"HONK! HONK! HONK!"

Jason, pulled away from his light slumber, sprang off the floor of his hut the second he heard Altair's distinct cry. He threw his blanket aside, put his winter uniform over his sleepwear, and jumped out from his balcony. He flew from the trees, navigating down to the first level, and landed on the central platform of the fort, rustling the layer of snow piled on top of it. He glared up at the bundled branches.

I never thought we would need to initiate a lockdown.

His ears flickered to footsteps crunching in the snow. He turned sharply, pulling a dagger from his pocket, but eased up as Tank and Leon came running over, as well as Enora. "Jason! Was that the lockdown alert?" Enora asked.

Jason nodded. "It was." He looked at the other two. "What are you two doing out so late?"

"Long story," Tank said, hammer resting over his shoulder. "What's going on?"

"I'll explain in the morning. Escort Leon back to his hut. Wake Marianne up for me." Tank nodded and guided Leon back to the residency area. "Enora, gather the rest of the Weald Rangers and have them initiate the emergency lockdown. After that, get a head count of every Forester presently stationed in Fort Lucus. Check thrice if you have to."

Enora saluted. "Can do, sir!" She turned and raced off to the residency area.

Jason's ears detected someone swooping down. He looked up right as Altair emerged through the cluster of branches and landed in front of him. He saluted Jason with a serious, cross-eyed glare. "Reporting for duty, sir!"

"What happened?"

"Ambush, sir. An assassin tried to take me, but I caught them by surprise. Unfortunately, I was fighting a Substitute clone, and I didn't get a good look at the attacker. I managed to pick out some distinguishing characteristics, though."

Jason's glare sharpened. "An assassin all the way out here? Did they happen to say anything?"

"He spoke in the Great Gate's tongue, sir. I wasn't able to get anything useful out."

"Do you at least remember what he said?"

"I could give a rough rundown of what I heard."

Jason nodded. "Right. Marie should be able to translate for us. Head back to my office. I'll join you in five minutes."

"Yes, sir." Altair fluttered off.

Jason turned and glared up at the residency area as lantern lights started turning on within the huts. Someone tried to assassinate Altair, or at least incapacitate him. If it weren't for his heightened sense of direction, that could've ended badly. But to act so boldly against one of our guards, this guy must've been staking us out for a while. Does he know where the fort is? More importantly, was Altair the only one he struck tonight?

He clenched his teeth, involuntarily shooting sparks from his cheeks. Of all the weeks to be dealing with this shit, it had to be now. He marched towards the residency area, clutching his dagger in his death grip.

15th Winter Moon, 907

Morale was not high by the time morning came. The snowfall calmed last night, but grey clouds continued hovering over the sky, creating a dreary atmosphere befitting of everyone's sluggish moods. With the emergency lockdown in effect, everyone was forced out of bed and had to wait until a Weald Ranger came by to check on them. It was difficult for most to get back to sleep, not while an inkling of fear swam through their sleepy minds.

Everyone was given a general rundown of what happened last night and were told not to panic. Aside from Lambert and members of the kitchen staff, everyone was given the day off from all activities, under the strict condition they were to not leave the fort for any reason. They were strongly encouraged to either stay indoors or roam the base in groups of two or more.

The lack of sleep hit Jason hard, having only gotten about two hours in. He leaned back in his meeting chair and massaged his face. Percival leaned over and handed him his canteen, which Jason eyed cautiously.

"Relax," Percival assured. "This isn't one of my stronger blends, but it should wake you up. You kind of need it."

Jason studied the canteen before snatching it and taking a sip. Right as he did, Blitz and Zephora entered the meeting room, joined with Marie and Altair. They took their seats and waited for Jason to finish drinking.

He sighed, wiped his lips, and handed the canteen back to Percival. "Thanks."

Zephora glared. "Alright, spill. What happened last night? Are we under attack?"

Jason shook his head. "Not by an army or small battalion. We only have one confirmed intruder stalking us from the forest. Altair?"

