A large window let in the sun, and the lights from the ceiling kept the room bright.

  There were large bookshelves that held hundreds of books. On one wall, there was a map of Keltic, and on the other, there was a more detailed map of Ielos. Paintings of different individuals all with red hair, later down the line, a painting of Igneel and Lyndis appeared. From the large wooden doors, a black carpet was rolled across a wooden floor before ending at a desk.

  "Ow... damn it." The knitting pricked her finger.

  Sitting at the desk, Lyn had finally finished a large section of paperwork she had just read through, looking at propositions and trade approvals. Finally, having just finished an audience with a representative of the education district.

  She decided to take a break from her work, distracting herself by knitting. Long black cloth grew in length as each new section was fed onto it.

  Small photos decorated her desk, from a simple image of her, Lumara, and Maryan from when they were kids, to one of her whole family, with one photo of each of her boys.

  Returning to her knitting, doing her best not to prick herself again. Lyn fell into a trance, meticulously adding section after section to the black cloth as she grew into a steady rhythm that quickly got faster and faster.

  A loud bang hit her office door.

  "OW, Damn it!! Son of a–

  Agitation grew in her voice as the noise caused her to mess up her timing, driving the needle into her thumb again, drawing blood.

  "The door's open, you can come in." She called out, putting the cloth, needles, and yarn into a drawer. Watching the door swing open and a girl with a mop of straight, tied-back, rosy pink hair. Adorned in clean, white armor with blue cloth underneath, she entered her chamber. In her hands was a massive stack of documents. "Ah, Layla. How are you this afternoon?"

  "Thank you for granting me permission to enter Lady Lyndis." The hobbit replied as she approached the desk. "Here are the monthly reports you requested. My superiors handled these off to me to deliver." Layla spoke, standing at attention. Her posture was stiff, trying to maintain the proper posture.

  "Hehe." 'As upright as ever I see.' Lyn couldn't help but laugh at the scene. "There's no need to be so stiff, Layla. Relax."

  "Are you sure, Lady Lyndis?" Layla seemed to relax slightly. But Lyn didn't take much note of it as she looked over the documents.

  Looking through, there was nothing out of the ordinary. 'Recruitment seems to be steady. Monster sightings are still higher than usual, but still, this increase has led to an increase in the collection of monster stones, so that at least gives people more of a chance to make a living.'

  "Pardon me, Lady Lyndis?"

  "Oh, right... sorry. You're free to go, Layla. Feel free to talk with Mom, she'd like to hear how you're doing these days."

  "Thank you."

  Bowing, Layla made her exit, leaving Lyn to herself. She continued to look over the new documents. "Ha," she let loose a tired sigh. "Today just seems to keep piling on... I wonder how Red and Roy are doing?" Letting her mind wander for just a moment before slapping her cheeks, she began focusing again, reading each document. She waited for her next audience to arrive.

  —

  The forest road, while it was bumpy, wasn't unbearable, and the horse was unbothered by the terrain as it pulled the wagon at a steady pace. At the front sat Alder in control of the reins with Gladys sitting next to him. Deamne sat between Zara and Nora, praising him for his efforts in the battle.

  Roy could only roll his eyes before turning back to his brother. "You were so cool Red! The way you rush in and then when you saved that hobbit." Smirking, Roy looked away for a moment, just to throw a taunting look at the hobbit before looking back at his brother.

  "Come on, Roy, let's not try and cause a problem. They were kind enough to give us a ride back."

  "I got it!!" Everyone turned to Arthur as he jumped up onto the wagon. "We sound be called th–

  Hey, kid! Don't go jumping around back there!"

  "Sorry sir..."

  Laughter broke out at Arthur's expense. "So Arthur..." Red spoke up. "What should we be called this time?"

  "The Responders."

  ...

  ...

  ...

  Denied.

  Red, Ash, and Fir all looked at each other before simultaneously giving him a thumbs down, shaking their disapproval.

  "Come on, it's a good name. Like, imagine it, there's no need to fear, The Responders are here!"

  "I mean..." Roy was the one to answer him. "The name isn't bad, but, well... it doesn't really scream adventurer. It sounds more like "Hey, my cat is stuck in the tree, let's call the Responders."

  Fir simply let loose a quiet chuckle at his statement.

