Thankfully, Shizuka’s group was able to evade the bombardment and escape the beach without issue. He thought about chewing out Gringor for needlessly antagonizing the enemy forces, but now wasn’t the time for that. Having been protected by Atsuha’s barrier, they made their way to the forest on the outskirts of Sanjo. 

Since several members of the taskforce can sense mana and smell, meeting up with Wyn’s group was also not too much of an issue. With the complete force now reunited, they made their way deeper into the forest. Fortunately the Varjans didn’t seem willing to follow them that far into the forest. This, however, only made Shizuka feel uneasy. Why stop the advance? They had taken the beach along with the surrounding area, the islanders were overrun and they could’ve easily cornered the taskforce. It didn’t make sense to him, but he chose not to ponder on it too much. Best to focus on the present rather than the future for right now. 

Atsuha immediately saw that her little sister was being carried by Lunatea, who rushed over to her to explain what had happened. A look of worry and shock at first was worn on her face, but it eventually turned to relief and gratitude as she now saw that Hinami was peacefully resting. Indeed, the Jorōgumo was in Luna’s debt. She gained a new found respect and perhaps even kinship with the bunny girl. Shzka thought to console her, but thought it best to leave the sisters alone for right now.

After some time, Shizuka and the group decided to set up camp. Obviously they all needed a breather after the whole ordeal. Shizuka took a head count and made sure everyone was ok, requesting anyone who had healing magic to pinch in where needed. He had a tent prepared for Lord Takeshi, in which Atsuha placed him. Shizuka couldn’t sense any hostels within the vicinity, and apparently so could no one else. So, it seemed it was safe to make a fire. With some supplies they had from the ship, Nyla could perhaps prepare some food for everyone to restore their strength. 

Gringor was taking watch, Skarskeek was tending to the fire, and Lunatea was doing her part in assisting with tent pitching. After he was done overseeing the setup, Shizuka decided to check on the other members. He had some words for certains ones in particular. However, he also noticed two new mamono had flown to their aid during the ordeal: A hornet and an owl girl from the looks of it. Kyōkō did mention that more members of the force who didn’t arrive on time may join them later on the island.


[hr]

[center][h2]Forested Area[/h2][/center]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/88dciJb.png?1[/img][/center]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/0zvnz6I.png[/img][/center]
[center][url=https://youtu.be/26MUv9nh-9A]🐉[/url][/center]

[sub][@WanderingDragon][/sub]

Shizuka made his way over to Wyndressa for a moment. Having put her in charge of the other taskforce group, he was glad that everyone was able to make it out of the village in one piece. 

[color=0072bc]”Evening Wyn-san, hopefully you’re holding up pretty well.”[/color] He pauses for a moment, as if thinking. [color=0072bc]”I’m aware I put you on the spot back there, suddenly splitting the team in two then putting you in charge. It was a split second decision, but you definitely proved that I made the right choice. Good work out there. At any rate, I’m going to check on the others, keep an eye out for anything suspicious you hear?”[/color]

[sub][@PaulHaynek][@Hammerman][@Restalaan][@FrogRFlowR][@Rezod92][@Slypheed][@Rune_Alchemist][@Dark Cloud][/sub]

Shortly after, the swordsman made his way over to Lunatea and Skarsneek who were sitting by the fire, the former of course sitting in a way that revealed her undergarments. Sigh, mamono and their antics. He also took notice of Nyla cooking, who purposely swayed her hips in a seductive manner. The seduction seemed to have gotten even to Luna, who was staring at her posterior as if in a trance. Shizuka was about to speak to snap her out of it, but before he could something overtook him. 

[color=a187be]ͥ̿͛ͧ͐͟ͅḚ̭̰͙̘̯̱͂ͭ̂̋̀́͝a̯̜͇̯̩t̻͉̽̃͌̾͐ ͣͦͩͣ҉̪̣͈t̵̙̯̘ͦ̾͛h̵̃ͥẻ̳̥͍̾ ̭̗̗̼͂̉ͮ̐c̝̠̻̥̟̫̰̀͑a̭̳͖͎̝̞̽̐ͣ̆k̤̻̰͔̘̀ė̖̩̹͚͝[/color]

He felt a slight pain starting to throb in his head. A strange voice suddenly boomed in his mind.

[color=a187be]ͥ̿͛ͧ͐͟ͅḚ̭̰͙̘̯̱͂ͭ̂̋̀́͝a̯̜͇̯̩t̻͉̽̃͌̾͐ ͣͦͩͣ҉̪̣͈t̵̙̯̘ͦ̾͛h̵̃ͥẻ̳̥͍̾ ̭̗̗̼͂̉ͮ̐c̝̠̻̥̟̫̰̀͑a̭̳͖͎̝̞̽̐ͣ̆k̤̻̰͔̘̀ė̖̩̹͚͝[/color]

He held his head with a hand, trying to shake away the pain along with the voice. 

