue stain remains.

It's as if the blade never hit her!

"Okay, that's cheating." Yuri coolly states.

"All's fair in love and war." Kira cheekily counters before sternly ordering, "Back away nice... and slow..."

The rumbling reaches Yuri's ears and both him and Kira look in the direction where its originating to see something tear through the stacks of bamboo.

"Ahhh! Oh! OW OW! OH OUCH!" Gil whines as the thin logs smash against him while Xu Chu rushes towards Kira.

"Captain!" Leonie's voice is loud and relieved as the girl leaps across small gap between rocks and towards the ground. She aims her spear at the beaten and bruised enemies. "Lost this one! Give up now, and you'll be treated properly as prisoners of war!"

Yuri can see this fight is a lost cause. Even with the marines at half strength, they're still determined, no, eager to fight with Jeralt and meager reinforcements coming to their aid. He eyes Balthus, and frowns knowing there's nothing he can do for him. For now at least. But he can still save Hapi.

He shoots his gaze over to the wounded girl, communicating with their eyes until Yuri nods, as if she's giving her permission. Hapi lets out a groggy chuckle and looks up at Constance feverishly tending to her wound.

"Don't hate me for this, Coco." She laughs before taking in a deep breath.

"What could you..." Constance's puzzled face soon contorts into horror. "Hapi, DO NOT EVEN-"

"Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh..." Hapi lets out long heavy sigh, emphasizing on it as if she wanted to add some dramatic effect.

Just then, its as if the whole jungle has been rudely awaken from it's long peaceful slumber. Vicious and primal noises, like war cries fill the jungle and rattled shaking of flora, loud pattering and stomping grow more rampant and loud.

Kira steps away from Yuri keeping the edge of the blade aimed at him.

Yuri slowly motions backward before his friends before risking a quick sprint. He slides towards them and barks, "Constance!"

Constance looks at Yuri and is concerned that Balthus is not with him. "What are we to-"

"Constance, listen! We'll steal back our favorite knucklehead, but we need to go! NOW!"

With sad eyes, Constance bites her lips and whispers an apology before a burst of magic surrounds them before vanishing on the spot.

Not caring that much about what she just witnessed, Kira lowly orders, "Gil, boat. NOW!"

"Way ahead of you!" Gil says as he unexpectedly is already off Xu Chu and clamoring onto the nearest boat.

"Hey what about-" Leonie looks at Xu Chu then back at Gil before expelling an annoyed grunt before rushing to the elephant. "Make way little guy! We're gonna get you back home safe and sound, okay?"

The short haired girl gently pats the side of the frightened elephant, calming him slightly as she peers out for incoming trouble. "Heads up! Something big is lurking northeast!"

Everybody turns towards where Leonie spots her creeper and many faces now wear a look of wanting to leave as soon as possible. Kira on the other hand can see some big nasty looking winged creatures starting gather around them.

"Those bats?" She quietly questions. "Bat people? Bat people that can see? Think they're eyein' us... and it's really creepy."

"Everybody on the boats! Now!" Jeralt shouts, hauling up Balthus. "Leonie, move!"

"Captain the behemoth-"

"Forget the behemoth! Get in, NOW!"

One of the winged creatures screeches and zooms towards Leonie, but she's quick to intercept it with a fist, knocking it to the ground cold. "Captain! I can outrun them!"

Jeralt blinks. "What?!"

"See you back at the capital!" Leonie declares before gently kicking Xu Chu and crying, "Hyah!"

Xu Chu, encouraged by Leonie's bravery stomps away with haste with Leonie taking the helm.

"Leonie!" Jeralt watches in horror as several of the creatures give chase to hear.

Kira growls. "Idiot's gonna be tombstoned!"

"Hey, what are you doing?!" Jeralt quickly pushes an arm against Kira.

"Something stupid!" Kira brushes past him and rushes ahead with unnatural speed.

"HEY!" Jeralt lets out a frustrated growl. "DAMMIT!"

"Uhh, guys... there's something in the water." Gil alerts in panicked voice. "Nope! NOPE! Stepping away from the edge! AGH!"

Gil then sees a huge scaly beast with a monstrous long mouth with many teeth breach the watery barrier and slam onto the boat snarling and hissing towards Gil.

"JESUS!" Gil shrieks and carelessly fires his pistol at the snot of monster, but its not until Byleth blasts its eye is when it slithers back into the water.

"Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod! What the fuck is that thing?!" Gil is in a complete and utter panic as he continues to blather out, "ALL ABOARD! WOMEN AND CHILDREN LAST! EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF! I'M TOO GOOD LOOKING TO BE FISH FOOD!"