  "Responders to a mess they caused, that should fit."

  "You know what, I bet those goblins probably showed up because that blood eye was in the area."

  Nora turned to Zara. "And who knows what trouble will come our way now that this blood eye is riding with us."

  Zara and Nora made their view of the situation clear. However soon a stare down between the two parties started as Ash sat up, joining Roy and Arthur as they locked eyes with the two girls.

  "Don't worry, if anything else happens, I'll do my best to defend you two." Deamne chose to use the situation to boost himself.

  "Yeah, and how ya gonna do that pint size? Throw that broken stick at the big bad monster?"

  "I'd still have my spear if that bloodeye didn't break it!"

  Arthur and Deamne only grew louder as it seemed like a fight would break out between the two as they got up.

  "Well, maybe if you knew how to fight then—

  "Arthur, just knock it off." Getting up, Red called out, gaining Arthur's attention, and made his way to the edge of the wagon. Hopping off, he started walking alongside

  "Hey, what are you doing?" His blond-haired friend called out.

  "Don't worry about it, my legs were getting stiff, so I'm just gonna walk for a bit."

  Without any further words, the group separated itself. Roy settled next to Athur and handed off a vial to Ash.

  Time seemed to crawl along. In the distance, darker clouds started to take shape as they grew more visible. The horse continued at a steady pace as it came to an incline, taking the wagon up the hill, and soon the tops of the trees became visible. It was like a sea of green with the rustling of the leaves acting as the waves from the wind's breeze.

  Arthur chose to teach Roy how to skin a Lustrous Root. Using a fresh tree branch to a substitute, peeling the bark off.

  Deamne could only mess with the broken spear, trying to reattach the blade. Only to have it fall off and for him to be comforted by Nora and Zara.

  Ash was going through the book he brought along, looking through the rest of their haul to get a better look at what each ingredient could be used for. Taking a look around he followed the golden gaze of his zoophian friend, seeing that his crimson-eyed friend was watching the clouds as the distance grew between him and the wagon.

  "Don't worry, he'll be fine." Her gaze changed from Red to Ash as he continued. "Sometimes he likes to give himself some distance from a problem and try to ignore it. We've all seen him find different ways to distract himself."

  "Yeah, there was one day when he was helping us at the apothecary and a customer walked in, saw him, and took off before any of us could greet him." Arthur joined in, and as he continued, pride started to fill his voice and puff out his chest. "We ended up dueling instead to help pass the time; it ended up bringing in more attention to the store. I came out on top of course."

  "Yeah, right. As if you could beat my brother."

  "You wanna say that again, small fry!" He called out using the debarked branch to knock on Roy's head.

  Roy, however, didn't let that hit go unchallenged as he jabbed his elbow into Arthur's side. "You bet I will, my brother is the best." The trio could only laugh as Fir slowly joined in the small orchestra.

  As their laughter grew, the wind picked up, carrying loose leaves in its wake, carrying green leaves and white threads on the wind. The area grew quiet.

  But behind the smell of pine and flower, there was something else... something monstrous.

  The only one who was able to pick up on this subtle change caused her laughter to slowly stop as she started sniffing the air.

  The change was small but noticeable. It didn't have the same smell as the goblins from earlier. It almost smelt like cilantro mixed with a strange, dirty musk.

  With the sound of breaking beaches joining in, Fir snapped her neck to the side, and her eyes widened.

  "RED LOOK OUT!!!"

  Turning to see what caused Fir's warning, everyone felt their gaze go wide.

  At her cry, Red looked to his side as he barely had enough time to raise his arms, blocking a hairy fist, sending him rolling down the hill.

  They could only watch Red disappear into the tree line below as the creatures made themselves known.

  Even hunched over with its arms planted on the ground, the pair stood over ten feet tall. And that isn't including the added height of the four, five-foot-long spider-like legs that sprouted off the top of their back. Their bodies, covered in brown hair like strands covering most of their bodies, leaving the mouth, trunk, hands, and feet free to show off the black leathery skin. Each had eight beady, black eyes and a pair of chelicerae or specialized outer fangs that are used to inject venom.

  The sight made it clear, they had crossed paths with a pair of Spider-Apes.

  A mixture of clicking, grunting, and arm movements almost seemed like they were communicating. The group watched one of them go down the hill, and the other matched towards them.