[color=a187be]͍ͥ̿͛ͧ͐́͆ͮ͟ͅÊ̯̜̣ͯa͍̞̫͋ͧ̊͊ṯ̋ͮ͗̂̐͝ ̖ͪ̓͗͢ţ̞ͪḧ̷͖̟͇̟̳̱͔́̄̌ͥ̀̚e͆͋ͭ̂ͤ̒ ͙̣̗c͎̰̥̼̬̗̅ͤ̆ͪą̥̼͇͍̥̙̣ͪ̒̓k͎͚̆̈́͌͛͛̇̍͢e̯̣ͭ̎̄͊͋̃,͙̭̟ͯ̇ ̾̈́͑ͩͪ̕ẏ̠̩̻̹͛̈́ͬ̏ͯ͢o̪͟u̷͈̣̦͖͇̣͎ͦ̓͊ͤ̋ͭ̚ ̡̲̰͙ͫ͌c̯̪a̮͕̦͈̣̬͔ͯ͗ͦ̈n͔̠͗͌̆'ͫ̍ͯ̄̈̿t̨ͪͥ͆̅̍ͮ͒ ̙̯ͨͧ͂r͕͈͙̯̪̦͔͌̇ͨe̝̮̐̏ͭͤ̿s͓̉̅ͅì̖̟͕͙s̝̲̱ͯt̫͇͋ͭ[/color]

[color=0072bc]”No!”[/color]



[color=a187be]Y̭̪̯̰̦̘ͩͪͩ̍͋̐ͣo̻̖̪̮͈ͮ̏ͫͅu̟̖̻̻͋̽ ̙̦͇̳̳̜̳̔ͮ͛ͤc̗̖͕ͥͩͪ͗́a͎͎̼̐ͨṉ̨ͩ͑̾͊'̧̟ͧͅt̪̣͍͕̞̒̋ͫ͞ ̷̘̯͉̝͓r͐ͦ͗͂͋̍͢ĕ̼̯ͪ̒͞s̡̐̂͌ͦ̅̃ị͈̌ͩs̘̩͖̅ͤ͐̓̄̅ͤ͠t̤͍̹[/color]


[color=0072bc]”No! I-I not hungry!”[/color]


[color=a187be]Y̛̯͙̼̭̳͚̒̒ō̼͙̠͓̠̮ͩ̑̆́̔ự̗̩̓͒ͅ ̧̩̠͖͈͓w̟ͧ͂̽̓̾i̶̹̦̻̜̮̟ͭl͍̳͓͎͢l̴̯̹̙̼̪̅̍ ̷͍̯̬̭ͭ̌ș̷͍͕̞̜̱ͅu̝̝͉͛͡ḇ̠͚̹̲ͬͅm̼̮͖̞̼̈́͑͗ͯ̌ͮi̢̯͙͇ͫ̋̊̂͒ͩt̺̹̙̻͘[/color]

[color=0072bc]”No! My warrior spirit will shine like the rising sun before dawn!”[/color]

The swordsman was covered in a cold sweat, his hand was clenched in a trembling fist, and he was breathing heavily. He then quickly saw that everyone was shooting him a look. He wiped the sweat off of him and cleared his throat. 

[color=0072bc]”So…Luna-chan. I understand that it was you who put the talisman back onto Hinami when she went berserk. You also made sure she was safe until you reunited with our group. In addition to having Atsuha-san’s gratitude, you have mine as well.”[/color] He made sure to only stare at Luna's face as he spoke. 

He then turned to Skarsneek. [color=0072bc]”Skars-kun, I also congratulate you on a job well done. Although, I heard a rather serious wound was inflicted upon you. Atsuha-san was especially worried, but thanks to your tough hide you appear to be fine.”[/color]

A sweatdrop appeared on his head and he scratched his cheeks nervously. [color=0072bc]”Also, uh, pay no mind to my earlier outburst. I’m…just a little tired is all, hehe…”[/color]

His attention was again averted when Takeshi revealed himself to be awake, understandably cautious of his situation. He quickly saw that the others were beginning to diffuse the situation, including the two newcomers.

[color=0072bc]”Alright everyone, relax. Give the man some air.”[/color] Shizuka said, as walked toward Takeshi. He walked until they were at arm's length of each other. 

[color=0072bc]”As she stated, we are a task force sent here by Kyōkō-sama to aid Shizuyama in its fight against the Varjan forces. My name is Kannazuki Shizuka, the leader of said force. As for the other island defenders, I had urged them to retreat and live to fight another day. I don’t know if they took head to my plea and I am unsure of the fate of the individuals you mentioned. All except for one.[/color]

He then placed a hand on Takeshi’s shoulder [color=0072bc]”The defenders informed me that your father, Lord Hideo, was captured by Varjan soldiers. So, for now, it at least seems that he is still alive. You have my word that we’ll do our utmost to rescue him and take back the island. I understand you and your people’s relationship with monsters, but please understand that the one’s here are trustworthy and are here to help. They just got done risking their lives to save the nearby villagers! I understand your feelings, believe me. But, for right now, get some rest for tonight and will think of a plan of attack in the morning. Or if you’re feeling hungry you could join us for some dinner.”[/color]

Letting go of Takeshi’s shoulder, he then turned to Gringor and Tomi. [color=0072bc]”As for the two of you, perhaps instead of engaging in senseless banter, you could stand to read the room a little more. Tomi, don’t think I forgot how you flew off and ignored orders. You certainly took out your fair share of soldiers and aided your allies, but such recklessness can have dire consequences on the battlefield. And you, Gringor, I saw the way you taunted the Varjan troops during our retreat. What would you have done if your actions further endangered the lives of your comrades? I understand wanting to take the piss toward your enemies, believe me I’ve been there, but there’s a time and place for everything. That goes for both of you.”[/color]

Finally, he turned toward the two newcomers. The Hornet Kerry Meros and the Owl Mage, Valeriya Harjula. 

[color=0072bc]”I remember Kyōkō-sama saying something about contacting allies other than the ones on the beach. Lucky too, as I heard you saved the others during the retreat. You have my gratitude. If you need to catch up on the current situation, just give me a shout. Otherwise, Nyla should be done preparing our food soon enough.”[/color]