CH149 Forest Welcoming
The platoon advanced cautiously through the Dankrot Forest following their encounter with the Bloodboar.
Thanks to the scouts, they successfully avoided several beast groups—most notably a herd of Rock Deer roaming nearby.
As they pressed deeper into the forest, it became clear that the territories of many beasts were in a state of upheaval. Something in the vicinity was dislodging them from their usual habitats.
It was nearing mid-afternoon when Alex called for a brief rest at a clearing. Laura and the other archer scouts had confirmed there were no beasts nearby.
After organising rotating lookout shifts, Lieutenant Cross made his way to Alex, who sat beneath a thick tree canopy, taking the chance to recover some energy.
"What do you make of the situation?" Alex asked the seasoned soldier.
"Most of the beasts aren’t straying too far from their usual territories," Cross answered. "Doesn’t feel like anything is actively chasing them out. It’s more like there’s something foreign nearby... something they want to avoid."
Alex nodded. "I came to a similar conclusion. I was reviewing the dossier the Fort Commander gave me... and the patterns lined up."
"Like you said, something must have appeared—or perhaps happened—in this area. Whatever it is, it caused a few groups of beasts to abandon their territory temporarily. But instead of leaving completely, they’re hovering near it, waiting for whatever disturbed them to leave."
Alex leaned forward, arm rested on his thighs and fingers interlocked.
"And those displaced beasts, in turn, disrupted the territory of others around them—creating a ripple effect. Beasts forcing other beasts to shift, and those ones displacing others farther. A chain reaction that’s spiralled into the mess we’re seeing."
Lieutenant Cross scratched his cheek thoughtfully.
"That does sound possible," he admitted, even if the explanation felt a bit elaborate for his taste.
"What’s the plan then, Commander?"
"We proceed as we are. Avoid unnecessary engagements and focus on identifying the cause. If we can neutralise or remove the source, the ecosystem should stabilise naturally."
"Too bad we don’t have any witnesses to question."
"If not for the Wildkin threat and the tensions at the border, we might’ve been able to bring a Beast Tamer or two," Cross lamented. "They could’ve tried to communicate with some of the local creatures."
Unbeknownst to the Lieutenant, his comment sparked an idea in Alex’s mind.
’Let’s see what happens,’ Alex thought.
A moment later, a whisper sounded in his mind.
"Shall I scout ahead for this ’causing factor’?"
It was Udara, his personal shadow guard, utilising the secret communication function of their bond.
The voice was low, cold, and deliberate—spoken directly into his mind through their shared Oath Bond.
Judging by Lieutenant Cross’s lack of response, the words had reached only him.
Alex gave the slightest shake of his head. fr\eewe.bn(o)v\el.c(o)m
"No need," he murmured back in the same soundless voice. "Stay on guard. We’ll find it soon enough. I’m more concerned about ambushes for now."
"Understood," Udara replied from somewhere within the shadows of the forest.
Alex offered a piece of dried jerky to Fen, who took it with minimal interest.
His thoughts, however, were far from idle.
He wasn’t pondering any single concern—but a mesh of them: the state of the forest, the chain reaction of beast movements, the world’s inefficient military communication systems, and what—exactly—they were about to uncover.
The rest period didn’t last long before the platoon was back on the move.
Whether due to their intentional avoidance of the forest’s native beasts or those beasts instinctively steering clear of their human group, Alex’s platoon managed to cover a considerable amount of ground in the second half of the day.
They moved beyond the immediate border areas and reached the inner rim of the forest’s periphery. Only here could one say they had truly entered the Dankrot Forest.
At this point, Alex gave the order to halt and establish camp for the night.
The platoon members quickly split into task groups—some securing the perimeter, others setting up camp and preparing the evening meal. All of it was handled smoothly under Lieutenant Cross’s steady command, allowing Alex the time and peace to engage in his regular meditation routine.
Noticing this, the soldiers made a deliberate effort to move quietly, not wanting to disrupt their commander.
Fen joined the cooking unit, helping them regulate temperatures using his natural sensitivity to heat. It was a strange sight—a wolf cub calmly overseeing the cooking—but no one questioned it aloud. They simply chalked it up to a mage’s eccentricities rubbing off on his beast companion.
Once the food was ready, Fen roused Alex from his meditation. They ate in relative silence, and Alex discreetly passed a food packet to Udara, still undetected by the rest of the platoon—a quiet testament to her frightening stealth.
Not long after, the second night watch had begun. Alex was deep in meditation again when the entire atmosphere of the forest suddenly changed.
His eyes snapped open.
"Master," Udara’s voice came through the oath bond—low and clear.
"I know..." Alex responded grimly, eyes locked on the surrounding treeline. "Something is stalking us."
A low growl escaped Fen’s throat as it grew to its adult wolf form.
The wolf turned in place, sniffing and watching the shadows, but couldn’t pinpoint anything specific.
Still, the warning was enough.
Soldiers roused quickly and began forming ranks, weapons in hand and faces tense. Alerted by Fen’s growl and their training, they didn’t need to be told twice.
Lieutenant Cross approached Alex’s side.
"What’s wrong, Commander?"
"I don’t know yet," Alex admitted, rubbing Fen’s head to soothe the wolf’s tension.
To the lieutenant’s surprise, Alex smiled.
"But I’m relieved," the young noble said. "It was worrying when we faced no opposition throughout the day. It felt too... convenient. Like walking into a trap."
’Then why the hell are you smiling?’ Cross wanted to ask—but wisely held his tongue.
Still, Alex caught the doubt flickering in the man’s eyes.
He chuckled softly. "Think about it, Lieutenant. A trap is only terrifying if you don’t see it. But once it’s revealed... well, then it becomes manageable."
Cross remained unconvinced, but Alex’s next words left little room for doubt.
"Once a trap is exposed, you just have to crush it, no?"
Alex turned to the troops.
"Alright, boys and girls! Get ready! We’re about to see the true face of the Dankrot Forest!"
His cool confidence bled into the soldiers, lowering their anxiety.
Lieutenant Cross, however, didn’t waste time.
"What are you waiting for?! Form up! Defensive formation, now!"
"Defensive positions!" the sub-unit captains echoed.
The archers moved first, spreading out for better visibility while keeping within range of the formation.
Shieldbearers and spearmen interlaced their ranks to create a double-layered phalanx—ready to morph into a hedgehog formation ideal for ambush defence if needed.
Alex, Fen, and the unit’s sole combat healer positioned themselves at the formation’s core, where their abilities could be utilised to maximum effect.
Laura also remained within the core; no need for scouting now that an attack was imminent. Her eyes swept the forest with cold focus.
A frown soon crept across her striking features.
"What is it?" Alex asked quietly.
"I’m... not sure," she replied, hesitating.
"Say it," he instructed firmly.
She swallowed. "The treeline. I think... it’s closer than it was when we made camp."
Alex’s gaze followed hers.
Then, a slow grin curved his lips.
"Oh... so there you are."