  Once the horse caught sight of the approaching monster, it took off. "Wow, there, calm down, girl!" Alder cried out as he pulled on the reins, trying to regain control. As it bucked wildly, without a second to spare, a pair of blades was drawn and a flash of green launched off the wagon.

  Seeing the approaching challenger, it opened its mouth and shot out spit wads made of silk. Closing the distance, he avoided each blast of the sticky threads.

  Arthur was the first to draw blood with the blade in his left hand. Cutting open its abdomen, giving green blood the opening it needed to escape. Causing the beast stepped back, Arthur followed through and prepared to stab both blades into its flesh.

  Only to have both blades be caught by its arms, stopping them. Struggling to break free from its grip, green eyes were forced to watch as the spider-like appendages prepared to skewer him. Just as the arrival of Fir, she slammed her knife into the creature's arm.

  Reacting to its pierced flesh, the ape swung its arm, flinging Fir to the ground while it did the same to Arthur.

  Trying to lift herself off the ground, Fir made eye contact with the beast, and it shot its hand out, grabbing her, lifting her off the ground. Kicking the air, she tried and failed to pry open the grip it held on her. All she could do was flail, staring into its beady black eyes that stared back.

  'Hard to... breathe... have to... get loose...'

  With renewed effort driven by fear, her fingers dug into flesh, trying to free herself. The ape twitched, annoyed at this minuscule pain. The spider-like appendage on its back rose above the fox girl. Time seemed to slow as it approached; a familiar buzzing sound was created.

  Blood splattered as a bladed disk made of wind cut through not only its arm but the spider leg that aimed to strike her.

  The ape howled in pain as it held the stump that used to be its left arm. Fir looked back to see that Ash looked relieved. But that expression didn't last, clutching his head and fell to his knees with a groan.

  "Ash!" 'Is he suffering from drain?'

  In her moment of distraction, the Spider-Ape sent another limb to strike at Fir.

  "Gale Strike!"

  She watched the strike miss her due to the wind's target not being the ape but her. Arthur used the moment to impale both his blades into its right side before retreating as green blood left the twin wounds.

  "Fir!" Arthur bellowed as he kept attacking and dodging, painting the monster in slashes. "I appreciate the help, but you're going to be worrying Ash, then fall back! I don't need you getting in the way!" His voice lacked any of the playful cockiness he normally spoke with.

  "Razor Wind!"

  Two more wind blades came flying. The ape leaped to the side, avoiding the first, but the second grazed its side. Only to have Arthur leave twin slashes on its back, making himself the ape's focus.

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  Despite Ash's fatigue, he didn't kneel as the wind started to envelop him.

  "Heha..." a calm laughter escaped. "I said I was gonna earn my keep, and here I am worrying more about Ash." She couldn't help but scold herself.

  The Cromed duo continued their assault. Arthur left deep lacerations on its body, during the onslaught, even removing another one of its spider-like appendages from its back.

  Despite the will to press on, the pounding that echoed throughout his mind grew, making it harder for Ash to maintain the focus needed to conjure each spell.

  Each time it seemed like Arthur overextended, giving the ape a chance to clober him. He was blasted by a gust of wind by his younger, moving him out of the way of its strike. He didn't fight it, letting the wind carry him, placing his full faith in his brother. And once the ground met his feet, he propelled himself forward. Blitzing past, his strike missed as the ape sidestepped the swing.

  It unhinged its jaws and let loose a blast of silk.

  'Shit!!'

  Nailing Arthur is a glob of sticky webbing, pinning him to the floor. "Damn, I can't get loose!" Try as he might, he couldn't break free from the threads. Each time he tried to break through, the webbing only seemed to stick to him as it became harder to move. The beast approached.

  Refusing to stand by and watch. The wind started to surround the young mage as he created two wind disks...

  ... only for the pounding in his head to sharpen, breaking his concentration. Forcing him to watch, unable to move, the ape approached with an almost sinister glee.

  But the ape didn't get the chance. It felt a weight slam into its side. Repeated stabs pierced the side of its face, taking out each eye. Fully blinding it on that side. After it felt the knife enter its skull again, it swayed at the pest as she jumped off its face, landing next to Arthur.

