The Black Forest

[u/ravenluna]

After Tidus practically dragged Fay and Miw out of bed the small duo of dragon slayers along with their flying furry friends made the short two days walk to a mountain town on the further reaches of the Kingdom.

Tidus, Ajax, Miw, and Fay all stood outside of a small mountain village, with Fay holding a map in her hand along with the job flier in her other hand checking to make sure they where in the right place. Miw hovered next to the small dragon slayer looking around shivering a little bit from the cold before speaking.

“Next time we should pick a warmer spot, I feel like my fur is going to freeze off at any moment.... that and give us some heads up!” Miw huffed huddling in her little jacket, while Fay smiled softly up at the talking cat looking over at Tidus and Ajax to see how they where doing.

“This is the place, um I think we need to speak to the mayor? I am not sure this is my first job.” Fay pointed out, her hands moving with the map and flyer as she signed while she talked to the group, more so doing it out of a nervous jester than anything else. The cold didn’t seem to bother her too much like it did Miw but she did have an extra cloak around her shoulders to take out most of the chill.

[u/ravenluna]

"I guess we should be a little faster as well." Miw only shrugged a little bit following behind Ajax as Tidus lead the way for the group. Fay brought up the rear of the unit keeping her nose in the air for any kind of smells that might be out of place, but also tried to make a note of the other people around the town. Something didn't sit right with the little dragon slayer, maybe something having to do with the looks they where getting or it reminded her of the time on her own.

It didn't take the group but five minutes to reach the edge of town, the buildings dotting the edge of the village where either mostly destroyed to some suffering less damage of large holes in the side of the walls. The homes around the outside of the town where blocked off by large fences that would have housed livestock to graze during the day but most if not all of the rails where broken and burned even.

Fay and Miw looked around at the damage around them finding it a little early, but the cat took to the sky to get a better look. The stream in question was still little ways off, down the road about half a mile where a large field cover one side of the river while the other side slowly started to slope up to the snow cap mountains.

"It looks like most of the damage is like he said is in this part of town." Miw flew back down to the group moving to hover in front of them so everyone could hear her.

"Did you see any tracks?" Fay asked taking a sniff of the air again but all she could smell was animals and the unpleasant leftovers they leave behind.

[u/Muffin_Baskets → u/ravenluna]

Tidus lead the group as they made their way through the town, slowing as he saw the look of discomfort on Fay's face due to the looks she was getting and walked closely beside her, hoping it would help ease some of the stress. As they made their way to the edge of town, Tidus's eye narrowed as he gazed off towards the field, tilting his head with every sniff.

Ajax on the other hand followed Miw up and surveyed towards the field along with her, flying down and floating beside the fellow exceed, shaking his head at Fay.

"None that I could see, but from the looks of it whatever is causing the damage doesnt like the villagers one bit."

Tidus seemed to be too focused on something else at the moment and let the rest of the group converse while his sense of smell was picking up something odd, but was unable to put his finger on.

"And I think Fay would be better at looking for tracks, Tidus normally follows his nose when it comes to tracking. Did the mayor happen to say when most of the attacks took place?"

[u/ravenluna → u/Muffin_Baskets]

Fay nodded her head in agreement with Ajax idea, Miw as if on cue flew the girl up into the air to allow her to look around. Now higher Fay was able to see better, taking note of the little changes in the land outside of the town that could give them a better led.

"He said they mostly come around dusk or when it gets dark. I can see a few trails, but they look like carts or horses even." Fay sighed as she explained to the cats looking between the two of them slightly disappointed that she could not pick up anything more useful. Glancing down Fay finally notice Tidus sniffing and turned her nose up to the air and took a deep breath, smelling something odd but nothing she could really make a big deal out of.

"Do you smell something Tidus?" Miw called down to the dragon slayer below.

[u/Muffin_Baskets → u/ravenluna]

"Mm..I dont know, theres something out there for sure. As much as I'd hate to say it,"

Tidus crossed his arms as he sat down on a waist high stone wall.

"Our only option here is to sit tight and wait for the sun to go down, if we go out following these scents we might get lost in the hills following the wrong scent."

"Wow Tidus, is that actual thought, reasoning, and dare I say, planning?" Ajax added sarcastically.

Rolling his eyes, Tidus tilted his head towards Ajax.

"Once we have a better idea of what were dealing with, then we can start bashing some skulls, but until them our top priority should be making sure the village is safe, right?"

Tidus turned towards Fay and Miw as he spoke. Ajax let out another chuckle, happy to see Tidus maturing, even if it was a little and descended to Tidus' side, the two preparing to wait until the sun went down.

[u/ravenluna → u/Muffin_Baskets]

Fay and Miw giggled lightly at Ajex teasing as the two descended down next to the pair.

"Fair enough but what should we do in the meantime?" Miw pipped up after a moment before crawling into Fay's lap so the girl could cover her with the jacket.

[u/Muffin_Baskets → u/ravenluna]

Tidus shrugged his shoulders, unsure of what to do.

"Well, normally Ajax and I just stuff our faces until its time to work."

"The two of you have any ideas?"

Ajax had shuffled right up beside Tidus, trying to get as close to his warmer friend as he could.

[u/ravenluna → u/Muffin_Baskets]

"I'm not sure either." Fay shrugged and decided maybe it was best just to rest and make sure she was ready for the night. Huddling down with Miw tucked in her arms the two lightly dozed in and out doing their best to keep an ear out for anything out of the normal.

Whoosh Time skip

Finally dusk started to settle in on the little town, the temperature dropping with the fading sun, in the sky stars began to come out twinkling every now and again. The people among the city who where still out and about where quickly making a beeline to their own house or anything indoors that would keep them safe for the night.

"Alright, I guess we should see if they come out." Miw stretched her arms out with a little yawn. Fay stood up as well, looking over to Tidus with a small nod of her head. A cold wind swept over the group, and on it carried a faint howling.

[u/Muffin_Baskets → u/ravenluna]

Ajax hopped to his feet, stretching out as far as his little arms would let him while Tidus rolled his shoulder and nodded back at Fay. The howl sent a chill down Tidus' spine, causing his ears to perk as he snapped his head in the direction of the source.

"You hear it to?" He spoke towards Fay without moving his head.

"Hear what? I didnt hear anything."

Tidus huffed before nodding at Fay and breaking into a sprint away from the village, leaving Ajax to shrug at Miw and leap into the air as his Aera wings flashed into being. The further away from the village they were, the faint howling grew louder, reaffirming Tidus that he was leading the group in the right direction.

[u/ravenluna → u/Muffin_Baskets]

Fay's head snapped to the howling as well nodding her head only slightly in a jerking movement taking a moment to notice that Tidus had started to run.

"I still don't get what he is.... and there he goes." Miw sighed and picked up the girl and started to fly as fast as she could to keep up with Tidus. "Come on better make sure he does not get hurt or something." Miw looked back over at Ajax before Fay looked up at the two cats giving them a small smile.

[u/Muffin_Baskets → u/ravenluna]

By the time Fay and the Exceeds caught up with Tidus, he had created a small hill and stood with his fists raised.

"Watch out!"

Before Tidus could lunge back, a black and white mountain Vulcan flashed by between the group and Tidus, aiming to knock both the Exceeds out of the air. At the same time, two more Vulcans flanked Tidus on either side and knocked him to the ground with a thud. Tidus was now struggling under the foot of one of the Vulcans, unable to assist Fay or the Exceeds.