The moist mix of sweat and the surrounding air waft around Emmett and Edward like a cloak. Their strides match pace and distance, the uniform crack of brush under their feet interspersed with an occasional heavy breath.
A bird calls and it stops Emmett dead in his tracks. His piercing eyes dart from side to side as he scans the darkness. He pivots on his foot, looking above Edward in to the trees.
The Captain says nothing, instead focusing on Emmett's eyes. The ARMS, still powered down to save energy until its needed, grows heavy. A rustle above. A twig falls and gets caught in Edward's collar, making him instinctively swipe it away.
In a flash, Emmett's knife whistles past Edward's head. It loudly thwacks in to the tree behind him, the blade burrowing inches deep. A dull, momentary ring and silence.
"What?" Edward says, his voice breathy with surprise.
The bird chirps again.
"Stupid, fucking yunwi," Emmett growls. He stomps to the tree and yanks out his knife with a violent jerk. "Come out, Clear Water."
"You bring weapons." The origin of the high-pitched voice is impossible to located in the wooded night.
"The treaty says guns," Emmett says, talking to all angles. "We have to defend ourselves."
"No."
Exhaling through a bitter scowl, Emmett sheaths the knife back against his hip. He throws his hands up to his chest, turning his palms skyward while scanning the trees with annoyance.
A thick wooden crack rings through the blackness, and suddenly a massive branch comes crashing down on to Emmett's shoulder. Clear Water laughs as Emmett curses.
"Clear Water," Edward says. He places a hand on Emmett's shoulder, half to restrain and half to calm, but Emmett brusquely pulls away and moves in to the trees. Edward gives his soldier a dismissive frown and looks up. "I'm Edward. The leader of Gamma Team."
"Gamma leader?" Clear Water sounds closer.
"Yes" Edward says, unnerved but remaining calm. "Bella said we could meet."
"Bella." At the name, Clear Water suddenly appears at Edward's eye level. He's nearly impossible to see in the darkness, his pelts and skin tone blending in to the shadows. Only the shine in his eyes give him away. "Bella say you are strong leader."
Foliage crunches underneath Emmett's feet and the sound make Edward self-conscious of the complement.
"It's good to meet you," Edward says, striving for a casual professionalism. It reminds him of speaking with imams and community leaders in Iraq. Except Clear Water is less than two foot tall.
"Yes," Clear Water says. He briefly crawls along the trunk before bounding to a neighboring tree. "You are good leader to be here."
"What is here?" Edward asks, taking the opportunity to immediately get information. He senses Clear Water's mood sour at his urgency and his stomach turns.
"He is here." It's impossible to tell if he's playing or being aloof as he points in Emmett's direction.
"You know what he's asking," Emmett says, moving to where he can be seen.
Clear Water's eyes widen. He quickly curls around the tree, putting it and Edward between Emmett and himself like a toddler hiding behind his father.
Edward holds up hand, keeping Emmett at bay.
"What's in the plant?" Edward asks, patiently. "In the building."
"Wampus in woods now," Clear Water says. His eyes never stray off Emmett. "No tsalagi."
Edward tilts his head, not recognizing the word, and Clear Water corrects himself.
"No bad doctor. Utlunta. Spear-finger. I am wrong before."
A chill fills Edward, burrowing deep in to his core. He stops breathing as his gaze drops. The creature's description flit through his mind: impenetrable skin, extreme strength, sword-like nails. Hoping he misheard Clear Water, he looks back to Emmett whose disbelieving head shake confirms it.
Fuck, Edward thinks. "And the anada? How many of them are there?"
Clear Water climbs up the tree, and surveys the surrounding wood. "A tribe," he says, sadly. "Anada'duntaski." He takes a breath. "Very hungry."
"Where are they?" A sense of duty forces Edward to ask the question. He doesn't want to know the answer.
"Everywhere."
"Of course," Emmett says, frowning with annoyance. "This'll be a long night."
Suddenly weak, Edward turns his head skyward and sighs. A sliver of moon light peeks through the darkening clouds as the air cools with gathering moisture. The branches and leaves above cross each other, caging him to the earth. His team needs him. He was selected for this. But now, as more details reveal themselves, he misses everything from before Lilim Division.
"Yunwi help," Clear Water says. "Yunwi help strong leader."
The statement draws Edward's attention to the brownie-like creature. His training says to never go into a battle unless you outnumber your opponent. The rules are different in Lilim, but Edward can't help doubting what the yunwi could do.
"Thank you," Edward says, resigned to accept. "Why?"
"Evil." Clear Water makes it sound obvious. "Lilim fight evil. Yunwi fight with Lilim."
The statement makes Edward feel like he can breath again.
"Okay."
"Yes," Clear Water says, perking up. He rapidly climbs down to Edward's level. His tiny, coal-like eyes burning brightly. "Strong leader stop utlunta."
"We stop her together." Edward tries hard to believe the words himself as the satisfied Clear Water disappears back up in to the leaves. Watching the pitch green foliage sway, a slight calm again pierces Edward's cautiousness. "Let's go, Emmett."
Heading back towards Shiva and the rest of the team, Emmett stops when a twig hits him in the back of the head. He allows Edward to gain some distance before he turns to see Clear Water staring, inches from his face.
The yunwi, head turned at an inquisitive angle, slowly smiles. His long, black hair hangs down like moss, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"They speak of you," Clear Water says.
Emmett's eyes narrow but he says nothing.
"Many things said. What you do. What you are."
"Do they say these things to you?" Emmett asks, his voice thick with disinterest.
"Yes."
With tight lips and a terse nod, Emmett turns and walks away. Chilled specks of rain begin to fall as the night darkens around them.