  "You good, Arthur?" Fir immediately got to work trying to cut through the spider silk.

  "I'm good, thank yo... Lookout!"

  Watching a hairy fist descend, they felt a massive force of wind caught the beast off guard, causing it to stumble back.

  Looking back, they saw that even under the effects of drain, Ash had no intention of sitting this fight out.

  "You ready, Arthur?"

  "Yeah, just don't get distracted again."

  "Sure, just make sure you don't get webbed again." The two couldn't help but throw a few verbal jabs at each other. Watching their opponent regain its balance. "The only problem is... unless I'm getting in super close, this knife isn't gonna be as effective."

  Instead of encouraging words, Arthur bumped the hilt of one of his swords into Fir's side. "Don't go breaking it."

  She couldn't help but smirk, and with Ash ready to cover, the two charged the monster.

  Roy watched the trio before him fight. Each time Fir or Arthur overstepped, the other was able to distract. And when it looked as if they would be overwhelmed, Ash could move them or the ape with a blast of wind.

  "Father! Will you get a hold of the horse and get us out of here!!"

  Roy heard Zara call out towards Alder, with Nora echoing her cries.

  Seeing that the hobbit had yet to even try to know from his set, only served to anger the redhead. "Hey, how about you get off your ass and go help!"

  "Yeah, and what do you expect me to do with this?" Deamne scoffed at the thought, presenting the broken spear. "I'm not gonna join a fight that's gonna get me killed."

  He felt his blood boil at those words, but rather than waste his breath on the hobbit his brother chose to save. He got up and made his way off the wagon before running towards the fight.

  Once Gladys saw what the boy was doing, her cries for him to return fell on deaf ears.

  As he ran, the flame was born in his hands as he watched the Spider-Ape slam an open palm into both Arthur and Fir. Before it could follow up on the opening it made, Roy let loose a bolt of flame.

  "Firebolt!"

  Nailing the creature's side with its fur, the hairs caught fire, giving the two the moment they needed to evade.

  "Hey, Roy, think you can time that for me?"

  "Give me a target and I'll light it up."

  Turning his attention back to the beast, watching as Arthur and Fir darted in and out of its striking range, painting its body in cuts. But what stole Roy's attention was the words that were spoken by Ash as he could hear the wind begin to swirl and pool around him.

  "Rapid winds let loose a raging storm. Form a storm front that will blow away all enemies...

  With each word, the wind blew faster and faster until it began to howl. Hearing this chant, Arthur knew what spell his brother was preparing. "Come on, Fir, we have to keep this thing from moving!"

  Looking back, she knew why he wanted this done. No further words were shared as they changed their plan of attack. No longer trying to land a killing blow, but preventing it from moving by going for the tendons in its legs.

  It couldn't keep up with their combined speed.

  ...With this raging storm, my opponent will be forced to submit to the will of the winds."

  "FIR, ARTHUR! MOVE!!" He cried; he finally called out the attack.

  "Cyclone Assault!"

  And with a thrust of his hands, a great force of wind was expelled. However, it wasn't a simple just like with Gale Strike; this attack was like he was launching a tornado.

  Before the Spider-Ape knew it, it was trapped in a suffocating vortex of wind. It tried to step forward, only to be slowly pushed back by the wind.

  "Now, Roy!"

  He was quick to act with a nod. "Firebolt!" He didn't waste any time once he was called, sending the bolt of flame, not at the ape, but at the tornado.

  Once the fire met the wind, the tornado was engulfed in flame. The ape could only watch as the whirling winds turned into a burning tornado. Watching its fur and flesh start to char and burn, a blood-curdling scream filled the forest.

  One of Ash's hands left the tornado and came to his side.

  "Wild winds dance freely with no chains to bind them. I will, however, change that fate and use them as my blade to slice those in my path."

  Another bladed wind sphere took shape. Throwing it like a disk, the attack soared into the fiery vortex. It too caught fire. Spinning faster and faster until the buzzing sound disappeared. The only thing they could see was the silhouette of the Spider-Ape getting sliced two

  The howling came to an end as the top half of the body fell back and the bottom fell forward. The wind died down and the severed, charred monster's corpse was all that remained.

  At the sight, Alder and his family broke out in cheer as he finally was able to calm the horse, and this gave everyone a moment to catch their breath, but for one, this victory didn't mark the end.

