The Heavens Shall Fall

It was a cold early morning, but not as cold as before, which might have been a slight sign that winter was soon coming to an end, since it hadn't been snowing for a week. Still, white blankets covered every path within the sect, though the sky was bright and the sun shone in all its glory on that day. Looking up at the blue sky, Siu stood near the entrance to the forest with a wooden crate at his feet, while Arya sat proudly on top of it as if she owned its contents. As for Marly, she clung to a nearby tree's branch, hanging down from it like a possum, hooking her tail around it, swinging back and forth, entertaining herself.

Of course, they weren't alone, because Neya stood to Siu’s right, wrapped in her winter robes, a leather satchel flung over her shoulders, hitting against her hip as she moved, while Rinmei was holding a parchment, ticking off something on a list.

“Do we really need to head into the forest this early?” Milli asked with a yawn as the twins arrived, looking like they barely knew where they were.

“If it's another Icecrown-level disaster, I’m going home, because I have no interest in getting disemboweld,” Nilli added, rubbing her eyes.

“It’s for team building,” Siu answered them, "We aren't going deep, and it will be just a few hours of exercise, nothing more." Apparently, that wasn't what they had planned either, as both of them groaned in unison. "At least you got here in time," He added, shaking his head, "If the regular members saw you like this, they won't have much trust in the Wardens' leadership.

"Speaking of that," Rinmei nodded towards the path leading up to them, seeing a few figures climbing the frozen stairs, "They are more punctual than the succubi."

"We aren't morning people." Milli and Nilli answered, turning towards the first arrival, a young man with thick arms and a perpetually furrowed brow, someone who went by the name of Garron... and also the one who once punched a Stone Ward recruiter, as per his reports.

"Mhm, 'morning," He nodded at them while he visibly carried a heavy axe across his back and looked mildly uncomfortable being the first to arrive.

"Good morning," Neya answered with a smile, welcoming him, while a moment later two other figures walked up to them side by side. One of them was Lysa, the one who apparently would qualify as a herb-gatherer. Her frame was close to Neya's, even having the same, somewhat timid disposition, while beside her walked a lean boy named Darin, bringing along a bow and a quiver full of arrows.

As they repeated Garron's words, Eldric, the one who had an estranged brother within the Ember Circle, had also arrived. His posture was a bit stiffer than the others, but not as much when Kalev, the loner, had arrived... He barely even looked at anyone after stepping before the group. He simply nodded his head and then took up a position and waited for everyone else to arrive. They didn't have to wait long for Torren and Mikael, the two who had hidden their previous deeds within the sect from the group, looking a bit nervous but also friendly enough to greet everyone. It was the first time all the members gathered at the same time and place to get to know each other, and luckily, they were at least sociable enough to start talking with each other. As for Varren, he came last, nodding to everyone, and although he looked a bit skittish, his walk was noticeably lighter. Smiling to himself, now that everyone was here, Siu stepped forward, drawing everyone's attention with a clap.

“Thank you for coming. Before we head into the forest, I'd like to reiterate: This is not a hunt.” He spoke calmly before them, even though he was younger and someone who had spent less than half of their time in the Hollow Song Sect. Yet, none of them even thought about complaining; they simply fell silent, looking at him, "I just want us to get to know each other's capabilities and rhythm, so when later on we provide tasks, ahead of what you can get in the Mission Hall, we can tailor it to your powers, and make sure you succeed."

"Are we really going to get something like that?" Mikael asked, still a bit unsure if that point was going to be true or not, but the fact that the twins were part of the Spirit Wardens made the matter much more believable."

"That's why this trip is important," Milli nodded, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ears, "We could hook you up with some good stuff, but if we don't know what you can accomplish, how are we supposed to do it?"

"You are paying a membership fee," Nilli reminded them, "So it is in everyone's best interest to get you the type of slips you can handle... To make sure you all succeed. You win, and through that, we win; it is that simple."

"That is why we will move as a group," Siu continued, "We will not split up, unless I say so. Even if we come back without capturing anything, I want us to get some experience in.” He added as he nodded at Arya, who jumped off the box, before he kicked it open, revealing the bundled items within it. “I see that some of you came prepared, but, for group activities, your equipment cost is covered by the Spirit Wardens,” he smiled, which, of course, got their attention fast.

“You’re… covering... all of it?” Garron asked, surprised as he looked at the ropes, emergency medicine, and utility pouches, all numbered so every member could get one.

“It is a Warden activity, so yes. " Whenever we host one,” Rinmei explained, beginning to hand them out, "We will cover the expenses for participating members. Of course, you can top it off with your own preparations, but this is how we work."

