Thank you," Otto muttered quietly, hoping that David and Garfiel were safe.

He waited anxiously for the ravens to return, his mind filled with worry and anticipation.

—

"Yeah! Just tell me when you're done!" He shouted as the wolgarm suddenly rushed him all at once.

"Right," Garfiel replied, gritting his teeth. He knew better than to waste time worrying about David. He had a job to do, so did David.

Determination flashed across Garfiel's face as he surveyed the tree line for a suitable tree, sprinting across the slanting grasslands. He quickly spotted one slightly bigger than the previous one.

"Got one!" he yelled back to David, taking position.

—

"Dona!" David shouted, sending a stream of stalagmites which pierced into the undersides of the demon dogs, killing many of them on impact. He flew around quickly, slicing, dicing, cleaving, slashing through them mercilessly, relentlessly. As 4 more hurled themselves at him he shouted

"El Donaaaah!!" Summoning precipice blades from the ground skewering them their blood gushing down onto him. As they rushed upon, unyielding, his energy wore down, and the mabeasts were getting hits in, cuts and gashes, and slices slowly beginning adorning his body

—

Garfiel wasted no time in getting to work. Raising his axe high, he brought it down with all his might, slicing deep into the tree. Wood chips flew through the air as the axe cut through the trunk. With a few more strikes, the tree fell, crashing to the ground with a loud thud.

"Done!" he called out, his breath coming in huffs from exertion. Minutes had passed now, as he carried his tree over the rolling plains heard an loud effervescent sound. Frowning, he stopped and listened to the hissing sound. It was coming from the direction where he'd left David fighting the wolgarm. He could sense trouble.

"What the hell..."

He began to run towards the sound, his heart pounding in his chest as he feared for David's safety. He had to see what was happening. As Garfiel crested the hill, the sight that greeted him was one of chaos and carnage. There he discovered David, barely standing, shaking, blood and sweat evaporating from his face covered in blood and tears, covered in scratches, gashes and teeth marks, surrounded by a sea of mabeast corpses, the determined glint in his eyes flickering...as he raised his sword preparing for the next wave.

It was clear he had been through hell. Garfiel's eyes widened in horror at the sight that met him.

"Damnit, David...! What the hell happened?!" He scurried to his friend as fast as he could, carrying the tree on his shoulders.

"Ahahahahaah… Garfiel?" He laughed almost in delirium "You're done huh?"

He wore a crooked, exhaust-fueled smile, filled with relief

"Give me your axe...there's only one way we can get out of here safely…"

Garfiel reached David, his face etched with concern. He could practically feel the exhaustion radiating off of him. David looked and sounded a wreck, but he knew better than to argue with him.

"Yeah, I'm done..." he huffed, handing over the axe.

"What's this about the only way out being safe?" he questioned, eyeing David carefully.

"Well...it all depends on your condition,"

He heaved as another wolgarm mindlessly rushed him, but David efficiently and skillfully dodged to the side and decapitated it.

"Ima...need you to go...gorgeous tiger mode…"

"You want me to go all out, huh?" he said, a mixture of determination and trepidation in his voice. Going into his beast form was no small feat, it drained his energy.

"Y..Yeah...I need you to... carry the two trees in your arms, and me on your shoulder...I'll defend us with magic from atop, whilst you carry us all home... How's that sound…."

Garfiel took a deep breath. The request was a tall order, no doubt. It would take a lot of strength and endurance to carry both trees in his arms, along with David on his back, all the while defending from wolgarm attacks.

"Yeah...alright," he said, a steely resolution in his eyes. "I'll do it. But you better hold on tight, you hear?"

"Yeah, this is this is the best strategy, strength in numbers, after all, nobody can lift a quain stone alone…"

"A-kechoo!"

"Huh? You good?" David asked, climbing onto his back. Garfiel shook his head and body readjusting, then focused all his energy, channelling it to transform into his beast form.

"I always wonder how you can still talk like that," David queried, hitching himself up onto Garfiel's shoulder.

"Beats me," he managed between deep breaths. "Guess I'm just full of surprises."

He spoke in a low raspy voice that David bet even Ram would enjoy. David slipped in another bocco fruit, regaining some mana back. Garfiel bent over to pick up the remaining tree and now they were ready to go.

"Alright, let's not waste another second. Let's go!"

With the trees in hands, Garfiel nodded.

"Right! Hang on tight, this could get a bit bumpy!"

He took off across the open plains and into the forest, his powerful legs devouring the distance at a rapid pace.

—

After a couple minutes the ravens returned, this time in greater numbers, typical of the greedy tykes

They're in Trouble, in deep trouble they cawed

Otto immediately perked up as the ravens returned.