  "Come on, we have to go help Red!"

  Roy almost took off had it not been Ash who struggled to get each word out. "Don't... worry... we'll... gah." That was it, he couldn't even finish before he soon fell onto a bed of dirt. Arthur and Fir rushed to his side. Leaving Roy scared, terrified of the fate of his brother.

  —-

  Rolling down the hill, passing under trees and through bushes, it didn't seem like it would end. His vision changed from green to blue as he rolled. Only to stop as the ground disappeared beneath him, landing in a shallow, cool, wetness. "Did someone catch the name of that boulder?"

  After the world seemed to stop spinning,

  Red realized that he had ended up on a stream bank.

  Getting out of the stream and liking himself over making sure nothing was lost, only to come to a horrid realization.

  The inside of his boots, his socks were soaked in his water-logged boots.

  'This sucks, I can feel the sand in my shoe too. I'm gonna need a bath when I get home.'

  Drawing his sword, he prepared himself to fight the Spider Ape as it reappeared. At the sight of a grass-stained, soaked boy, it almost seemed to laugh. Only for its laughter to be replaced with a painful gasp.

  Red had vanished from its sightand a bloody green wound appeared on its side. "Consider that payback for the cheap shot."

  It went from laughing money to a rage-filled ape in less time than it would take to flip a coin. Pounding its chest, the sound of slapping flesh filled the area. It charged Red. Slamming both of its fists into the ground, Red evaded the hammer-like fists as he moved to the side. Only to have the spider's legs on its left side strike at him.

  Deflecting the first one, causing it to pierce the ground. He avoided the follow-up by dashing to the side, slashing at the limb and severing it from the main body.

  It could only howl in pain. Facing the boy, it spewed silk from its mouth. The crimson-eyed youth was able to avoid most of the attack, but the silk wasn't just aimed at him. It painted the floor where he landed.

  While he tried to shake himself loose, the weight of the ape's fist sent him flying back into the steam. However, before he could even get up, he felt something grab his leg. Barley even had enough time to grip the sandy mud; he was wanked from the stream, dangling in the air as he locked eyes with the multi-eyed ape.

  The ape's upward curved chelicerae went for an injection. Red hurled his sand-filled hand, aiming for its face, blinding it as it splattered against its face.

  Eight eyes meant eight different places for sand to end up, filling each eye with sand . It tried to clear its vision. While Red couldn't cast magic, what he could do was generate heat and spread it across his hand as he slammed it against the palm that held him.

  From the stinging in its eyes and now a searing pain on its hand, it dropped Red. Landing on his back, he felt the wind get knocked out of him. Rolling away, putting distance between the two he finally got back on his feet. He sized up his opponent.

  'Lucina said she beat one of you before, so... I guess I can do it too.'

  Blitzing past, in less time than it would take for rain to hit the ground. Red slashed at the ape, leaving a bloody gash across its chest and running Breaker through its side. All the monster could do was cry out in pain. In a blind rage, it used its remaining back appendages to try and stab him. But even if it could see properly, the only thing it could hit was the dirt. Red darted between each strike, sending green blood flying as he severed another spider limb.

  Roaring at the loss of yet another limb, the ape looked at its red-eyed opponent. Taking a moment to watch, almost study him. Red could feel its eyes wander over him as he reaffirmed his guard. Only to have it reach out into the trees, tearing off a massive branch that was double Breaker's length. Red simply watched as it then started to swing it mirroring his actions.

  'Huh... monkey see monkey do.' Not wanting to give it the chance to get used to its newfound reach, he rushed in.

  A sick, toothy grin grew when wood blocked metal, and with a simple arm movement, it flung Red back, firing off owebbing at him. But rather than aim directly at Red, he could only watch the web stuck his hands and blade together.

  "Damn it, it won't come off!" Red could only try to pry his hands free from the glue-like substance that only seemed tougher and stickier the more he pulled at it. And in this moment of distraction, he was hit with another round of silk that blasted him into a tree. Just like a fly he was stuck in the web; the only thing he could do was struggle as the ape approached.

  'Come on.'

  'Come on!'

  "Come on, damn it!" He screamed out and his heart raced.

