Despite previous encounters, where the Wendigo just growled, snarled, howled, and roared, due to its cannibalistic nature being that of an animal, Ariel suspected, since they can mimic human speech too, they must be intelligent enough to communicate. So, to solve the mystery of why one Wendigo would be in the woods and yet another, working with pharmacists, Ariel decided to try and capture one to question it!
Since Wendigos start as humans, who have turned to cannibalism, it would be safe to assume they do not travel in packs or pairs. However, because she is smart and better to be safe than sorry, Ariel took Gracie, Crystal, and Christen with her as the Senshi of love and water both had sets of Anasazi symbols and Christen's fire is essential. Understandably, Gracie and Crystal are scared to go, but they trust Christen's knowledge enough to have provided them with adequate protection.
"So, how are we supposed to capture one? So far, we've only been able to hold off or kill one." Gracie asked with a slightly horrified squeak in her voice.
"If this thing is as capable as what Christen recited to us, we need to perfect ourselves, maybe find a battleground we know like the back of our hand." Crystal said nervously.
"We can't be perfect hunters like the Wendigos, so we just need to be spontaneous." Ariel knew the Wendigo had more strength than them and probably already knew the territory better than they did, so just winging it was the best plan they could have.
"OK. Now is as good a place as any to transform as we don't know beyond this point when a Wendigo will show up." Christen stated.
Agreeing, the girls transformed, and Neo-Sailor Venus took the lead, using her sword to light the way as it was getting pitch-black, and Neo-Sailor Mars would not use her fire as she had to conserve it if they were attacked. So the girls continue to trudge until they are in some rocky hills with Bonsai trees and scrub bushes sprouting up from the cracks here and there.
"Where should we start looking for a Wendigo?" Neo-Sailor Venus looked around, knowing that there were few places to utilize if it came to a battle.
"We've been walking for like 25 minutes! Why can't we wait for the Wendigo to come to us?!" Neo-Sailor Mars whined loudly.
"Mars, I know exactly what you're trying to do! Please stop trying to attract it by making so much noise! Shut up!" Neo-Sailor Jupiter glared at Neo-Sailor Mars.
"I was trying to make a point. But, unfortunately, you're the one shouting…." Neo-Sailor Mars grumbled.
Neo-Sailor Jupiter was going to retort, but she heard something walking toward them!
"Hide." Neo-Sailor Jupiter hissed to the others. She ducked behind a bush, her hair, eyes, and Sailor suit helping her blend in!
When a silhouette walked into view, Neo-Sailor Venus lunged towards them, but before she could bring her blade down, a gun blocked it! This silhouette turned out to be nothing more than a hunter. Everyone exhaled, half in relief, half in annoyance, and came out of hiding. This man had beige camo on to blend into his surroundings, but they could see his hair was black and his eyes dark brown. He looked to be in his late 20's.
"Whoa, Neo-Sailor Venus. I could have shot you." This male hunter put down his gun.
"Sorry. Who are you?" Neo-Sailor Venus asked.
"Michael Abrahamson." This man smiled.
"What are you doing lurking around here?" Ariel questioned suspiciously.
"Hunting Wendigos." Michael grinned proudly. "What are you doing out here by yourselves?"
"Same thing as you, seeing as we're Sailor Senshi. Do you have anything for fire, silver, or Anasazi symbols as a gun won't do anything to a Wendigo?" Neo-Sailor Mars doubted this man knew what the hell he was doing.
"I have matches. Well, I hope you girls don't find more trouble than you can handle. I'll have my trusty rifle ready. If you need me, I'll be right over there." Michael points to just over the hill.
Neo-Sailor Mars was about to reply with something nasty before Neo-Sailor Jupiter grabbed her around the head, covering her mouth!
"Thanks. Same to you." Neo-Sailor Jupiter gave Michael a nervous smile as she tried to restrain Neo-Sailor Mars from speaking out.
Neo-Sailor Jupiter waited until Michael was out of eyesight to let Neo-Sailor Mars breathe! Neo-Sailor Mars, again, was about to scream angrily at Neo-Sailor Jupiter when she noticed the mature soldier looking behind her: Some pebbles and debris were trickling down from the cliffs around them!
