Hazy moonlight shines across the night sky as Ambrose steps outside. She half covers her face to the unfamiliar brightness, the light filtering through and revealing a grand mill in front of her. Its huge blades are still in the quiet of the night, lending an uncanny tone to its nature.

With the shrine in the centre, a small number of buildings litter themselves around it in a loose semi-circle. Spread between them are different fields used for farming, and all manner of trees in-between. Ambrose lets her hand fall and looks around, but finds nothing moving in the dead of night. Instead she turns up to the sky and stares up at the bright, greyish-white moon above.

“It’s down that way.” Mourne interrupts their thoughts, the group following his finger as he points down one of the dirt roads. It leads in-between the houses and beyond the fields, to a small rickety shack; its door swinging back and forth in the wind. Only clear plains full of grass exist around the building, making it stand out when seen from afar.

“I see.” Anastasia mutters apprehensively. “Is there another…” her voice dies off when she turns around and sees the old man, his face cold as he watches her. He doesn’t say anything else and only points.

“Let’s go.” Meize whispers.

“Thank you.” Anastasia says as they begin to walk down the road. The brief surety she felt begins to dwindle with each step as they leave the shrine. The buildings around them remain quiet, and their footsteps are unnaturally loud in the stillness.

Ambrose looks back for a brief second, her eyes catching on Mourne’s figure. Covered in shadows by the dim moonlight, his figure appears to extend outward and cover the light around it. Ambrose watches quietly, feeling his eyes on her as she does.

“Don’t.” Bunny hisses, taking Ambrose’s arm and leading her away. Her staff shines again for a moment as they turn away. “It doesn’t last long.” Ambrose remains silent as they continue onward. It doesn’t take long to make it past the houses, the dirt road giving out to long grass.

Ambrose steps onto it, hearing a distinct crunch as her bare feet dig into the mix of rubble underneath. The grass threads around her thighs as she advances, trailing her hands along its tips while deep in thought. By the time they make it to the shack she had grown certain, causing her gait to slow as the group stands in front of the door.

It swings back and forth, a creaking noise echoing each time it swings out. Ambrose peers into the dark shack, unable to make out anything beyond the outline of a table. She waits, a little behind them, as she watches the entrance. Every now and then her eyes glancing around her.

“Alright. It’s just a shack.” Meize mutters when no-one volunteers. “This is me making up for my mistake. So give me some credit.”

“Credit given.” Anastasia whispers in turn, shooing him towards the door. He gives her a look, and after a short moment he works up the courage to step inside. The other three watch his back with bated breath, each clutching their weapon. When his figure disappears they all clutch their weapons tight. Then they hear his voice.

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“All clear.” A sigh escapes Anastasia’s mouth, and the group moves inside. As Ambrose steps inside, she takes one last look around. Her eyes catching on Mourne’s figure still standing in the doorway of the shrine. His gaze following her.

“That went terribly.” Anastasia mutters as Ambrose steps inside and shuts the door, immediately looking around. “Why was it night-time? Where were the people? God that was terrifying. Nothing went right. I knew it wasn’t going to be so easy.” Ambrose finds a chair and drags it over as the others watch, propping it against the door.

“Did you discover something?” Bunny asks.

“We’re already in danger.” Ambrose says softly.

“This is your fault Meize.” Bunny hisses. “You and your goddamn mouth.”

“I’m sorry okay!” Meize moans. “Look, I went in the house first. We’re even. I just…the tension made me snap. It was too much.”

“Brute.” Bunny scoffs. “But fine. Let’s call it even.”

“What did you find out?” Anastasia asks her.

“We made a wrong assumption.” Ambrose looks at each of them evenly. “It isn’t hiding.”

“Oh.” Anastasia says. Her figure stiffens. “Then the old man?”

“He was watching us.” Ambrose mutters. “It’s not a co-incidence.”

“There’s definitely something wrong with him.” Meize says. “His expression never changed the whole time we were with him.” He turns back to Ambrose. “Let’s focus. Tell us what you saw.”

“The offerings in front of the shrine.” Ambrose answers. “The food expired a long time ago.”

“So something’s happened to the people here.” Anastasia says. “If we’ve already been discovered, we should’ve done something earlier.”

“No.” Meize responds. “This is better. It thinks it’s in control. That gives us some time at least.”

“He’s right. This place is safer.” Bunny nods. “It’s a clear view all around the shack. We should be safe here.”

“Not safe.” Ambrose interrupts. “We were taken here.”

“Right. Of course.” Bunny mutters.

“Hey. Have you all forgotten something?” Anastasia says, her eyes looking at the clear moonlight through the window. “Wasn’t the moonlight red inside the house?”

“…It was.” Meize shivers. “Why did we have to end up in such a weird place. We need information.”

“Later.” Ambrose interrupts again, gathering their eyes back to her. Frustration fills her eyes. Then, with a deep breath, her words flow out. "Look at your body states, you don’t know how to manage tension. You’ve exhausted yourselves in two hours. If you encountered an enemy while in your state, you’d be begging to be killed. So sleep. Bunny and I’ll take the first watch.” The group simply stares at her. “What?” she asks, annoyed.

“It’s just a lot of words for someone who hardly speaks.” Bunny says.

“I think that’s more words than you’ve said in total.” Anastasia agrees.

“I don’t like wasting words.” Ambrose states bluntly.

“Anyway. You’re right.” Anastasia relents. “I didn’t notice how tired I am.”

“Same here.” Meize sighs.

“I think we should take turns sleeping.” Bunny says. “Ambrose first, then me-“

“No.” Ambrose cuts Bunny off. “Two watch. Two sleep. As I said.”

“Fine.” Bunny sighs. “I’ll stay up then. Less sleep for me.”

“Good.” Ambrose says simply. Her eyes take a quick look around the shack, taking in the worn-down table, the remaining chair, and the worn bed with the barest hint of stuffing on top of it. “You two take the bed.”

“…Together?” Anastasia asks tentatively.

“You’ll need the warmth.” Ambrose answers. Anastasia and Meize look at each other hesitantly, before relenting and walking over to the bed. Ambrose turns away as they begin to fumble around figuring out how to sleep next to each other.

“You know, I’ve been feeling this for a while.” Bunny suddenly speaks up. “Aren’t you acting too much like our leader? We never elected you.”