Yazmina made sure to watch Adam enter the building. She then loudly said, “Operation Roundhouse, Tom, you come in from the right, make sure to squeeze ‘em towards Jerry’s crew. Jerry, your group is tasked with distracting the fuguto and getting it away from Earl. Then that’s where I come in and surround it with my group, go kick some ass, dies”.
Team T ran off to the right, and Team J went to the left. Yazmina was brought her case, which contained her sniper. She thanked them and ran straight for the fight, her group behind her, awaiting further instructions. As soon as she reached the battling monsters, she assessed the situation.
She could see how sluggish and worn Earl was becoming, his once-mighty form now trembling with fatigue. His massive, lion-like body—armored in thick, iridescent scales—was smeared with dirt and blood. The serpent hood fring from his neck twitched faintly, no longer raised in full defiance but sagging with exhaustion.
A deep, ragged gash tore across his hind leg, leaking dark blood that stained the earth beneath him. Every breath he took was bored, shallow, and strained.The Fuguto prowled in the clearing just ahead, its grotesque frame lithe and predatory. Branches snapped beneath its cws, and its low growls echoed through the dense jungle. Earl had drawn it away long enough for her to find higher ground—now it was her turn to buy them time.
She dropped low behind a thick tree root half-buried in moss and leaves, her hands steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. The jungle was hot and buzzing, filled with the drone of insects and the distant cries of unknown creatures. She took a breath, let it out slowly, then began to unpack her rifle with deliberate precision.
The long sniper was matte bck and Gold and custom-built—her trusted tool in moments like this. She unfolded the bipod, anchoring it into the soft earth at the edge of the undergrowth where the jungle opened up into the clearing. Carefully, she adjusted the angle and elevation, her gloved fingers tightening the scope until it aligned perfectly with the terrain ahead.
She didn’t fire. Not yet.
Instead, she watched. Waited.
She needed to time her shot perfectly—draw the Fuguto’s attention, pull it away from Earl without sparking a reckless charge that would finish him off. Earl, still in the brush ahead of her, let out a low, rumbling breath. She gnced at him for a second, enough to see him colpse more fully onto his side, the blood from his leg pooling in the dirt.Her chest tightened.
She turned back to the scope, locking in on the beast again, finger resting lightly near the trigger. The jungle held its breath with her, as the moment stretched thin—waiting for the perfect opening.
She saw soldiers hiding in the forest around the clearing, waiting for the signal. She made a hand signal for her team to make a circle and hide around 50 feet back from her.
She waited until she couldn’t see them. Through the scope, the jungle melted into shadowy greens and browns, every detail crisp and magnified. The Fuguto prowled near the edge of the clearing, its hulking body hunched low to the ground. Muscles rippled beneath its furry hide, each movement slow and calcuting. It sniffed the air again, jaws twitching with anticipation, unknowingly putting itself directly in her crosshairs.
Yazmina’s breath slowed, her body going completely still. The world around her vanished—the cries of birds, the distant snapping of branches, the low, pained growl of Earl—all faded to silence. Her focus narrowed to a single point. The target was perfectly aligned.
The creature paused, turning just enough to expose a vulnerable spot just above its shoulder bde.
A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
She squeezed the trigger.
The rifle thundered, the shot cracking like a bolt of lightning through the humid air. The recoil pulsed through her shoulder, but her eyes never left the scope. The bullet struck the Fuguto with a sharp, echoing thunk, smming into its upper back. The beast roared in fury, jerking violently as it twisted around to face the source of the attack. Its eyes locked on Yazmina’s position, filled with primal rage. Before it could react further, the trees to its left exploded with motion.
Tom and his squad burst from the jungle with weapons raised, fanning out in a tight formation. Gunfire erupted—short, controlled bursts that tore through the underbrush and pelted the Fuguto with suppressive rounds.
The beast shrieked, more out of frustration than pain, as it was forced to retreat from Earl, its focus now split between multiple threats.