Altair nodded. "I was in the midst of my usual routine. Throughout the day, I've had this feeling something was off, but couldn't quite find anything concrete beyond some disturbed terrain. At around midnight, however, someone attempted to subdue me from behind. They're a swordsman. Born from the Great Gate Empire, or at least speaks their language. Male. Very fast and nimble. Unfortunately, they were using Substitute, so they were long gone by the time I dispatched the double."

"And with all this snow, it makes for perfect audio and visual camouflage, eliminating two major senses," Percival pointed out. "It might even make a good camouflage for Blitz's heat sonar."

Blitz nodded. "If our target covers himself with enough snow, it would be difficult for me to locate him."

"Meaning we're dealing with a professional hunter," Jason said. "They could be after the Verde Kingdom's bounty, still trying to cash in on Harlow."

"But that's been in effect for months now," Zephora pointed out. "Would someone legitimately wait several months until it started snowing to strike us? For all they knew, the bounty could've been claimed by then."

"You'd be surprised how patient assassins are," Marie chirped in, leaning back in her chair. "After all, the element of surprise and stealth is their greatest asset. Still, we can rule out the alternate possibility that this guy was just late to the party." Marie smirked. "Of course, this could also be a personal attack sent by our lovely seasonal chums."

Jason glared. "Last Autumn."

"It's possible their members have access to great wealth. Flash a hefty reward in a bounty hunter's face and they'll do just about anything to get their hands dirty."

"So, this is either because of the old bounty or one made by Last Autumn," Jason concluded. "Then again, it's been a few months since we struck the village. Why send someone out now?"

"It would just be speculation at this point," Percival stated. "Let's concentrate on eliminating our little guest first. To start, where have they been hiding out?"

"Definitely nowhere near the fort," Zephora said. "We would've found a camp."

"That still leaves a large stretch of forest to investigate. There's also the nearby villages to act as a rest point."

Blitz raised his hand. "We also can't rule out the possibility of a partner. The Dukes were associated with Last Autumn, and they often paired up during jobs."

"So, our assassin could have a partner," Jason mumbled in agreement. "Of course, we don't know if they're in the forest or hiding out somewhere close by. The nearby villages would be a good start. Question is, does this guy want us dead, or does he need us alive?"

"Too early to tell, especially if this is a personal contract against us," Percival said. "I recommend tightening security and camouflaging the fort as quickly as possible. We may have to get some volunteers to help. Next, how do we fight someone who can navigate through the trees just as effectively as us?"

"We could send a message out to Shingo and ask him to come back early," Zephora suggested. "If we're dealing with an assassin, we need someone just as stealthy and persistent."

"But Shingo's running a group in the Wick Kingdom," Percival reminded. "We can't have him abandoning the group on such short notice. By the time we've gotten someone to fill in for him, we may already be up at our necks with issues."

"We could get his opinion on the situation," Jason said. "Or we could get in touch with one of our contacts to watch over the group until someone picks them up. Shingo could get back here in half the time it would take Godfrey to travel there if he ran a full speed. The Wick Kingdom's shady, but I don't think there's anyone there that poses a major threat."

"I don't like the idea of risking everything on getting Shingo back here. We'll consider that an alternative plan if needed. If Valentine were here, he could probably track our assassin down."

Marie sighed. "This is just back and forth on what we should or shouldn't do."

"I don't see you contributing to the discussion," Zephora snarked.

Marie smirked. "You wound me, beautiful." She leaned forward on the table. "Besides, we need to consider the fact this guy has already gotten what he came for."

Jason glared. "I take it you and Altair were able to work out what our mystery man said last night."

"Altair couldn't remember everything he said, but he managed to pick out some useful key words. He mentioned something about a head start."

"A head start?" Percival repeated.

Marie nodded. "Yep. He also mentioned something about being gone. If I had to guess, by the time Altair confronted our assassin, he already gotten his hands on something he needed. There's also hints of him returning, now with the knowledge of his presence fresh in our minds."