  Try as he might, he could barely move. The threads only seemed to grow tighter, pinning him further against the tree.

  "Come now, Red, you need to remain calm." The words of his mother appeared. It was a memory he knew all too well back when he was ten and taking his first steps into the field of magic.

  "But Mom, why is it so hard... You make it look easy."

  Simply getting down to is level, gently flicking his forehead, she spoke. "Because I've been doing this a lot longer than you." She couldn't help but smile at him. "Getting flustered isn't going to help you. Just calm down. Take a breath and focus...

  All while this memory replayed for him, his eyes closed as he took a breath, trying to calm himself as his hands grew hot. The world went ignored by him as a small flame started to grow in his connected hands as the ape approached.

  ...Focus, feel the heat and then let it loose."

  Its stomping went ignored as Red only seemed to think about two things. Breathing and fire. The ape soon towered over him, it brought its fist down just as Red's eyes shot open with flame in hand...

  ... only to watch a blue blur appear in front of him as a pair of crossed arms that blocked the strike.

  "Hector?!?"

  There before him stood the draconian, blocking the ape’s fist before flashing a toothy grin; he easily pushed the fist back. Forcing the ape to stagger, and in that moment, the young draconian landed three bone-crunching blows. The first two served to knock the ape off balance, and the third punch slammed into the ape’s chest. The sound of bones breaking echoed as it was sent back.

  Returning his fist to his side, Hector kept his eyes on the monster before him. “Red, you good?” Even when he spoke, his gaze didn’t leave the ale it thrashed wildly, slamming the branch on the ground like a child throwing a tantrum.

  Instead of panicking, Red chose to be more sarcastic when it came to the situation. “I’d be better if I wasn’t stuck to a tree!”

  “Huh, I figured based on how comfortable you look, it must have been an enjoyable spot.” He shot, trying not to crack a smile. “I’ll get you out as soon as possible.”

  Turning back for just a moment, Hector was about to try and help remove Red from the tree until he called out. “MOVE! Get out of the way, Hector!” His warning was clear and when Hector turned, he barely had enough time to dodge the branch that was thrown like a spear at him.

  As he dodged the ape charged, but rather than hammer the draconian, it chose to try and stab at him with its back limbs.

  Red could only watch Hector avoid multiple stab attempts. Bobbing and weaving past each strike, watching as both limbs rose and rapidly descended, smashing the ground where Hector once stood. But before it could retract from its attack, Hector grabbed hold of its back limbs.

  A smile cracked the draconian’s face, and with all the strength he could muster, he turned and pulled its legs over his head. Red watched the Spider-Ape fly above them and crashed into the ground, just to go one step further. A loud, bone-snappping crack echoed as the ape screamed out in sheer pain. Hector wiped them like one would a snake to make sure it was dead.

  A cocky grin grew as he left the screaming Spider Ape nothing more than a multi-eyed gorilla. Whether it was pain or rage, the ape got back up and rushed him. Its fist came crashing down like a sledgehammer.

  Hector grinned and wound up his own punch. The sound of flesh connecting rocked the woods when the two blows collided, trying to push the other back. ButHector pushed harder. Red watched the force of the draconian’s blow slam through the Spider-Ape’s arm, snapping its fingers, breaking the bones in its hand and arm.

  Hector grinned when the monster stumbled back and held its broken arm in pain. Seeing the opening, he leaped in for another strike.

  Despite the shattered pain in its arm, it sidesteped Hector’s follow-up strike. His left fist slammed the earth below, cracked the earth, but the monster didn't relent. With is good arm it backhanded Hector. Its knuckles slammed into his head, sending him rolling across the ground.

  Ending on his back, the moment his eyes opened, his brown eyes were greeted by the sight of the ape's hair-covered foot as it tried to change the role of who was about to be squashed. Skin met scales as Hector stopped the attempt. The ape glared down, pressing further down with even greater force against the resistance it faced.

  “I’m not some bug you can SQUASH!” With the strength his kind made famous, pushing back, he started to sit up against the weight of the ape’s foot.

  Almost throwing the beast off him, Hector shot up, slamming his tail against the ground, he launched himself forward and rammed his fist past the beast's flesh and into its body. It cried out in pain, greenish colored blood spurted out as it drained from the new opening, and grabbed the monster's spine. And with his other hand, he dug his fingers into its back.