Staggering slightly, it backed away from the injured guardian, its cws digging into the earth as it was driven toward the far end of the clearing—directly into Jerry’s trap. Jerry, crouched in the shadow of a wide banyan tree with his squad positioned like silent statues, saw the cue. His voice cut through the comms, calm and firm:
“Now. Move in. Herd it.”
In unison, his team emerged from the treeline at angles—left fnk, right fnk, and rear—closing in with practiced efficiency. They fired low and close, the barrage of bullets cracking around the Fuguto’s legs and sides. The rounds weren’t meant to kill—they wouldn’t. But they still bit into flesh, stinging and disorienting the creature.
The Fuguto snarled and thrashed, backing toward the only route left open—uphill and directly toward Yazmina’s perch. Yazmina knew her cue and put her sniper to the side and started running towards it, making loud noises to get its attention off the men pushing it towards her.
She yelled,, “hey! Your next meal is over here, come and get it”.
Its head snapped in her direction and made a low growl as if it knew what she said. Its attention was completely on her and she started taunting it “Hey asshole! Yeah you… Over heereee, come and get this fresh meat”.
It started to run towards her aggressively.Yazmina smirked and waited until the st moment to start to run in the direction of their trap. It roared in frustration and continued to chase her. Once she got him in the invisible circle she stopped and faced it. It yelped in surprise and slowed down, causing it to rear up on its hind legs.
She yelled “KNOW” with that some of them jumped from the trees and some came from the ground completely surrounding it. They distracted it long enough for Miska, one of her comrades to jump from the tree directly over the Fuguto. Mishka grabbed onto its neck and with a sword, slitting its throat. Yazmina sighed in relief as it fell to the ground, blue blood gushing from its neck.
They all cheered and congratuted Miska for the finishing kill.
Yazmina went to go collect her sniper and saw Tom and Jerry's team collect Earl who had shifted back into his real form, they were carrying him on a stretcher and as they saw Yazmina they all seemed to sigh in relief knowing its gone.
After she put her sniper back in its case she called the cleanup crew.She informed them that she was going to check where the fuguto broke in, she then started to make her way around the containment unit checking for any access points.
As she was walking she started thinking to herself about the whole situation and felt like the day needed to end. She then snapped out of her thoughts and saw a vent door ying on the ground in front of her. She looked up and saw the rge vent that controlled the oxygen in the unit, it was warped in a way the metal bent outward as if it squeezed its way in there.
She sighed and called it in, notifying Landon of the incident and calling a squad of men to fix and find out where the vent led to. As she walked back she took a moment to pet the Fumomoths and count all of them just in case any of them got out. She made her way back to the exit and passed the clean up crew carrying out the fuguto out. She got to the exit and made sure to close the door, her mind wandered back to Sammy and she started to walk in the direction of the medbay.
Her eyes wandered the hallways as she walked to Sammy. She moved her hair out of her face and fixed her uniform, picking out any leaves and sticks.
Once she reached the Medbay she passed Earl's room, she could see doctors around him fixing him up. She spotted Sammy's room and sped up, opening the door a smile pstered on her face as she saw Sammy holding up Elvis and paying him compliments.
Yazmina chuckled and said “ Feeling better I presume?”. Adam was in the corner fidgeting with his fingers.Sammy turned her attention to her sister and smiled expining “Yes most definitely and this thing is just so cute and cuddly. If we ever go to Adam's world then I have to get one or ten”.
Yazmina ughed and agreed “Yea I might have to get one too, and I hope we don't have to go to his world unless for a treaty. Other than that some news, a fuguto broke in our containment unit #078. I found Adam there with Earl who was fighting it off and so did you say Adam could go with Earl?”.
Sammy was petting the cat in her p when she said “yes, he asked to take him and I told him to keep a close eye on him”. Yazmina nodded and said “They got Earl just a few doors down from you. I think he will be just fine”. As she said that she got that look from Sammy that she knew all too well.
“Uh no, Sammy I know what you're thinking, you are not going over there. We have plenty of qualified doctors so no”.