"Meaning he's weaponizing paranoia to keep us on edge," Jason guessed.

"Our mystery assassin didn't seem to say anything regarding killing. But from everything I could decipher out of Altair, a head start implies he got what he came for and will come back for more. You don't just say head start unless you just started work on your objective."

Blitz glared. "But what did he come here for? Was anything stolen?"

"If he did find the fort, we'd be in serious trouble," Zephora said. "Our exact location could be compromised, and no amount of trickery or diversion would save us."

"I don't think he found the fort yet," Percival surmised. "Think. We have guards surrounding the general location of the fort. Why go after Altair? He would've known there's not as much security in the fort, especially with all the snow to cover his tracks. There'd be no reason to go after him. He would've had way more time to do what he wanted while everyone was asleep."

"Guess that means we need to increase security inside the fort, just to be safe," Blitz suggested.

Altair raised his wing. "If sight and sound are off the table, couldn't we track them with smell? There's plenty of Foresters who could do that."

Marie shook her head. "This guy knows what he's doing. He'd make sure to cover his scent. Plus, even if he didn't, we don't have anything to mark him."

Jason closed his eyes. "Alright. The only thing we can do right now is keep the base secured until either Shingo or Valentine return. Valentine might be harder to track since he and Sidney are roaming Virdis for the Dukes. We'll send a message out to Shingo and have him wait for Godfrey to retrieve his group before doubling back here on his own. That gives us roughly five to six days to keep an eye out for our assassin. Altair, I expecting you to work overtime to find this guy."

Altair saluted. "Yes sir!"

"Percival, you're in charge of getting the defenses set up. Makes sure this place is extra hidden."

Percival nodded. "Right."

Jason stood up. "I'll start composing the letter to Shingo and have Petra—" Before he could finish, Ursula and Enora frantically burst through the meeting hut doors, stumbling into the table. They looked out of breath. "What's gotten into you two?"

Ursula leaned against the table, panting heavily, then faced the Pikachu. "We're missing two Foresters!"

Everyone flew out of their seats, eyes wide with shock. "What?!"

Enora nodded. "We just got done with the head count and questioning. One of the Weald Rangers reported two missing Foresters last seen leaving their hut according to their roommate. They were members of my training group, in fact."

"Why did they leave in the middle of the night?" Jason asked.

"According to the roommate, one of them forgot their dagger and wanted to get it back. The other roommate went with them because he was scared of the dark or something. No one's seen them since last night."

Jason gripped into his scalp and paced around his chair. "You've got to be kidding me…"

Marie clenched her teeth. "Guess we now know what that head start was."

Jason huffed through his nostrils. "Who's missing?"

Ursula crossed her arms and answered, "Thales and Saga, a Whimsicott and Lampent. Fairly new recruits, actually. Kind of, uh—"

"Stupid?" Enora grumbled.

"I was going to say shortsighted. Still, they're good kids. I don't think any of us could've predicted this."

Jason glared. "If we're dealing with a kidnapping, this changes everything."

"And don't forget," Marie spoke up, "that assassin is only getting started. He might be aiming to kidnap more of us if we're not careful."

Percival rubbed his chin. "If he's been here for a while, he would know to pick out the weakest of us. That's probably why he miscalculated going after Altair, what with that stupid look on his face."

Altair nodded. "It's true."

"So, this guy has been doing his research," Jason surmised. "Enora, how strong are Thales and Saga?"

Enora tapped her chin. "Not that strong. They both did pretty poorly on their final exams, though not enough to fail. That's why they signed up for my course, hoping to improve their abilities. And since they're a Whimsicott and Lampent—"

"They'd be easy to transport around with how light they are," Marie guessed.

"There's more," Enora continued. "An hour after we initiated lockdown, we found Hedwig limping back to base. She was covered in cuts. She's sitting in the med hut right now."

"Hedwig was attacked?" Jason asked.

