Way too early the next morning, someone shook Pax’s shoulder until he woke up. He’d much rather go back to sleep, but instead had to look at Amil’s grin peering down at him in the suddenly too bright room.

“What? Already?” Pax said, rubbing his eyes and regretting what had seemed like a good plan yesterday. He made a mental note that planning to get up a few hours before dawn was and always would be a bad idea.

He groaned as he swung his feet to the floor and waited for his head to clear before standing up. If today worked how they hoped it would, they’d be doing this for the foreseeable future.

At least Pax, Talpa and Whisk weren’t the last ones to make it to the door and be ready to leave. That honor went to Rin who had a very grouchy Eris giving everyone death glares from her perch on Rin’s shoulder.

Incedis poked his head out of his room, his short, gray hair sticking up in every direction. “Wait for Eldan. We flipped for it, and I won. So, she’s got babysitting duty today. I gave her my Echo. Make sure you have all your trapping gear: cages, nets and ropes. Good luck.” He waved a tired hand and disappeared back into his room.

Eldan came out of her room a moment later, looking completely ready and unaffected by the early hour.

“Do you have a skill for not needing as much sleep?” Rin asked with narrowed eyes. “And how do I get it?”

“Just keep training your endurance. Fight longer and sleep less.” She shrugged before walking past all of them and leaving.

They scrambled to follow her. Pax felt a thrum of excitement banish the cobwebs from waking up so early and grinned. They were going to capture adult beasts this morning in the Wilds.

The better part of an hour later, he paced back and forth across the wide hallway in front of the base’s exit, waiting for their candidates to show up.

“We should just go out, anyway.” Amil frowned back down the hall as if he could make someone show up by just thinking about it. “We can at least fight a beast or two to a standstill, trap them in the cages and then come back here to find a candidate to Tame them.”

One of the guards on duty perked up at Amil’s words. The four of them had been watching their impatient group with interest, likely the most excitement they got during the early shift. They’d also been sneaking glances at the companions during the long minutes of waiting.

“Excuse me.” A lanky warrior, not much older than Pax, held up a tentative hand. “You’re the ones who know how to subdue beasts, so they obey you, right?”

“Very brilliant of you.” Rin sounded both impatient and sarcastic. “And it’s called Taming, not subduing. These are our companions, not slaves. We’re partners who fight together for each other.”

“Sorry.” The warrior waved his hands to fend off her anger. “I didn’t know.”

She sighed. “No. It’s not you. We’re just impatient to get to work. We’re trying to help the rebels get stronger with Tamed companions, but can’t seem to convince the committee to get with the program.”

“What about me? Could you help me get a companion like one of yours?” With excitement, his eyes darted back and forth, looking over their companions.

Pax stopped looking back the way they’d come and turned to consider the man.

“Finrick, you’re on duty.” An older woman, stocky enough to make her twice the size of the younger warrior, frowned at him from her post on the opposite side of the exit door.

“Only for another hour. And nothing ever happens during our shift.”

“Yet.” Her tone didn’t allow for any disagreement, and Finrick’s face fell.

But Eldan looked interested now. “Do you have any buddies who would cover for you? How long would it take for you to get one?”

Finrick’s face lit back up. “Five minutes. I could be back in five.”

Eldan nodded permission. Finrick spun, sprinting off a lot faster than Pax expected. Maybe he’d taken some rogue or ranger skills.

“Get two replacements!” The woman yelled after him.

Finrick almost missed a step as he glanced back over his shoulder and nodded before resuming his sprint.

When the others looked at her, she shrugged. “Can’t let the kid die out there fighting monsters on his own. Gotta keep the good ones alive long enough to get stronger.”

Eldan nodded in approval and held out a hand. “Mage Eldan, and I'm doing the same for these kids.” She paused and looked at them. “But it won’t be long before they won’t need anyone’s protection.”

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“Warrior Lyra Ironfist.” She tapped her chestplate as her experienced eyes scanned over the crew, seeming to miss nothing. “And I can see why that might be true. You can call me Lyra, but most know me as Ironfist. I’m too old for much nonsense, which is why I joined this endeavor despite how likely it is to fail. At least there’s a chance at a future with the rebels.”

Eldan nodded and made introductions. Pax felt a new hope that they might actually achieve something on their first pre-dawn attempt.

A few minutes later, when they heard pounding footsteps out of the dimly lit hallway, smiles of anticipation spread through their group. Everyone made last-minute adjustments to weapons and armor, while Tyrodon checked to make sure that everyone had their trapping equipment in easy to access inventory slots.

When Eldan slipped up next to Pax, moving almost silently, he did his best not to flinch.

“This is your thing, so you’re in charge. I won’t step in unless I think one of you is in mortal danger. Understand?”

He nodded, a flush of adrenaline making his pulse race at the idea. They’d been fighting on their own for long enough that they were used to it, but taking on an unknown number of adult beasts in the Wilds? There were plenty of ways that could go wrong.