Sammy gave her another look like she knew Yazmina would bring her over there. She groaned and said “you're literally gonna be the death of me, let me go get a wheelchair”. She rolled her eyes and Sammy and walked out to grab a wheelchair.
Once she brought the wheel chair Sammy got in and ughed “I love the little sister privilege”. Yazmina chuckled and rolled her to Earl's door, she then announced to the doctors “My sister's forced me to bring her here, don't bme me”. Adam had followed behind them, sitting in a nearby chair sighing.
The nearest doctor gave Yazmina a look then Sammy one and sighed exciming “It's fine, we could use the extra hands anyway. She is the best”. Yazmina rolled her to the side of Earl's bed, they lowered the bed for her and Sammy then examining him said “Roll him into his side, he's about to seize, and give him a dose of Kutine to lower his heart rate.”.
As she said that Earl fell unconscious and started seizing uncontrolbly, they did what she said quickly and after a minute he stopped and his heartbeat slowed down. She then said “Get him in the SR STAT, he has Internal bleeding, See his skin?”.
She pointed to the dark patch of grey skin he had on his side. Yazmina watched from the side lines, she could tell the doctors were not in the mood to deal with her but she had a feeling they were secretly grateful.
Her walkie talkie went off saying “Yazmina, report to Landon's office”. Sammy looked over to Yazmina and said “it's alright I'll make one of them roll me around”.
She nodded and pressed the button on her walkie talkie “On my way”. She walked out of the room and started to walk towards his office. Her thoughts stopped as she turned down the hallway and saw Landon outside his office.
She raised an eyebrow and sped up a little. He looked quite serious so she put on her serious face and once she reached him he said “Yazmina, we received word from the HAHC from Nanatome, they are willing to aid us against the new threat we are facing. I need you to go meet with their leader to discuss pns, I would go but I have important meetings to attend”.
She nodded and understood, she started constructing war strategies in the back of her mind and future pns.She replied “Yes sir, when do I leave? and am I taking anyone with me?” Landon made a “mmm” sound and said “I trust you enough to go alone, besides you have Koda if anything happens also, leave as soon as possible. It's a long flight, they want to meet in their Capital, Calmaria”.
Yazmina internally groaned and said “On my way, Tom is my choice to take my pce while I'm gone”. Landon nodded and wished her off, as she packed for the journey ahead she could feel Koda’s presence in her mind.
Through there connection she said “you heard him right? better stretch those wings its gonna be a long day of flying”.
Koda groaned and said “great, just what I need. At least it's for a good cause and we get to hang out more”.
Yazmina smiled saying “True, I’ll be outside in a moment”. Once she was done organizing her bag and making sure she did not forget anything she walked outside with Koda's saddle and her bag, Koda who was drinking water looked at the saddle with a reluctant stare but did not protest.She flew back to her home to pack for the long trip.
Once Yazmina secured the compartments onto Koda she grabbed her phone and called Sammy, she needed to let her know that she was going to be gone.
Sammy had to stay overnight in the Medbay and she heard that Adam was also staying there as Sammy insisted that she keep an eye on him.While her phone rang she took in the dark purple sunset gleaming through the trees.
Sammy's voice snapped her out of her trance and she said “Hi! I will be going to Calmaria as I have to see the HAHG for war pns and aid ideas so I will be gone for a couple of days. I will call you when I get there, make sure you keep an eye out on Adam”.
Sammy chuckles and expins”It's fine, I have it all under control and Earl made it so he will be fine. Good luck and you better call me or I will go there myself”.
Yazmina ughed and said “I'm sure you would too, Love you byeee”. Sammy replied “Love you too! Bye”.
Yazmina left feeling in a good mood, got up on Koda and looked one more time at her house, the white walls and Golden shutters and Lines ced with a purplish light due to the sunset. She breathed in and told Koda “Let's go shall we”. He with a nod took off and started climbing in height until they could see the forest stretching out before then and the receding sun.