"Really...?" Torren frowned slightly, a clear surprise in his eyes, “Why? Sorry, that came out wrong,” he added quickly, "I'm just shocked, as far as I know, even Ember Circle hunters have to get their own stuff when they enter the forest."

"You are not wrong there," Eldric snorted, "And even if you hunt something down, you may not get enough back from the pool to cover the preparations."

"We are neither the Ember Circle nor the Stone Ward," Neya interrupted them, helping Rinmei in handing out items in an orderly fashion. "When we have more members, events like this won't just be open to everyone, but will be tied to certain contributions. Oh, and keep in mind that I can make sure whatever you bring back gets processed first and... without issues."

"So, you are kind of lucky to be the first of our recruits," Rinmei added as she inspected straps and ties, making sure everyone had one of everything. "Because this won't be the norm."

“As for our formation while heading into the forest,” Siu began again while he looked at the people gathered before him, “Darin and Lysa, you are going into the front.” As he said it, both of them looked a bit surprised but nodded without arguing, “Garron and Eldric, you will be behind them.”

“Why are we behind them?” Garron asked, looking at Eldric, raising his brows. "I'm fine with being at the front."

“Because you are less aware of your surroundings than Darin and Lysa,” Siu answered without hesitation.

"Am I?" Garron grunted, making the others chuckle and realize that the form they filled out... was not just for show. "Oh well," he groaned, shaking his head, "I can be surprised, so... I guess it's true."

“We can mix it up later," Siu added, smiling at him before continuing, "The center of the formation will be Kalev on the left, Torren, you on the right.”

“Me at the center?” Kalev asked quietly, raising a hand.

“You aren't a team player, so you have less experience than the others. I want to change that.” Siu said simply, making him close his mouth, knowing that it was the truth. "As for Mikael and Varren, you will bring up the rear with Rinmei. The rest of us will also be in the middle. Twins, you take the front of the center formation; Neya and I will be in the back. My beasts will scout around us, so don't worry about it. Questions?"

There wasn't any, so with that, the first exercise of the Spirit Wardens was off, not even knowing that it would be one of the greatest advertisements they could ever hope for...

...

....

......

Winter being winter, the forest was still chilly and quieter than before the snowfall turned it white. But it also made noticing the tracks much easier, and that was why, in the front, Darin was the first to slow, catching something. They had been walking for about an hour by then, making a big circle around their entrypoint, when he noticed the marks in the snow. Lysa crouched almost instinctively, seeing him raise his hand to give the signal as her eyes began scanning the ground.

“Tracks,” she whispered, noticing the same depressions in the snow.

"Fresh..." Darin nodded, "Pretty large, and by the clawmarks... it has to be a predatory-type... And... Look..." He pointed at the deep gauges in the snow.

"It was dragging something...?" Lysa offered, while the others walked up and surveyed the trees.

"Or chasing it."

"Did we finally find something?" Garron asked as he gripped his axe, the moment the group stopped.

“Not yet,” Lysa answered, "Only if we follow it." She added, looking at Siu, waiting for his decision.

He was silent, mostly because he already knew about the marks thanks to Marly and Arya; he just wanted to see if the others would also notice it. As for the two beasts, they were already following the tracks, observing from under the snow and bushes, and from up in the trees, silently tracking where it was leading.

"We will," Siu said in the end, "If there is an opportunity, why should we miss it?"

With the decision made, they moved forward carefully, keeping their formation and even tightening it without being told to do so. From his position, Siu watched as their faces changed, right when the smell reached their noses... blood.

"This doesn't look good, Master..." Arya's voice came back in the meantime, watching what was happening. At the same time, what the team heard was only a guttural snarl and a strangled cry from somewhere ahead of them.

"Yeah, Master!" Marly agreed, "Poor thing... Can we save it?"

"We will see," Siu answered, but he wasn't going to rush in just yet. He can't go and save every beast.

As the group advanced, they finally broke through a cluster of snow-covered bushes into a small clearing, where a pretty brutal scene was unfolding before them all. Not that far from them, a massive-looking beast, about two meters tall, stood over something way smaller, barely reaching its stomach. It was clear that the thing on top of it was way too hungry, especially if it began hunting for something so insignificant, but... that was how winter worked, and beggars couldn't be choosers.

Looking at the salivating creature, it resembled a bear, but unlike the ones Siu had seen before. This one had to be still a young one, way smaller and inexperienced. No wonder it was starving, standing there with a hunched spine, long foreclaws with blackened tips, mostly built for tearing things apart. Its white-gray fur was now stained with red patches, from the blood of its opponent. Looking at the other creature pinned beneath it, that was something much more slender, reminding Siu of a stout. Only.... It had long, fluffy ears, dusk-colored fur, and one hind leg mangled beyond recognition, its body struggling weakly but still trying to get away, not wanting to end up as food. Of course, the hungry beast was not going to let it do so, and with how focused he was on its meal, it didn't even catch the group arriving.