Looking up, they saw something darting around in the shadows! They watched this shadow move along the cliff face and out of sight. Then, not a second later, they heard a gunshot, an animalistic roar, and a human man's scream! The Neo-Sailor Senshi rushed to the spot, not expecting what they saw: Michael's hunting rifle and backpack lying in a pool of blood, but nobody. Where could the Wendigo have taken a fully grown man's body so fast?
Suddenly, the Wendigo jumped down, swinging around its claws, hoping to kill the four girls all at once! Neo-Sailor Venus used her sword to parry it! Without a 2nd thought, she used the first attack that came to mind.
"Heart Chain Constrict!" Neo-Sailor Venus tangled up the monster.
"Ice Freeze!" Neo-Sailor Mercury scattered little, sharp pieces of ice along the golden, linked heart chain.
"Supreme Electric Crash!" Neo-Sailor Jupiter electrifies the chain as well.
"What are you waiting for? Stop playing around and let your fiery friend finish me off!" Amazingly, the Wendigo snarled. Unmistakably male and Native American from what the female warriors could see.
"So, I was right: Your species can talk?" Ariel wanted to make sure all Wendigo could do this.
"We were once human too, you know." This Wendigo replied as he sat up.
"We don't want to kill you. We want to talk." Neo-Sailor Venus reasoned.
"What could you possibly want to talk to me about?" This Wendigo scoffed.
"You could start by giving us your name." Neo-Sailor Mars snapped.
This Wendigo did say…something, but the girls had no idea how to pronounce it. So, rolling his eyes, the Wendigo resorted to a more straightforward option, "You can call me Don."
"We'll go with the name we can pronounce." Neo-Sailor Mars commented.
"What are your names?" Don inquired, though still a bit heated.
"You can call me Gracie." Neo-Sailor Venus answered sweetly, trying to seem civil.
"Crystal." Neo-Sailor Mercury tried to keep any fear out of her voice
"I'm named Christen." Neo-Sailor Mars smiled proudly.
"I'm Ariel." Of course, Neo-Sailor Jupiter did not like how Don had their civilian names but had that ever really been an issue?
"Nice. You know, I could break out of all this and eat you, though it would take me a wee longer than usual, it has been many years since I talked to people and girls, no less. This feels…refreshing." Don sighed.
"Glad you're enjoying yourself!" Neo-Sailor Mars shouted.
"I can see why you're the new Sailor Mars. You're hot-blooded, rash, AND brash." Don stated.
"That's our Christen!" Neo-Sailor Venus chirped brightly.
"We captured you with non-rash decisions!" Neo-Sailor Mars argued with Don.
"Um…THEY captured me, you "supervised." Don emphasized the word "supervised" as his chained claws could not do air quotes.
"Christen needed to conserve her energy in case you decided not to talk with us," Ariel explained.
Well, I'm talking to you now. What else do you want to know? I want to get this over with so I can go home and eat." So that explained why Don was being so snarky: He was hungry.
"There was a man who went missing on a family camping trip in Crystal Park Woods. Do you know what happened to him?" Gracie asked urgently.
"If my species found him, he'd be long gone by now," Don replied gravely.
"Why was your species working with Electrum International?" Crystal asked hastily.
"That's easy. We dispose of unwanted evidence rather effectively. So, if you don't want something found, we are the perfect species to ask what to do." Don seemed rather proud of how advanced his people are.
"If we let you go, will you kill us?" Neo-Sailor Mercury had to know this.
"I won't, but I cannot guarantee others will not." Don shook his head.
Despite what might have been a better decision, the young Senshi let Don go. He had proven that Wendigo was capable of speech and highly intelligent, more than people credit for. However, this little interview of theirs did not explain why wendigoes were attacking. Was it they were just hungry or did they want something else?
Unknown to them, at the Crystal Palace, another Wendigo was peeking into windows, watching the rest of the Neo-Senshi, including the Princesses, the royals, and Beryl sleeping in their rooms. As it imagined how soft and tender their flesh would be in his jaws, it licked its fangs.
"I'm so hungry, but no, not tonight. Soon. Maybe we can even convince a few of them to enjoy the taste of their own kind." This Wendigo laughed as it slunk off...for now.