Ladislava roughly steps aboard the board Gil mans and shoves him to the side. "MOVE IT, MARINES!" She jabs her sword at the beast looking to spring up again. "CAPTAIN! TODAY!"

Jeralt looks at the uncertain path that Kira embarked with a distressed look as it is becoming infested with the murderous wildlife closing in on them. He clenches his teeth and stumbles towards the boat. He plops Balthus inside before climbing aboard and seizes one of the winged creatures before crushing it with his fist.

"Prepare to embark on the capital!" The Commander barks as her Brigid associate joins her.

The skull helmet warrior cries out as he slashes an incoming winged creature. "WE... LEAVE... NOW!"

The survivors waste no time setting sail, paddles and the current carrying them with great speed. However, the giant beast slithers along the flow gaining speed with boats.

"Incoming!" Byleth sounds off as he stumbles to the stern and aims at the figure approaching them.

"Me... help!" The warrior offers performing a quick twirl of his dual spear and patiently waits for the right time to strike.

Byleth can hear the man next to him mutter something in his native tongue, possibly a prayer of good luck. It's a elegant speech pattern compared to his simplistic and gravely English, but quickly casts those thoughts aside as they have a bigger issue to address.

As is comes into close range, Byleth begins blasting short bursts at the beast, slowing and flinching it, but not stopping it. It's only when it springs up with its mouth stretched wide open is when the skulled helmet man delivers the killing blow by sticking one sharp edge of his spear down its mouth until the faint noise of skin shredding paralyzes it. With a loud grunt, the warrior yanks back his spear and the beast splatters back into the water and no longer a threat.

Byleth once again sees the warrior with his head bowed and whispers to himself. He can sense some strange sense of pity irradiating off of him, but does not bother to question it.

That sort of stuff is above his paygrade.

Both warriors share a glance, their faces covered by their helmets, but the subtle motions and gestures display lukewarm admiration and gratitude for each other without saying a word.

The skull helmeted warrior departs with a curt nod and a loud grunt before slamming down onto the boat, rocking it.

Byleth feels a lukewarm sense of comfort and takes his seat by the shaken Gil.

"Man..." Gil lets out a shaky breath. "This is the best... worst trip ever!"

"You're not under any influence." Byleth curtly point out.

"Sure, friendly hallucination!" Gil lets out a chuckle. "Say... humor a guy high off his ass will ya?"

Byleth turns to him but says nothing.

"You seem more relaxed now. That's... kinda a first. Was it something I'm breathing."

Byleth snickers silently and merely replies. "Lets just say my helmet has a habit of making me feel safe."

"Safe, yep! Think I could go for that! Probably safe and sound back at the hotel, high off my ass! Jill probably drawing a dick on my face, or Chief stick a... Sticking a..." He cackles curling into a ball. "Oh man... why did I let Jill kiss me...?"

Byleth decides to let Gil vent whatever nonsense he's spewing and brings his focus forward just in time to see a sight that catches his attention. The river opens up into a natural made moat with what looks like an ancient yet majestic stone temple complex that resembles that of those common in Southeast Asia. The barricades surrounding the city look rather quickly made from anything that looks sturdy enough, a complete contrast to the well-preserved condition of this place. Yet unlike these sorts of sights he's witness a few times, the complex is bustling with life as Byleth can hear the influx of voices faintly heard behind the walls. Men, women, and children can be heard but he cannot fully make out the language.

"There she is, boys and girls!" Commander Ladislava announces with pride. "Home sweet home!"

Byleth tilts his head. "I'm gonna assume that's the capital."

"That's not a city, that's more like temple ruins!" Gil seems to have snap out of his hysteria, at least for now, and observes the complex they're docking in.

"Trust me, kid." Ladislava turns to Gil. "Looks can be deceiving."

As the boats perform a sharp curve into a narrow canal leading them safely inside the walls. Jeralt's face wrinkles from fear. If something happens to those two... He then steels himself coming to conclusion that unless he sees their corpses. They are still alive.

But first he would have to make a quick stop for much needed supplies. After all, she owes him a favor.

As the boats come to stop at at the makeshift dock, Jeralt steps onto the ruined paved path coated with moss, carrying Balthus over his shoulder. He ignores the calls of Commander Ladislava and senselessly drops his captive onto the grass where marines can throw him in the pen for the time being. As he marches into the center of the Brigid Capital, he ignores the bustling crowds of people being fairly busy at ensuring this place stays in the best condition there is.

Who can blame them with all that's going on?

But as Jeralt sets his eyes on a familiar red-headed woman looking rather annoyed with a huge amount of miscellaneous items behind her that look ready to sale. As she spots Jeralt approaching her, the woman stretches a smirk with some relief expressed.

