The fire had burned down to weak embers, the last bits of warmth fading into the cool night air. Everyone had packed up their gear, clearing away the last traces of their stop. The mission wasn't over, and their next move was already set—they had tracks to follow.
Laina crouched near them, fingers trailing along the grooves left in the dirt. The markings stood out against the untouched ground.
"This doesn't belong here," she murmured. "This road isn't meant for vehicles."
Leon stepped closer, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the pattern. Tire tracks. Not deep, meaning whatever had passed through hadn't been carrying anything heavy.
"They're only a few days old," he said.
Reid knelt beside her, brushing his palm lightly over the marks. "Three, maybe four days at most."
Arin frowned, arms folded. "You guys make that sound way too easy."
Reid barely glanced up. "It's basic tracking."
Arin scoffed, shaking his head. "I get that, but do you really think knowing how long dirt marks have been here is gonna save anyone in a fight?"
Reid didn't break his focus. "Yes."
Leon followed the tracks with his eyes, tracing how they curved away from the main road into the trees.
"They didn't stick to a proper route."
"They were avoiding something," Reid agreed.
Kara sighed, adjusting the hilt of her sword. "Avoiding what, though?"
Leon tilted his head slightly. "Only one way to find out."
The group started moving, stepping carefully over the uneven terrain as they followed the tracks deeper into the forest. The ground was quiet, save for the steady crunch of dirt beneath their boots.
Arin lazily hopped over a lifted root. "Not the worst trail."
"Not the best, either," Kara replied.
Laina adjusted her bowstring, eyes scanning the surroundings. "Whatever vehicle they used wasn't struggling."
"They knew the terrain," Leon responded.
Then something changed.
It wasn't a noise. It wasn't a sudden shift.
It was just... wrong.
Leon stopped walking, his focus shifting toward the thick trees beside them.
Without hesitation, he activated Analyse.
The system responded instantly.
[F-Rank Beast Identified: Ragetooth Hound]
[Status: Malnourished, Injured]
[Threat Level: Low]
Leon inhaled lightly. "We're being followed."
The others didn't ask questions.
Kara's fingers hovered near her blade. Laina kept her bow ready but didn't raise it yet. Arin sighed loudly.
"Of course we are."
The beast emerged from the trees—a four-legged creature with matted fur and ribs pressing against its thin frame. It moved with careful steps, dragging one of its hind legs slightly. Its yellowed eyes flickered between them with a raw, desperate hunger.
It wanted to attack.
It just wasn't sure if it could.
Leon kept his stance steady, watching it carefully. "It's weak but starving. It'll chase us."
Reid frowned, assessing the creature. "We don't need to fight."
Arin gave him a look. "That's a long way to say 'we should run.'"
Reid didn't argue. "Fighting wastes energy. It's an F-rank. We can outrun it."
Kara sighed. "Great. More running."
Laina had already shifted her footing, adjusting her grip. "We don't want injuries."
The hound moved again, muscles tensing—not preparing to lunge, but showing its uncertainty.
It was hungry enough to attack.
But weak enough to hesitate.
Leon nodded once. "We move. Now."
They ran.
Not recklessly. Not in panic.
Just fast enough to stay ahead while keeping track of their path.
Leon kept his focus sharp, scanning the tracks as he moved, ensuring they didn't lose their lead while avoiding unnecessary obstacles.
The hound reacted instantly, darting forward, trying to chase—its movements uneven, its injured leg slowing it just enough for it to fall behind.
"Tracks are still visible!" Laina shouted as she kept pace with Leon.
"Keep following them!" Reid ordered from behind.
Kara had pulled slightly ahead, adjusting her strides to stay within sight of the trail. "It's losing ground!"
Arin glanced back for half a second before grinning. "I told you this was a perfect plan! No wasted strength, no wounds, just clean survival."
Kara rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "You act like you came up with the plan."
"You literally complained about it," Laina reminded him.
Arin huffed. "Complaining is part of strategizing!"
They kept moving, their pace steady but controlled, tracking the vehicle's path even as the hound struggled behind them.
Eventually, as they reached another curve in the trail, the beast gave up.
It slowed, panting heavily, stepping off the route and retreating into the deeper trees.
The group gradually slowed their steps, easing their breathing as they steadied themselves.
Arin let out an exaggerated sigh. "See? Perfect plan."
Leon exhaled lightly, shaking his head. "We're still following the trail."
The group regathered themselves, adjusting back into a normal pace. The conversation stayed casual, drifting into lighter tones as their adrenaline settled.
Then, not much later, Leon stopped again.
"You can come out now."
The others halted.
Kara exchanged a glance with Arin, keeping her hands near her blades. Laina adjusted her stance slightly. Reid stayed still, watching.
A figure stepped forward from the trees.
He was young, early twenties at most. His clothes were worn, but not ruined. His posture was stiff, and his eyes betrayed his nerves.
"I—I was watching because I was scared," he admitted quickly.
Kara raised an eyebrow. "Scared of what?"
The man exhaled sharply, rubbing his arms.
"The whole thing," he said. "I—I was driving the caravan. The day it went missing."
Reid's stare didn't shift. "You saw it enter the portal."
The driver nodded fast, swallowing.
"I did. I saw it go through. I was inside the transport. But—"
His voice wavered.
"They— they told me to do it."
Arin frowned. "They?"
The driver ran a hand through his hair, his breath uneven.
"I don't know who they were. I don't know where they came from. But they found me, they knew everything about me, and they—"
His voice dropped slightly, cracking at the edges.
"They told me that if I didn't drive the caravan into the portal, they'd kill my family."
Leon's expression didn't change.
"Who are they?"
The driver shook his head.
"I don't know. They never told me. They just—forced me."
Arin sighed, crossing his arms. "Great. Now we've got unknown people messing with portals for unknown reasons."
"They knew about him," Laina pointed out. "They knew exactly who to target."
Kara glanced at Reid. "So what do we do with him?"
Reid hesitated.
Then—finally—
"Fine," he said.
"But keep up."
The driver exhaled sharply, relieved.
Arin grinned. "Lucky guy."
Leon stretched his arms slightly, glancing toward the sky. "We should get some sleep."