“And I’ll be your third.” She gave him one of her rare smiles, with a giddy edge that made her almost look happy.

“Third?”

She frowned and clapped him across the top of his head. Not hard, but more of a reminder to think before speaking. “Your third candidate, dunder. And I expect you to find me a decent beast, if the thing is going to be a companion for life, understand?”

This time, he nodded quickly and sent a petition to Vitur that there'd be a suitable beast out there this morning.

“I’m ready.” Finrick said between pants. “I’ve even got my survival go bag in my inventory, just like you taught us, Sergeant Ironfist.”

She gave him an approving nod before looking at the two warriors behind him, both not much older than Finrick.

“If Mage Vipersworn agrees to it, and we’re successful out there, I’ll make sure the two of you get put at the top of the list for the next set of Tamings. If you’d like a companion like you see here, that is.”

Both of them bobbed their heads immediately, eyes moving from one pet to the other with fascination.

“Then let’s get going while it’s still dark.”

Once Sergeant Ironfist decided they should go, things happened fast. Somehow, she deferred to Pax while taking charge at the same time. In only a handful of minutes, the team emerged from the canyon hiding the base’s main entrance.

They stopped near a copse of short, scrubby trees that would disguise their presence. They moved almost silently into a standard defensive formation. After a quick word, Mage Eldan had disappeared to scout the area. The two new warriors fell into a rear guarding position, mirroring Bryn’s and Tasar’s positions up front.

Pax took a moment to enjoy the eerie tranquility of the pre-dawn hours. The moon cast a faint silver glow over the rugged landscape, illuminating patches of rocky terrain and sparse vegetation. The air was cool and crisp, carrying with it the scent of earth and distant evergreen trees.

Pax triggered his Sphere to ensure that nothing dangerous lurked nearby in the irregular terrain. He also saw how intently Sergeant Ironfist and Finrick were scanning the terrain and figured, between them all, they’d have some warning before danger got close.

When she noticed him glancing back at her, Ironfist raised a brow. “Where to now?” She didn’t look skeptical, but there was definitely a challenge for him to prove himself in her body language.

Pax smiled and turned to tap Bryn on the shoulder. “You’re up, Bryn. Take charge until we have a beast captured or stunned enough for me to take over Taming.”

She glanced back with initial surprise. Are you sure you want me to run this? It might be best for you to do the first one, considering how Eldan and now Ironfist defer to you.

I trust you. That was all Pax needed to say, and he meant it. They’d come through a lot together, and he completely trusted Bryn to run the scouting and fighting portion of their expedition.

“Got it, Pax.” Bryn said, giving him a confident nod that betrayed none of the hesitation she’d shown in their private communication.

Pax heard a questioning sound from one of the new warriors behind him, but ignored it and stayed quiet, waiting for orders from Bryn.

“Pax, send Talpa in a side-to-side pattern ahead of us to find an isolated beast we can capture.” Bryn had turned to face them, her voice low but still clear. “Rin, do the same with Eris. Everyone else, activate your stealth skills, abilities or items. Our primary goal is to pass through the Wilds unseen and unheard by anything until we can pick the perfect beast. We’ll run a pattern close to the base, where we’ll hopefully find fewer and weaker beasts. Understand?”

The others nodded, and they moved out.

Pax pulsed his Sphere as they moved while also pushing his other senses to pick up any small noise that might mean a beast was nearby. As long minutes passed with no results and a very slow and cautious pace set by Bryn, Pax tamped down his impatience.

He could feel a headache forming and circulated a thread of mana to keep from letting the constant edge of tension bother him too much. He considered Eldan’s earlier words and decided maybe focusing more on his Endurance was a good idea.

More time passed, and the dim sliver of light growing on the horizon brightened at a slow but steady pace. Pax could feel the disappointment and frustration growing in the others. But Bryn kept them to a steady pace, not letting their emotions influence her careful plans.

Just when Pax worried they’d have to return empty-handed, a distant crash made all of them jerk to look in that direction. Bryn glanced back at Pax and Rin for more information.

Talpa checked in at the same moment, his internal voice excited. A fight. They’re fighting. A flame beast and an air beast, both big and strong.

Pax relayed the information to Bryn.

Rin followed immediately with her information. “Eris also found an earth beast ahead and to the right. It’s digging and seems furious at whatever it's after.”

Pax could see Bryn processing the information and trying to decide the best path to take. Before she could decide, Mage Eldan appeared up ahead, coming into view from around a tall mound of rocks and running at an easy lope that covered the ground faster than it should. Her footsteps made no noise, and Pax had to concentrate to keep her outline in focus.

Talpa spoke again, suddenly worried. They not fighting anymore. Taking a break and looking around. I think they sense you.

Next to him, Rin stiffened too, making Pax’s worry flare.

Before they could say anything to the others, Eldan stopped in front of their group and addressed Bryn. “We’re out of time. I don’t know if it’s our low level of stealth, something else about our group, or the base being so close, but there are three beasts nearby, and it seems they have all noticed us. Do we stay or fight?”