"Well, well... even on an island where everything tries to kill you, you still come out on top, Cap!" She greets with a sassy hand on her hip.

"Not now, Anna!" Jeralt snaps. "Time to call in that favor!"

Anna's eyes shoot up. "Woah there... something happen while I was here?"

"I have two brats out there and a jungle that's ready to eat them alive! So I'd appreciate it if I can have have your special selection free of charge!"

But Anna simply scoffs. "Are you kidding! That's only for emergencies! Read the fine print, Cap! No deal!" She then points a finger in his direction. "Besides, those two 'brats' you're talking about? Are those the two damsel's in distress?"

Jeralt lets out a quiet gasp and spins around to see a most welcoming site.

"I told you: I was holding onto it!" Leonie hotly argues rubbing the side of her head.

"Nobody," Kira starts preciously holding what looks like a book in her hands. "And I mean NOBODY touches my baby!"

Leonie snarls. "You didn't have to hit me over the head for it!" Her face brightens when she sees Jeralt and breaks into a full sprint. "Captain!"

Jeralt is at a loss for words when the girl stops only inches away and his shocked silence allows her to blather out how she made it.

"Captain, it was crazy! Those wing... thingies were all over us, and then the behemoth just went nuts and just started racing back here, but she-" Leonie points over to a rather impatient Kira. "She just cut them down like it was nothing! It was incredible! And then... and then..."

"We made a beeline to the capital, elephant's safe, and ya got your pay!" Kira irritably interrupts as she walks over to Jeralt and slams something hard and jingly against his iron like chest. "Congrats, don't spend it all in one place!"

"Unless it's here!" Anna calls out. "No beating my prices OR my merch!"

Kira ignores her. "Alright, we're back at home base! My cargo make it back to?"

"Uhh... yeah... yeah it did..." Jeralt answers truthfully. "Your um... colleague... well... he's not really all there right now."

Kira brings a hand over her face and grumbles. "What happened?"

"Eh... we had a... encounter with a huge monster in the river and now... well... now he's just going on about how this is all a dream and that he's blaming this all on a Jill?"

Kira growls. "Great, Gil's havin' a breakdown, we're trapped in Isekai civil war, and worst of all I may lose my job!" She takes in a deep breath, turns to Jeralt and then to Leonie, and wears an unamused weary look on her face. "I'll tell ya this: When I get back home and tell this to my sis: I'll be 500 points ahead of her!"

With that Kira takes her leave towards the docks leaving the trio as they were.

Leonie furrows a brow. "She's cranky."

Jeralt sighs. "C'mon, kid. Gotta have a talk with the Commander."

They're departure left Anna letting out an annoyed grunt. "Just when I thought I had a reliable client..."

*FE*

"Almost there." Yuri assure Hapi, carrying her in his arms.

Hapi looks dangerously pale. "Yuri... is it me... or is winter now a thing here in Brigid?"

Her amusing question casts worrying glances in both Yuri and Constance, who looks more unsettled and distress from her dear friend's condition.

"Yuri, surely our allies will lend us their aid."

Yuri disguises his fear with a quick laugh. "C'mon with a face like Hapi's how can they say no?"

"Heh here I thought they just love the sound of your tweeting, Yuri-bird."

"Well that, too."

Hapi breathing becomes more shallow and heavy, letting Constance become more panicked. "Argh! If our allies are reliable and would come to our aid, I would appreciate it!"

"Coco... you're not... cut out for... adventure..." Hapi struggles through before her eyes flutter close.

Yuri feels his heart stop for a moment but lets out a semi sigh of relief. "Don't worry, she's still breathing."

But Constance does not look assured. "Goddess please spare her..."

It didn't take long before the trio found themselves encircled by several heavily armed warriors, with the intent to kill them. Thankfully, Yuri is able to easily make out the girl back at the rebel hide out. Although she looks displeased to see him again, her stark expression softens when she sees Hapi in her grave condition and frowns.

It's then that Puteri gives her order to the warriors under her command. "Bring them with us." She then turns to Penjaga. "And see to it that she lives."

The older woman nods, showing no reserve for her worry about the Hapi's health. "Of course."

Yuri feels a small hint of pressure being lifted off his shoulders and he feels Hapi would make it through this with the rebels help.

And of course, he could not wait to rub it in Hapi's face that they have hearts of gold after all.

Another chapter done and out of the way! C'mon no way I wasn't going to kill off the Ashen Wolves!

But problems keep adding up, Hapi's not looking good, Gil's freaking out, and worst of all, Kira may miss work :(

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Feel free to leave a review and as always more chapters on the way!