"She went out again last night," Ursula explained. "She said she overheard the commotion after Altair's scuffle and tracked the assassin down before he fully got away. You may want to talk to her."

Jason sighed. "Right. Enora, Ursula, I need you two to head the defenses. We need to cancel the Weald Ranger course and focus our efforts on protecting the base. Same goes for you, Altair."

The trio nodded. "Yes, sir!"

Jason looked to Marie. "Marie, I'm going to have to send you on a super important mission. Can you handle it?"

Marie smirked and patted her bad leg. "As if I'm letting this slow me down. What do you need?"

"I want you to investigate the nearby villages surrounding the forest. If our assassin does have a partner, they're likely stationed in a village close to here. Be thorough. Don't leave any stones unturned."

"I think I can handle that."

"Just to help, I'm sending Lambert with you."

Percival hovered over and raised his brow. "Wait, why Lambert?"

"We can't track the assassin, but we can track the missing Foresters. Lambert has the best sense of smell out of everyone here. If anyone can locate them, it's him. If they're not in the forest, they're either with the assassin or in their home base."

Marie nodded. "Makes sense to me."

"Go inform Lambert and have him meet me in an hour to talk. That'll give him time to sort the kitchen schedule up." Jason pointed to Percival, Blitz, and Zephora. "You three inform the Foresters of the situation and of the conditions of lockdown. No leaving the huts except for food, and travel in groups of two or more."

They nodded. "Okay."

"I'll go speak with Hedwig about what she saw last night, then get that letter to Shingo written up. If all else fails, he's our best hope of evening the playing field. Everyone, move out!" They nodded and rushed out the meeting hall.

Altair lingered at the door and craned his head around. "Ah. Too bad classes are cancelled. I feel like we were bonding."

Jason patted his back. "Wyatt and Avel? Just be glad they weren't captured, too. You kept them out pretty late yesterday."

"Yeeeeah." Altair blinked slowly, staring ahead in silence, then asked, "Would it be alright if I take a two hour break before running my shift? There's something I want to do first."

"Is it important?"

"Potentially."

Jason sighed. "Alright, but only two hours. I've got to go." He pushed the doors open and raced toward the medical hut.

Altair waddled out and looked in the directional of the residential section. "They really could've been captured just like those other two. Hmm…" With a glare firmly on his face, he fluttered off to the huts.

Hedwig lay curled up on the bed, growling beneath the blankets with increasingly restlessness. She dug her claws into the mattress and tore into the padding. "I am a proud Lycanroc. I do not sleep in such comforts. I sleep on the hard cold ground of a moonlit night! I demand to be let outside!"

Shade rolled up to her bedside and said, "Hedwig, you should be lucky none of those cuts were fatal."

"Pain good for body. Increases survival instincts! Makes stronger! Faster!" She growled, flaring up her fur as she took a lunging stance. "Must find prey and exact revenge! Must atone for abysmal hunt—" Shade slapped her side, causing Hedwig to seize up and howl a loud, "YOW!" She collapsed back onto the bed and cradled her side. "How dare you!"

"I thought you liked pain," Shade said smugly before rolling back to his desk. "Anyway, you're not going anywhere with those injuries."

Hedwig pouted before curling back up. She didn't stay that way for long as Jason entered the hut, looking about as exhausted as Shade on a normal day. She grinned and sat up. "Pack leader!"

"Don't call me that," Jason grumbled.

"I failed in my hunt! Allow me a second chance to tear out that disgraceful hunter's throat with my fangs!"

Jason glanced at Shade, who shrugged. "She needs bedrest," he concluded.

"I do not!" Hedwig yelled. This caused the injuries to flare up again, taking her back down to the bed. "Ow, ow, ow…"

Jason sighed and shook his head. "Hedwig, I have no time for this. We have a serious situation on our hands now. Two Foresters were kidnapped last night."

Hedwig's eyes widened. "They were?" She glared and rubbed her chin. "I thought I smelled familiar scents on that dastard. The strong scent of pine and…fear sweat, probably."