"What happened? what did you see?"

He asked urgently, his heart pounding anxiously in his chest.

Bloody steaming tired tall one!

Otto's eyes widened at the raven's description of a tired and bloodied "tall one" - clearly referring to his friend and junior, David.

"Damn it!" He hissed under his breath, fists clenching in frustration.

"What about the short one? Garfiel, is he with him?" he questioned, his voice portraying his concern.

…?

Otto's stomach churned as he saw the ravens' confused expressions. He realised he had to clarify his question.

"The other one, the short one... Garfiel. Is he with David or are they separated?"

His voice was strained with worry, every second passing feeling like an eternity.

They squawked amongst themselves, before disclosing.

I didn't see a short one, I saw a tiger beast!

Otto's expression hardened at the ravens' response. The revelation chilled him to the bone. What could have forced him to transform into his beast form?

"Dammit, they must've been swarmed," he muttered, mostly to himself, his thoughts racing as he grappled with this new information. Otto took a deep breath, steadying himself. He knew what he had to do next. He couldn't just stand here while his companions were in trouble. It was time to take action.

"Alright," he said to himself, determination in his voice. "I have to go in there and find them. They need my help!"

Otto fed the ravens some seeds, a makeshift payment for their help. He then turned his attention to Frufoo and Patrasche, his expression solemn.

"You two stay here," he instructed, his voice firm but gentle. "I need to go into the forest and find David and Garfiel. It's too dangerous for you both." His nose gushed with blood as he spoke.

Patrasche shook her head in disapproval, whilst Frufoo acknowledged his willpower, blessing him as he left.

"I know, I know," he muttered to Patrasche. "But I have to do this. I can't just stand here."

With one final deep breath, he turned and entered the dark, dangerous forest alone.

—

"WoOoOoOoOoah!" They dashed through the forest, gracelessly knocking down trees as they went. Every so often appeared around them

"DoOnAaAa!" He chanted, blocking the advances of several witchbeasts.

Garfiel surged forward, his giant clawed feet pounding against the ground, crushing more mabeast with each step. He was pushing his body to its limits now, his muscles rippling with effort under the strain of carrying the trees and David on his back while dodging past obstacles. The onslaught of Wolgrams was relentless, but every time there was a threat, David was there with a spell to keep them at bay.

"HoOow much loOonger can yoOoOu last?" They were getting closer and closer to the barrier stones but Garfiel was running out of energy. Garfiel panted heavily, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. Sweat dripped down his face and his muscles ached with exhaustion. His vision was starting to blur from the strain.

"Not...much...longer..." he managed to grunt between breaths. "We're almost there, but...I'm running...on fumes…"

Just seconds later Garfiel's strength gave out and he stumbled before crashing hard to the ground. He groaned in pain as the weight of the trees shifted upon impact. His body ached, every muscle screaming as he returned to normal.

"Damn it..." he panted, struggling to catch his breath. He looked up at David who had crashed beside him.

"You alright...there?" David raised his head from the ground, trembling, exhausted, he was completely out of Mana. The pack of wolgarm had surrounded them now, their deep, dark red eyes shining a cursed spotlight upon the warrior kids.

"Shit…"He cursed, wiping the blood from his broken nose, before surveying their surroundings, watching petrified as the demon dogs closed in on them.

"We're screwed…" He mustered up the courage to use his own life force as magic energy, raising up his hand to create a protective dome of earth…

"Ul..Do-"

"Al Dona!"

With that, the earth beneath the wolgarms sinkholed and reformed at the top, crushing them in a sudden rocky trap.

"Huh? What the..." Garfiel sputtered, staring at the aftermath in disbelief. A moment later, a familiar voice rang out.

"Otto?!" he cried incredulously, turning his head towards the source of the voice.

Otto emerged from the shadows, a mixture of relief and concern etched across his face. Seeing Garfiel, alive and well but beyond just drained, and still in danger, sparked a wave of emotions within him.

"Garfiel." Otto managed, his voice a mixture of surprise and worry. "Thank heavens you're alive. I was so worried-"

Garfiel's eyes widened as he saw Otto rushing towards them. A wave of relief washed over him at the sight of a familiar face, but that was quickly followed by a pang of embarrassment at being found in such a sorry state. He winced as he tried to stand, his muscles protesting at every movement, before forcing himself upright.

"Otto..." he managed between huffed breaths. "You...you have no idea...how happy...I am...to see you…"

"…Otto?" David enquired from his position on the floor, his body covered in cuts, gashes, scrapes and scratches. He wiped the mixed blood and sweat from his own eyes.

"Geez.."

