Norbert watched as Dousan, Martitia and others from their respective tables all stood up and left the tent. All staring at their leave, Norbert looked around the rest of the room, everyone quiet, watching the exit. Norbert looked as well before his stomach grumbling caused eyes turned to the opposite direction, at the buffet table.

Heading over, Norbert placed a small amount of food on his plate, not even looking at what was there, and headed back to the table. Slowly he started eating, not feeling hungry but unsure when the next time he may get to eat; Norbert mindlessly ate his meal. Casually looking down, Obsius was also having some of his, taking the pieces the bird wanted.

Thinking about what could be said at the end, Norbert waited to see his fate. Would he be venturing forth again tonight or able to rest up?

With a flurry interrupting his thoughts, the tent flap opened up; Dousan and everyone else came back inside, sitting at their original tables, leaving only Dousan standing.

"Thanks to the help of the scouts, there are two known entrances, one in the forest and the other from their nest in the hills," Dousan said, allowing his voice to echo across the room. "Prepare to leave in the coming days; as usual, only a few will be left here for the town. The first party will go through the tunnels to wherever it leads them. The rest of us will head for the top nest."

He looked around the room and looked at everyone's eyes on him. "This may be the first time for some of you, but we all will look to the other side smiling. That is all, as always, prepare for the coming days." Walking to his seat Dousan entered the chair, the rest of the room taking up the noise Dousan left behind.

Norbert looked to Martitia. "Where do you want me going out tonight?" Norbert asked as he finished the rest of the food on his plate.

"Well, if you're up for the challenge, you head out over the river again to investigate the flame-insectoid nest you saw. If you're correct with the species, they will all be asleep at night, which does line up with why non-nocturnal animals are roaming around at night," she said.

Nodding in confirmation, he scooped up his empty plate, Obsius hopping onto his head as he washed up and left the tent once more. Sprinting across the hills, wanting to get it over with as fast as possible, Norbert flew over the land. Thoughts about what he would do once over there, Norbert continued running.

Coming to a halt on the last hill before it sloped down to the river, craning his head, trying to see the other side of what was there before continuing. Sadly Norbert still could not see anything on the other side. Sighing in resignation, Norbert once more went over the river, the cold of the night air making him shiver.

Remembering next time to bring a change of clothes so he could be warm, Norbert climbed the other side up the rocky slope, making sure to be as quiet as possible, not wanting to wake the residents on this side.

At the top, Norbert poked his head over the bushes, looking at what the land had on this side. Looking, Norbert was relieved to see that Martitia had been right. The fire-breathing insects were nowhere to be seen, the others grazing around, illuminating themselves at night.

Able to see a clear path to explore more of this side between the insects, Norbert made his way across the field of slumbering death. Creeping, Norbert avoided the insects, ensuring there was always a wide berth between him and them.

As he walked towards the hill he had seen before, Norbert looked around, seeing if there were any other nests he could see in the distance. Breathing out a sigh of relief, Norbert saw no more hills around him; only the single entrance he was near was the only one.

Climbing up the hill, the dirt loose on his feet, Norbert climbed, each step sinking his feet into the dirt. As he made his way to the top, he looked around from the height he was now at, confirming his previous sighting that this was the only nest seen, for the plane around him was flat, with only the bushes providing any blocking from the earth.

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At the top, Norbert looked down the hole he could see, the hole in the hill being five meters in diameter, he thought, wondering the number of guys or the size that would be able to flood out of there. Looking down, Norbert wondered if he should go inside; the only thing he could see was the darkness.

Only a few tunnels that branched out lower Norbert could see; looking at the walls on the side, Norbert saw no handholds to climb back up if he went down there, and even if he did, he wouldn't be able to see anything in the pitch blackness.

Moving his head out from the entrance, Norbert looked out at the land, wondering what else he could scout out during the night. Norbert wanted to look at two things, explore this side by running away from the river, just continuing straight on and see when the insects came out of their nest.

Taking off again, Obsius in his backpack again sleeping, he ran away from the nest, wanting to make sure there were no other nests in the area. Norbert looked around, only being guided by the light of the moon. Norbert gazed at the moon as he ran, something that was still a comfort but looked utterly wrong; the crater he was so used to seeing was no longer there.

Smiling at the memories of home and the adventure he was now having, Norbert pressed on, running over the rocky planes. Glancing around, Norbert looked and was just met by open country, looking to see if there were any other animals this far out. Norbert was relieved not just to see the open planes, fearing that would mean another nest somewhere.

Looking, Norbert saw the birds he saw before, the wolves running in packs, hearing birds in the sky looking around. Staying still and listening, Norbert heard the life around him, the rodents running between the rocks.

Happy that he could hear life again and not the dreadful quiet near the nest of nothing moving, Norbert looked around, knowing it would soon be time to head back. Continuing, Norbert looked further across, seeing mountains rise out of the distance; Norbert just stared at them, seeing how flat it was, just the same over and over again, not seeing any sign of civilisation anywhere.

A thought came to him: what would happen if he just ran off, not returning to the camp or The Frontier and living out in the wilderness until he was back on Earth, just planning and living out here? As Norbert had a wishful thought of having his little cabin out there on the mountains or in the forest on the other side of the river, Norbert looked behind him to the nest.

If he did run off, others could also stop protecting these towns and cities from creatures always being pushed forward. If he ever returned to Flare-dew, finding the town in ruins because the group meant to protect it from the next wave disappeared, having just abandoned their post.

Looking back towards the nest, and remembering being chased, a village with their kids being hunted down one after the other and being mercilessly devoured. Norbert looked back at the mountain, giving a salute to it. He would do the job requested for as long as he was in The Frontier.

As Norbert confirmed this, he realised he was basically enlisted, like being part of the defence force for his country back on Earth. Shrugging his shoulders would allow him to simultaneously see this world and earn some coin. He would stay with The Frontier until he thought of a better plan; Norbert took off once more, heading right down the river again, seeing what else he could see before returning.

With the nest on his back and far from the river's edge, Norbert looked around at the other creatures there, seeing if there was anything strange about them. As he ran, Norbert was intrigued by the wonder, seeing light flashes in the darkness and hearing the bushes shudder with movement. The very earth Norbert was standing on felt alive.

As Norbert continued to run, he did not find anything particularly interesting or noteworthy to remember. As he travelled around, Norbert looked behind himself, seeing these motes of light follow after him. Turning around and jogging backwards, Norbert slowed down, seeing them start dissipating from behind him until Norbert had stopped, and only one was left following him.

Reaching out, Norbert tried to grasp for it, but as he was just about to touch it moved away from him as his hand pushed it away. Staring at this strange behaviour, Norbert took off jogging again.

Regularly checking over his shoulder, Norbert saw the motes of light appear back in number again, from just the single one. Smiling at them, Norbert started running forward, seeing them follow after him, even more than before, looking to be riding the air.

Breathing in and focusing on his body, Norbert sprinted as fast as he could; looking back occasionally, Norbert saw a river following him, wearing a cape picked from stars, blanketing the entire horizon. Twisting his head around, Norbert looked behind himself, seeing the sea of bright lights following him, lighting up the darkness.

Stopping suddenly, Norbert turned around and ran into the motes of light, which were still going so fast that they could not change direction. Feeling them brush against his face, Norbert was consumed in light. He needed to close his eyes. It was so bright.

Opening them, still seeing spots in front of his eyes, Norbert looked out from a window, only darkness being shown and his reflection in the glass.