"Sounds about right. What exactly happened last night? According to Enora, you went after the assassin right after Altair sounded the lockdown."

Hedwig closed her eyes. "Yes, I remember well. I was basking in my natural state, attuning with my wild roots like a true predator—"

"I do not want to hear this part."

Hedwig rolled her eyes. "You have no appreciation for our ancestors. Anyway, I happened to smell the faint scent of pine fleeting by right as the alarm went off, so I gave chase. It was a valiant chase between both parties, but I would not allow my quarry to escape so easily. I would chase him to the ends of the earth to satisfy the hunt! Unfortunately, though his hunting skills were admirable, he played dirty…"

"I will sink my fangs into your flesh, my prey!" Hedwig shouted as she flew through the trees on all fours. Her eyes locked onto the fleeting, cloaked figure as the snow poured down on them. She brandished her claws and made for a lunging strike.

The assassin drove his dagger through a tree and whipped around the trunk, narrowly avoiding Hedwig's claws. They ripped through the bark and tore out chunks of wood. Hedwig hooked off a branch and spun around the tree, too, kicking the assassin out of the air and taking him straight into the snow below.

"Ascend by the hand of the hunting god!" Hedwig roared, diving with claws splayed out.

The assassin opened their cloak and fired off purple, liquid shuriken. Hedwig covered herself as the shuriken bombarded her. They grazed her skin, leaving shallow cuts that hardly fazed her. However, upon landing in the snow, she felt a sizzling pain flaring up from her wounds. She clutched her arms and hissed as her skin started burning.

"You quivering snake!" Hedwig hissed. She lunged at the assassin and lashed out with her claws.

The assassin stepped out of reach and drew his sword. Hedwig dodged before he could cut into her, but gasped as the blade struck across her side. A gash opened up with blood spilling out. She tumbled through the snow, mixing splotches of blood with the white. She rolled to her hands and feet while clutching her side.

The assassin held his sword up and backed away from Hedwig. "[It appears the Foresters take in unique members. What a feral display for a lady. My lady would—]"

"Quit speaking gibberish!" Hedwig lunged at him again and swiped her claws.

He ducked out of her attack and pulled a dagger out from behind, cutting under the gash in her side.

"AGH!" Hedwig tumbled, but spun herself as she flew past him and kicked him across the face.

The assassin skidded back. His hood caught a gust of wind upon impact and blew off his head. Hedwig only had a second to catch a glimpse of his face before he pulled it back over himself. "[I need to retreat now.]" He jumped into the trees and vanished in a veil of glowing white.

Hedwig picked herself up and tried to sniff him out, but the smell of her own blood overpowered her senses. Defeated and furious, she turned and limped back to base.

"…After I got back, I must've collapsed and been brought back here," Hedwig finished.

Jason nodded. "You got a good look at his face, right?"

"I think…he was an Accelgor."

"Checks out with some of Altair's observations. And you couldn't track him?"

"Between my blood and everything else around me, I didn't have time to discern a scent. Still, he got a good cut off on me. He might've washed it by now, but my scent could be on that sword of his."

"We'll keep that in mind. For now, we need to concern our efforts with locating the missing Foresters."

Shade crossed his arms. "I'm more confused why you didn't body that guy. I mean, you gave Jason quite the workout when you two first met, right?"

Hedwig snarled. "I swore to suppress my…beast for the sake of cooperation."

Shade looked to Jason, who answered, "She's under orders not to go all out unless given a direct order from one of her superiors. That includes the leaders, the Nature Spirits, and a select few. If we let her do whatever she wanted, we would have corpses and a lot of explaining to do about having an untamed carnivore running around."

"Because the modern world fears their superior ancestry like a bunch of cowardly prey!" Hedwig barked. "I could've torn that quivering snake to shreds! I haven't had a satisfying hunt since the invasion, and I still wasn't allowed to go all out!"

Jason sighed. "Hedwig, you chose to stick with the Foresters, so you need to abide by our rules."