Otto's heart sank as he saw the condition David was in. Blood and sweat mingled on his face, countless cuts and scrapes covering his body. He quickly rushed to his side.*

"David!" He exclaimed, his voice filled with concern as he knelt down beside him. His gaze flicked over the numerous injuries, each one making him wince.

"By all the spirits...you're hurt. How bad is it?"

"Hah, I'm fine now!" he laughed putting on a brave face, pushing himself against a tree to his feet.

"After all, most of this isn't even my blood,"

He cleaned the blood off his face before displaying an unconvincing pain-filled smile, his broken nose not helping the facade. Otto's concern deepened as David tried to downplay his condition. He could see through the false bravado, noticing the pain hidden behind the forced smile and the blood still dribbling down his face.

"Don't give me that," he retorted firmly, his voice betraying his worry. "You're clearly not 'fine'. Your nose is broken, and you're covered in wounds. You need medical attention."

"Yeah, I guess you're right, we should get going... I'm gonna need plenty of medical attention…"

Otto noticed the pause in David's response and the flicker of something in his eyes. He had a feeling he knew what, or rather who, David was thinking of. He suppressed a smirk

"Yes we should, before any more of those creatures arrive,"

Garfiel, who had been listening quietly, managed a weary smirk despite his exhaustion. Even in their current state, he wasn't above teasing his friend.

"Still swooning over Rem, huh?" *he said, grinning. "Even in your current state, you're thinking about her."

"Can you carry this tree with me Otto, please," he pointed to the bigger tree on the ground, flat out ignoring Garfiel's words.

"Sure!" Otto Replied, lifting up one side as David lifted up the other…

"And Garfiel can you handle the other one…"

Garfiel chuckled at David's attempt to divert the conversation, but obediently heaved the other tree onto his back.

"Fine, fine. I'll handle the tree. You keep your mind on the task, alright?"

Otto couldn't help but crack a small smile as he saw Garfiel's amused reaction at David's diversion. He appreciated their determination to push forward despite their exhaustion.

"Good," he chimed in, his voice filled with determination. "Let's get moving."

With the trees firmly in their grip, they cautiously made their way out of the dangerous forest. After what felt like an eternity of turmoil, the outline of the barrier stones appeared in the distance. Garfiel exhaled a ragged sigh of relief.

"Almost…there.."

They finally made it, escaping that long nightmare, with their lives, and the first step of their goal achieved…

Garfiel smiled weakly as he set the tree in the carriage and sagged, leaning heavily against it for support. He was breathing heavily and his body ached from the strain, but the sight of their familiar companions lifted his spirits.

"Never...thought I'd be so happy to see a pair of ground dragons" he managed to say breathlessly.

As they emerged from the forest, Otto let out a sigh of relief. The weight of their dangerous situation seemed to disappear as they were greeted by the joyful figures of Frufoo and Patrasche.

"Frufoo, Patrasche," he called to them, a hint of fatigue in his voice but a smile on his face. "We made it out…"

Frufoo and Patrasche howled joyfully and victoriously

"Heh,...what does that one mean, Otto?"

Ah right. Well, those howls translate to 'You're finally back!' and 'We were worried!' They're expressing their happiness that we're safe…"

Garfiel couldn't help but chuckle as he listened to the exchange. Despite his exhaustion, the cheerful reactions of their steeds brought a smile to his face.

"Well, at least someone's happy to see us," he said, still leaning heavily on the carriage. "We might look like a sight for sore eyes right now."

He glanced over at David, taking in his battered and bruised condition, as David and Otto finally lugged the tree into the carriage.

Otto nodded in agreement as he repositioned the tree on the cart. He understood Garfiel's sentiment that they must look quite a sight. David had taken quite a beating, his injuries evident on his face and body.

"Indeed, we're a sorry bunch right now," he agreed, a hint of worry in his voice.

"We'll need to get you both patched up as soon as possible."

"Yeah!" David agreed, dragging himself onto the dragon carriage, before laying on his back, sighing massively.

"Ahhhhhhhhh..., huh c'mon Garfiel, the sooner we get this pain alleviated the better!"

Garfiel groaned as he pulled himself up onto the dragon carriage after David, collapsing onto the seat with a weary sigh. His body protested at the movement, every muscle feeling like it was on fire.

"You don't have to tell me twice," he muttered, rubbing his aching shoulder. "The sooner I can rest and get patched up, the better. This pain is driving me insane."

David looked to the sky, glad that it all was over. The sky was still bright, blue and beautiful, completely seamless in comparison to those lying below it. Otto swiftly turned around the carriage as they took off towards home, avoiding a village trip on this occasion.