“This is our chance,” Siu said, noticing the opportunity, "Let's move in!"

Darin’s arrow flew out from the group first, burying itself in the beast's shoulder, just as it raised a paw to bring it down on its prey. The impact made the beast yelp as the arrowhead lodged in its flesh, causing it to miss, suddenly becoming aware of the danger and getting surrounded.

"Get fuuuuucked!" Garron yelled and laughed as he charged in, his axe already in mid-swing, slashing at its side, before rolling in the snow to avoid a counter-attack from the beast.

As the claws of the creature lashed out, almost catching Garron across the chest with a glancing blow, Eldric was already there as he stepped in immediately, hammering a fist-strike at the injury Garron had created. From his stance alone, Siu couldn't really tell what kind of technique he was using. But... from the impact and the way his feet were planted into the snow, he could see some of the Ox-form showing through as its foundation.

“Left!” Darin shouted in the meantime, "Watch out!"

"I see it!" Lysa yelled back as they surrounded the 'bear,' and she threw a handful of powder into the creature's face, grabbed from the same pouch Siu had given to them all.

Inhaling, whatever its mixture was, it became painful for the beast, and that much was clear at once. Its eyes stung, it began to twitch and sneeze uncontrollably, giving everyone the perfect chance to land their own attacks. Soon, there were cracks of bones, slashed fur, and overall howls as they kept appearing on the bear-like creature, overwhelming it. No matter which member they were, what they did, be it a punch, a kick, or a swing of a weapon, another arrow being let loose, they all hit the beast. With its weakened body, starved for a long time, the onslaught was too much, making it unable to contest against so many hands and feet... and then... it was over. The predator that thought it would finally have a meal collapsed, becoming the prey in the end.

"That was some bloody good fight!" Breathing heavy, Garron wiped the blood from his weapon, exhaling big puffs of white, "Hah! Now this feels great!"

“It was dangerous,” Kalev muttered, finally standing up from all fours, because in the fight, all his attacks landed on the beast's legs, keeping it from escaping, scurrying between its legs like some kind of nasty little gremlin.

“Every hunt is as such,” Siu said, watching over the group, never really making a move, "But despite this being your first hunt, everyone worked together perfectly!" He clapped, not wanting to bring up his experiences with hunts... Finally, it was not him lying on the ground, his shoulders nailed to something once again, "Neya will cut it up and distribute it amongst you according to your contribution."

"I will be fair." She smiled, standing with Siu, feeling excited as this was also her first hunt, and even if she didn't do much... it was still exhilarating.

It was at that moment that everyone's eyes turned to the smaller creature, still there, lying in the snow, breathing... Somewhat.

"What about this one?" Mikael asked, walking over to it first, “It won’t survive,” he muttered. “Look at the leg... and the blood loss.”

“Better to end it,” Torren added, looking at the others, while Varren was unsure of it.

"That doesn't look that bad..." He muttered. "Still can be saved."

"It is baaaad. Especially, in the forest," Rinmei offered, but Siu was watching Kalev, who also moved closer to the injured 'stoat.'

"Master, we won't leave him there to die, will we?" Arya asked, anxious, "Help him!"

"Yes... He was pleading!" Marly translated, "But that stupid bear was not listening! You must help him!"

“Just wait,” Siu said softly, shaking his head, "I don't think that this time around, it will be me helping this one."

“It’s not beyond saving,” Kalev said suddenly, his voice a bit more audible than usual.

"Look, boy," Mikael frowned at him, “That leg... it has been almost torn off, even if you fix it, it won't survive the forest for long. It may stay useless, and then you have a three-legged cripple that becomes the dinner of something else, wasting all the CC you poured into it. That's what we call: total loss.”

"It doesn't need to survive in the forest," Kalev continued, speaking more than he ever did even in his interview, throwing a glance at Siu, who just nodded, with a smile. That alone was enough, so Kalev, without any hesitation, picked the injured, stout-like creature up, wrapping it in his own robes.

"..."

By then, everyone was looking at him, then at Siu... and Arya... Marly... realizing their own mistake and the now missed opportunity.

"Let's bring back the big one!" Siu clapped, looking at everyone, before his gaze returned to Kalev. "And after you managed to bring him back to health," he added, smiling at Kalev, "I think I will help you meet with Elder Delia."