Hedwig pouted like a fussy puppy and looked away. "Yeah, but still…no fair."

"Regardless, your account has at least confirmed we're looking for an Accelgor. And if he had a particular pine scent on his person, that means he kidnapped Thales and Saga before he attacked Altair. They're probably already hidden somewhere. He might move them away from the forest since we'll be on the hunt now, and keeping them on home territory would draw us closer to him."

Shade yawned, then asked, "Do you already have a plan set up?"

"Something of the sort. Until then, stay indoors, both of you. We need to be extra cautious this time around. This may be one of many difficulties we'll have to face."

Hedwig scoffed. "No prey scares the apex predator."

"Right." Jason turned and waved them off. "I've got work to do. Try and rest up, Hedwig. And don't do anything reckless."

"Hmph!" Hedwig turned away, arms crossed.

"Good luck finding Thales and Saga," Shade said. "If you need any alchemical assistance, let me know." Jason merely nodded and left the hut.

Wyatt stood by the windowsill and looked out at the snowfall. Last night's eventful episode caused quite the turmoil that rattled the brothers. First an emergency lockdown went into effect, Wyatt and Avel were ordered to stay in Ursula's hut until given permission to leave, now they were sitting back home with nothing to do since all activities were cancelled.

On top of that, word had gotten around that two Foresters went missing in the night. Wyatt wasn't familiar with the two, though they were new. Apparently, because they went outside the boundaries of the forest, they were prime targets to the assassin. Wyatt hoped they were alright.

Worst of all, because of how late he and Avel got back, it dawned on the Lombre that they could've been kidnapped last night. They were fast asleep, exposed to the elements and vulnerable to an ambush. If it weren't for Altair still being in the area, would they have been captured, too?

Wyatt sighed and leaned his forehead against the glass. "If Altair wasn't there, Thales and Saga may have been spared."

"There's a chance they're not dead," Avel spoke up, sitting at their kitchen table reading through a book. "Plus, if it weren't for Altair, Fort Lucus would've had four missing members, not two. Be grateful for that."

"It still sucks. Two newcomers got captured. At least we're pros at this stuff."

"We're not pros."

"We've fought some tough opponents, though. We're used to it. I can't imagine what those two are going through. They might be scared or confused. Or maybe dead."

Avel sighed. "Wyatt, don't blame yourself for something out of your power. We were lucky to have a guardian angel over our heads, that's it. Yes, I agree it's kind of scary thinking about what could've happened to us, but it didn't. All we can do is hope those two are alive and well."

"I guess…" Wyatt frowned out the window. "I just wish we could help out. I want to do something, not just sit around waiting for everything to cool down. Maybe we could help—"

"If you're suggesting an impromptu rescue mission, forget it," Avel shot down. "One rogue mission is enough for me. I don't need another one under my non-existent belt, especially since we're dealing with someone potentially more dangerous than a germaphobe called the Skipper."

"I nearly got a concussion from that fight, first of all. Second—" Before Wyatt could continue, a knock sounded off their door. Wyatt walked to the door and placed his ear against the wood. "Uh, who is it?"

"It's Altair. May I come in?"

Wyatt looked at Avel, who gave his version of a shrug with his shell. Wyatt opened the door and let the Cramorant inside. "Uh, hi, Altair. Didn't expect you to drop by."

Altair nodded. "Yes, yes, very busy. I'm actually taking a break before I resume my duties. Though I'd let you two know that we're setting up the fort's defenses and to make sure you're clear on lockdown procedure."

"Crystal," Avel grumbled aloud.

"Good, good." Altair waddled around the hut absently, knocking into furniture as he spoke. "I must apologize for not escorting you two home the other night. If I were more aware of our little guest, I would've made sure you had someone to watch over you."

Avel rolled his eyes. "Well, we made it back safe and sound, so don't ruffle your feathers over it."