She paused at the edge of the cliffside nding pad, turning to gnce back at the small house nestled in the trees behind her. Its wooden frame, weather-worn but warm with memories, sat quietly among the swaying jungle canopy. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting golden patches across the mossy stones that lined the path to her door. Her gaze lingered on the windows, the front step, the garden she had nurtured by hand. It had been her sanctuary.
Her home.
She smiled softly, lips barely moving as she whispered a silent goodbye. Not a sad one—just a farewell. A chapter closing. Then she turned forward, heart pounding with the electric hum of anticipation.
The air around her shifted as Koda spread his massive wings. His scales shimmered in the early morning light, casting ripples of color that mirrored the forest below—deep blues, glossy purples, and the occasional fsh of iridescent green.
With a low growl of readiness, he crouched, muscles coiling beneath him. She climbed up onto the saddle between his shoulders, tightening the harness straps with practiced ease.
With a single, thunderous beat of his wings, they unched into the sky.Wind whipped through her hair, rushing past her ears as the trees fell away beneath them. The world expanded with every beat of Koda’s wings, the jungle stretching out endlessly to the horizon.
They soared southward, the sky a canvas of swirling clouds and golden light. Below, the vibrant forests she had grown up exploring sprawled in every direction—an endless sea of life and color.
The trees were painted in waves of deep purple and vibrant blue, their canopies interwoven like a living quilt. Between them, rivers shimmered with an otherworldly turquoise hue, winding like glowing veins through the forest floor.
Waterfalls glittered in the sunlight, cascading down cliffs into jewel-like kes that caught the sky’s reflection. Flowers bloomed in bursts of scarlet, gold, and indigo, and flocks of iridescent birds soared alongside them before veering off into the treetops.
She let her hand trail through the air, smiling as the wind pushed against her palm.
Despite the beauty below, her thoughts drifted forward—to the man they were meant to meet. The President of the HAHG. Brilliant, calcuted, and unbearably smug. She had never liked him, never trusted him either, but she couldn’t deny his skill.
He was a tactician through and through, His reputation as a pyboy and egotist was well-earned, yet behind that smirk was a razor-sharp mind.
Still, she half-expected he’d be a day te, as always—sweeping in fashionably deyed just to make an entrance.With nothing to do but fly and think, Yazmina let her mind drift. The steady rhythm of Koda’s wings beat like a heartbeat behind her, the wind whistling in her ears and brushing against her face like a chilled whisper.
The clouds thinned as the afternoon sun snted down, catching on the edges of Koda’s glossy scales. He glided effortlessly through the sky, his great, leathery wings catching air like sails.
The world below stretched out like a vast, breathing painting—mountainous ridges dipped into valleys rich with gold-tipped trees and curling mist, all shimmering under the te light.This was her favorite part of traveling.High above the chaos, far from the constant noise of tense strategy meetings and whispers of war. No sharp tones from radio alerts, no pounding boots on polished floors. Just the wind, the sky, and Koda.
She tilted her head against the side of his neck, letting herself rex into his warmth. His body radiated heat like a sun-warmed stone, and the slow rise and fall of his back beneath her was a comfort she didn’t know she’d been craving. For now, the road ahead was distant, and the sky gave her space to breathe.
Koda rumbled softly beneath her, a sound more felt than heard. Yazmina smiled faintly. “I’m okay,” she murmured, though she wasn’t sure if she was reassuring him or herself.Then, something below flickered through the edge of her vision—a flicker of motion too precise, too coordinated to be random wildlife.
Yazmina straightened slightly, focusing her eyes on a clearing nestled between two winding ridges. Sunlight poured down through the thinning canopy, gilding the edges of the tall grass in warm light.
There, like molten shadows weaving through fire-touched grass, moved a herd of Nikushika.She inhaled softly, startled by the sight but not surprised. Of course. This was their territory.
Native to this region, the Nikushika were legendary. Not in the way of old tales or exaggeration—but legendary in that sightings were rare and encounters even rarer. Predators of startling intelligence, they lived and hunted in herds—packs, really—with a structure akin to that of lions or wolves. Yet their grace and majesty set them apart.