  Screaming in pain, it raised its arm and sent its elbow onto Hector’s head. Red, unable to move, could only call out to his friend, telling him to run. Watching Hector receive elbow blow after blow to the head.

  But rather than run, Hector ignored Red’s horrified calls to retreat, buried his arm further into the ape’s torso, and his finger sank into its back. His tail slapped the ground; it was like Hector was using it like a third leg to stabilize himself. His stance widened and body strained as the veins in his arms and neck became visible as…

  … he started to lift the ape.

  As the ape was lifted off the ground, its blood only drained faster, yet Hector didn’t relent even against the ape’s repeated blows. And in a rapid movement, faster than in the blink of an eye. Hector bent backwards as he caused the very ground to shake and crater when he suplexed the ape into the dirt, slamming it into the floor headfirst. The sound of bones snapping echoed before its body went limp.

  Letting go of its back and pulling his fist out of the corpse’s chest, Hector too collapsed onto the grass.

  “Hey, Hector, you ok? Hector!” It took a moment before, rather than answer, a hardy laughter grew from the exhausted draconian. Raising his hand, he showed off the apple-sized rainbow core stone.

  Getting off the ground, Hector made his way over to the red-eyed prince and helped get him out of the webbing. “I thought you said you were gonna stay at home and help Miss. Tastu?”

  “Yeah, but who’d save your hide if I wasn’t here?” A fist met Red’s shoulder as the two took the moment to breathe.

  A blood-curdling howl echoed before it was quickly silenced.

  “Well, sounds like they were able to handle the other one.” Red informed Hector. “I’d rather get back there before Gladys kills him for hitting on her daughters.”

  “Ah,” Hector could only sigh at the remark. “Let’s get going before we have to bail him out… again.” Accepting the hand, the two made their way up the hill.

  —-

  Making their way up the hill, commotion grew as the sound of Roy's panicked-filled voice. The pair could hear him call out to the group, begging Arthur to go after his brother.

  Hector simply looked at Red, nodding his head as fit telling him to hurry up and go on ahead. Something he did as Red was the first to leave the brush, coming into view of the group, much to their relief.

  "Hey, how'd it go fo—

  Roy didn't even let him finish. When he tackled him to the ground, he couldn't help but cry out in relief that Red was ok. Simply hearing his brother cry, Red sat up, pressing his hand on the back of Roy's head. "It's alright."

  While the group let them have their time, Hector tossed a bag over to Arthur and gestured to the charred ape. "A little something for the apothecary, I'd imagine you couldn't get anything from that one."

  Looking inside, he saw that it contained the venom glands of a Spider Ape. "Huh, thanks, I'm sure Dad can find a use for this." The two simply fist-bumped.

  Fir however didn't stay for the conversation, dragging a tired Ash against his minuscule protest. A resistance that was easy for her to overcome before getting him back into the wagon to rest.

  As Red got up, Roy dangled from him like a backpack. Smiling like a goofball while the boy clung to his older brother's back. Hector watched, confused by the zoophian's actions, looking to the group searching for any answer to what had happened or what was going on.

  "They're just repaying a favor we did them," Red answered while he got Roy in before offering his hand, one that the draconian accepted.

  "Alright, I assume we're all good to go?" Alder finally spoke. "Or would any of you kids like to rest before we go? You all fought hard. You doing good, Red? That looked like quite a hard hit." He glared at Deamne for his inaction. The hobbit simply scoffed at the remark while he fiddled with the broken spear.

  "Don't worry, let's just make our way back before the rain gets here. Plus..." His pause piqued Alder's curiosity. "You see, compared to my family's training, I've been hit a lot harder than that... haha."

  While he laughed, Alder looked at the rest of the group. No words needed to be spoken; he didn't even need to answer the question. Roy, Ash, Arthur, and Hector's unfazed expressions were the only answers he needed.

  Fir only looked at them, slightly confused, unaware of the many... Harder lessons, Red revived during his familial training.

  So with calm returning, the group and the crack of the reins, and with the galloping from the horse, they were off. The small group couldn't help but laugh at their quest, while it didn't go the way they thought.

  But... looking back at the Spider Ape's burnt body, while they rode off. He couldn't stop the small smile from growing.