"Yes, yes, very good." Altair waddled up behind Avel. "A shame we won't be able to continue with lessons. Jason cancelled future activities for Weald Rangers. I imagine most of the other courses will have to follow suit with our shift in focus."

Avel sighed. "Must be rough. I'm sure a lot of people were enjoying them."

Altair nodded. "Ah, but good news for you two, yes? You didn't seem like you were enjoying yourselves under my leadership. So, enjoy lazing about for who knows how long. I'd say you deserve a break."

Wyatt winced. Though Altair said it genuinely, it sounded passive-aggressive to the sensitive Lombre. With a whimper, Wyatt said, "Well, you see…we didn't hate working under you."

Altair shook his head. "You don't need to spare my feelings. I don't mind."

Avel narrowed his eyes sadly, then closed his book and faced Altair. "No, he's right. Altair, we both owe you a huge apology. We took a lot of what you do around here for granted and just assumed you were some crazy bird. But you do so much around here. Last night's proof enough. We shouldn't have thought so poorly of your person."

"It was wrong of us," Wyatt continued. "Your methods don't mesh well with us, but that doesn't mean we should think you're unimportant. We're really sorry."

Altair, again, shook his head. "It is fine. I get that a lot. I just like to think. Too much actually. I once went a whole week without eating. True story. Serious problem. What were we talking about again?"

Wyatt chuckled awkwardly. "R-Right."

"In…all seriousness," Avel spoke up, "Ursula told us about your particular talent for sensing killer intention. Is that true?"

"Hmm? Oh yes. I've gotten so good at reading a person's intentions that it's pretty difficult to fool me with feints or mix-ups. It's less about prediction and more about when you should attack. After all, it takes me a while to use my enhanced move, especially the higher tiers of it. Detecting when I should dodge gives me an edge without overcorrecting, which is another way to trip opponents up."

"Yeah, that," Avel muttered. "Actually, when you say it all like that, it does sound tempting to learn. Wyatt and I work as a unit, but sometimes there's things we can't always prepare for together."

Wyatt tapped his claws together nervously. "So, if it's alright with you, we would like to learn how to use your technique."

Altair tilted his head. "You do?"

Avel nodded. "We understand now isn't the perfect time, what with an assassin on the loose, but—"

"Alright."

"Huh?!" the brothers gasped.

Altair nodded. "I've been trying to teach it to all my students. You're the first bunch to actually ask. How can I refuse?"

"B-B-But aren't you supposed to be on guard duty?" Wyatt asked.

"I can do both. Multitasking is one of my best qualities!" Altair exclaimed.

"Somehow, I don't believe you," Avel grumbled.

"Besides, it'd actually be good for you two to defend yourselves. You never know when or where an enemy could strike, and one misstep can cost you your life. All I want is for everyone to stay safe. That's why I chose to become a Weald Ranger. Protecting others and looking out for them is what I do. I put in the effort to stand guard for so long because I value the lives of my friends."

Avel stared at Altair, stunned silent. Wyatt cupped his hands over his heart and wept with tears. "That's the…sweetest thing I've ever heard!" Wyatt threw himself at Altair and hugged him, bursting into tears. "I'm so sorry, Altair!"

"It's alright, Avel."

"I'm Wyyyyaaaatt!" Wyatt bawled.

Avel sighed and rolled his eyes in mild amusement. "That's my brother."

Altair patted Wyatt's back, then looked the brothers over. "I'm counting on you two. It won't be easy, and you might be put in danger on my account, but I have faith in you. If only a little bit, we need all the manpower we can get to take our invader down."

The brothers stepped back and smiled at the bird. "We're ready when you are, sir!"

"Excellent! Now, I'm going to need some blindfolds, a jar of honey, and twenty-six acorns."

The brothers stared blankly at him as a breeze seemed to pass by them.

…What?

Later in the day, after getting through their mission specs with Jason, Lambert and Marie descended down the fort elevator and headed toward the forest's main path. Both dressed in heavy winter gear, with Marie concealing a set of daggers underneath her wooly cloak. Lambert carried a bag filled with berries, both whole and diced in containers.