Yazmina slowed Koda slightly with a shift of her weight and a subtle press of her knees. He responded immediately, circling lower, just enough to give her a clearer view without arming the herd.From above, they looked like beings born of fme and earth.
Coated in thick fur that ranged in color from russet red to bronze, burnt gold to rich auburn, they blended perfectly with the autumn palette of the forest they had entered. Their long, powerful bodies moved with feline precision, yet each one bore the towering antlers of a great stag—twisted and jagged like living branches, massive enough to command space and attention.
Each set was unique, some with curls, others like shattered gss, all breathtaking.
One of the Nikushika paused, its head rising slightly. A young one, judging by the size of its antlers and its smaller frame. Its eyes glinted amber, catching the sun in a way that made them look like molten gold. It sniffed the wind, ears flicking.
Yazmina didn’t move. Her body remained still and banced atop Koda’s back, her presence quiet, respectful. She knew better than to provoke or even intrude too much. The Nikushika had their customs, their patterns. And this was not her space.
Down below, the herd was locked in a hunt.
She spotted the prey now—a small rabbit, fur fluffed up and panicked, darting through the grass. It zig-zagged desperately, weaving through low brush and leaping over roots. But the Nikushika were fast.
Deadly fast.
One split off to the right, circling around like a ghost. Another mirrored the movement on the left.
They didn’t make a sound—no roars, no cries. Just silent pursuit, their cws whispering through the grass. The lead Nikushika, a massive creature with a scar slicing down one shoulder and antlers that branched like lightning, gave a flick of its tail. Instantly, the others shifted positions.
They were communicating.
She had studied them before. She remembered the research notes—subtle gestures, coordinated maneuvers, a shared understanding honed by generations of instinct and experience. Some scientists believed they used low-frequency sounds Keno's couldn’t detect. Others thought it was a kind of telepathy. She thought it was simply the beauty of evolved connection—like dancers who had practiced for centuries.
The rabbit burst out of a patch of shrubs, bolting for the other end of the clearing. A young Nikushika leapt—faster than anything its size should be able to move—and nded just ahead of it, snarling low and blocking the path.
The rabbit skidded, turning, but there was no escape. The lead hunter lunged, jaws snapping.
A moment ter, it was over.
Yazmina didn’t flinch. The circle of life was brutal, but not cruel. The Nikushika didn’t kill for sport. They killed to live. The rest of the herd emerged slowly from the shadows, converging around their fallen prey. There was no chaos in it—only purpose.
And as the wind shifted, Yazmina saw something more.
One of the younger members hesitated before stepping forward, looking to the lead for permission. The older hunter gave a low huff, then stepped back, allowing the youth to feed first.
Hierarchy. Respect. Ritual.
“Beautiful,” she whispered, almost to herself.
Koda rumbled again in agreement. She felt the vibration through her legs.The wind picked up, tugging at her scarf. She knew she couldn’t linger much longer.
The border of Nanatome was a while away, and she was expected in two days. A meeting with their prime envoy. More diplomacy. More convincing. Another step in the slow, grinding effort to prepare for a war she didn’t want but couldn’t ignore.
But she would carry this moment with her.
She looked down once more. The Nikushika had begun to fade back into the forest, their hunt complete, their forms melting into the tapestry of leaves and branches like ghosts returning to myth. The clearing was empty again. Silent, save for the wind.
Yazmina straightened in her saddle and leaned forward slightly, signaling Koda to rise. His wings flexed, catching the current, and they began to climb again, higher into the endless sky.
“I wonder,” she murmured, “if Earth ever has anything like them..”
Koda didn’t answer, but his steady flight carried her forward, and that was enough.
Still, she was ready. -
The Nikushika reminded her that there was power in stillness, strength in grace. The world didn’t always need to shout to be strong. Sometimes, watching, waiting, and knowing when to strike was the greatest strength of all.
