Hello everyone and welcome back to HellFall!

What's it been, 2 weeks? I haven't been able to do much writing lately, and I've hit a particularly uninteresting, confusing part of the story where I'm not entirely sure how to continue. Anyways, here's this chapter. Enjoy!

The next day proved just as fruitless as the rest, as in not a single tree of potential knowledge sprouted any apples. The sun rose and fell, and not once did I see it. I stayed in the military base all day, pacing back and forth, even taking to searching myself. But to no avail. It was clear now; we needed to go back out there.

I set to forming a team of capable huntsmen and huntresses who could defend themselves, but I also wanted smart people. Or at least, people who knew where to look for lost people. That is, after all, exactly why the team was being formed.

I figured Al's team, AROW, would be the best bet as far as intelligence went. I'd investigate a little more, see if any of the other teams were smart enough to track a human being, or three. As far as defense went, I figured that, while I wanted to go out myself, Steam needed all the help and support that he could get. Having his team around would be more than beneficial. Or so I thought, anyway. I'm not a doctor. Perhaps team VAIN would be the best decision. While I wanted to choose team STEW, as I knew Thunder would recommend, I didn't trust them. Plus they were off on their own, committing crimes or something of the sort.

Regardless, I had come to my conclusion, and went to inform the teams of their new roles.

"Al," I said, entering the map room. He looked up, nodding at me as I entered. When he saw that I wasn't moving towards him, he took steps to reach me.

"What is it?" He asked. His voice was a whisper, as if he expected what we would be talking about to be confidential. I spoke in my regular tone of voice because it was soon to be common knowledge.

"I want you and your team to go investigate around the mountains near Barcombe," I said. "I want you to be the intelligence side of the group. Can you do that?"

He nodded, "Yeah, absolutely," he replied. "Who're you pairing us up with?"

"VAIN" I replied.

"Remind me who they are again?"

"Veil Fairfax leads it, and Anchor, Barnabas, and Nicole are all part of it," I replied.

He hesitated, as if confused as to who exactly I was talking about, but pretty sure that he knew. "You mean the girl with the wings?" He asked.

"Yes, her," I replied.

"And the girl in the pink dress?"

"That's them"

He nodded, "Alright, got it. I'll tell the team"

I pat his shoulder, then turned around and sought about VAIN. I was led to believe that they were out, that they'd returned home. Or so I was told via word of mouth. Nobody knew exactly where they were.

What I decided to do was simply send them a message through their scrolls. I didn't want to go outside if I didn't need to, nor did I want to waste time looking for them.

Nicole was the first to get back to me. She said that she was off to pursue a career as a huntress, and that she was taking Grizzly to the train station to go home. It was rather abrupt, and I had hoped she'd stay, but I didn't fight her, instead allowing her to do what she wanted. She had that right, after all.

Anchor was out swimming with Barnabas apparently, having a contest to see who could hold their breath underwater the longest. I seriously doubted it though, Barnabas couldn't be that stupid.

As for Veil, she failed to get back to me. Not in a timely fashion, anyway. By the time both Anchor and Barnabas had agreed to join the team, she was only just receiving the message. She left it a while longer, and about an hour later returned the message, saying that she could, but that Nicole wouldn't be joining them.

In the end I called them back to the base to discuss how to go about forming the team. We needed everyone together if it was going to work, and I wanted it to work.

By the time everyone had arrived most of the base was cleared out, save for those who had interest in joining the team. Weiss Schnee and Azure Blaze were, understandably, still here. In addition, AROW had stayed, and most of VAIN had finally arrived.

Veil's hair seemed messier than usual, and she seemed a little sweaty.

"Alright," I said, leading everyone to the map room and taking a seat around the table. The others followed suit. "As it stands, team AROW here is going on the expedition to investigate. I want a team there to defend them, just in case"

"No offence, Gazini," Oxford Neville of team AROW started, "but I really think we can handle ourselves"

I turned a frustrated glance at him. It wasn't terribly justified, but I wasn't feeling well. I was rather exhausted in fact, fed up with looking for all this time and not finding anything. "No offence, Oxford," I started. "But I went in there with more guys than I'm sending out now, and we still lost people. I'd suggest you don't underestimate whoever you may have to deal with. Plus I don't fully trust you guys. You're new, VAIN's been around for a while. I'll sleep better with them out there, knowing that whatever job they're carrying out is to the best of their ability"

Oxford leaned back in his seat, creating a slight creaking sound as he pressed into the backrest. Due to the silence of the room, this sound seemed to make some kind of statement. Like the man was offended by what I'd said, or unhappy. Like he'd intentionally screw up out of spite. Regardless of what it meant, I continued.

"So, Nicole's leaving." I said, "Or so I hear. I'd prefer we have two full teams out there, so," I turned to Weiss and Azure, "you both want to go?"

They both nodded, answering with varying forms of affirmation in addition to their head gestures.

I paused, thinking over who would be better suited. While I knew Weiss was more talented, I suspected that Azure would tag along regardless. Her teammate was out there, and moreover it was her last one.

"Okay," I finally decided, "you're both going. Sound good?"

Weiss seemed a little surprised, but Azure nodded right away, as if she didn't expect any less. Weiss followed soon after.

"Good," I said. "Then I guess it's settled. Get your things together; I want you out in the morning. I can arrange for transportation. Can any of you fly a helicopter?"

So there you have it. Something interesting is happening. Yay. I got real bored real fast, as you can tell.

I'm hoping to do a bit more writing tonight, so maybe next week will be on time-ish. Not that I really have a schedule anymore anyway.

Not much to say, so as usual, favorite, follow, review, tell your friends, tell your enemies, or don't if you don't want to, and I'll see you all in the next chapter!