Lambert paused for a moment to stretch, clicking his peg leg into the partially frozen snow. He snorted with laughter. "When was the last time I've stepped out of the kitchen for a mission? What a change! Hahaha!"

Marie grinned. "I don't think you and I have been on a mission together, Lambert. What a shame. I admire a man with such rugged features. Perhaps you and I can make up for lost time~."

Lambert grinned back. "Nice try, hot stuff, but I'm married to my kitchen, not to a temptress."

"You wound me with the truth. Harsh~." She shook her head. "Doesn't matter. Our main goal is seeking out the missing Foresters and the location of our assassin's supposed partner."

"Right." Lambert rubbed his snout. "Might be kind of difficult with the cold air, but I think I can track those two. Got anything with their scent on it?"

"Yep." Marie pulled out two bags from beneath her cloak. "A hairbrush that belongs to Thales and Saga's diary." She also handed him a small vial of blood. "And here's some of Hedwig's blood. There's a chance some of her blood marked our target's weapon."

Lambert opened the bag with the hairbrush and inhaled deeply. Once he got the scent memorized, he looked ahead. "Odor Sleuth." Visible scent trails appeared before his eyes, filling his vision with a rainbow of different scents. He inhaled the air and tried to pinpoint one that matched the hairbrush. "Out of curiosity, where are we checking first if the scent trail runs cold?"

"I figured we could try Oakland Town first, then Marshland Village. Perhaps Timber Town, though that seems pretty far from here. Better safe than sorry."

"Hmm." Lambert took one big whiff of the air and detected something. "I found the scent trail. Let's go." Lambert jogged ahead while Marie limped after him.

"Slow down. I'm not the one with the artificial leg."

Hanging just above their heads, completely camouflaged into the snow, Katsu pondered his next move. He expected as much that the Foresters found out about their two missing teammates and would send a search party. The Grumpig acted as their tracker while the Mawile…frankly, something about her left him uneasy. After his scuffle with the surprisingly alert Cramorant last night, it was in his best interest not to draw attention to himself.

Fortunately, he anticipated them tracking by scent. What they were currently tracking was no doubt the scent trail left behind after Katsu apprehended his two catches. He made sure to cover the two in mud, but now he'll have to carry on with his plan to get them out of the forest. He would've left earlier, but his surprise run in with the Midnight Lycanroc left him dazed throughout the night.

Katsu dashed from his hiding spot and skipped through the trees with hardly a sound. The search party seemed to be made up of a duo that couldn't walk properly. One peg leg, one limp. That gave him ample time to cover his tracks and transport his catches away from the forest.

The big problem was gathering enough Foresters for a satisfying haul before he and Regina had to flee. Two Foresters was hardly enough to win the bet, as he can't predict what the other competitors were up to. The search team said they'll check Marshland Village second. That gives him a few days to get his haul and leave.

Katsu arrived near the edge of the forest and landed in front of a tree that was hollowed out at the bottom. "[I can't assume those two are weak. They were sent to lead the search party for a reason. I have to be quick and precise.]" He ducked into the hiding space.

Tied up and gagged in the far back were a terrified Whimsicott and a ticked off Lampent. She tried flaring up her flames, but they came out as harmless embers. Katsu stepped inside and shook his head.

"Don't bother. I administered a poison that'll weaken you two for most of the day. Not even the littlest spark can't burn through those bindings." He grabbed them by the rope and hoisted them over his back. "But I'm not a cruel man. You'll be upgraded to better accommodations until it's time to cash you in."

Thales the Whimsicott flailed his feet and screamed through his gag while Saga the Lampent barked through hers, her inner flame glowing brighter. They had all night to wear themselves out, yet they were still filled with energy. Lucky Katsu, as he gets to drag them back for a few kilometers.

Hopefully, Lady von Elmnou has fared well without me. I best get back to her at once. Katsu tightened his grip and started dashing for Marshland Village.