Once out of the gate, Norbert ran forward, seeing several people running away in the same direction. Sprinting as fast as he could, not caring about any raptors chasing him, confident in his ability to escape them. As he continued running, the people ahead quickly came into view; slowing down as he came closer, Norbert shouted and waved across the plains; as they looked back, they waved to Norbert, coming to a stop.

Meeting up, Norbert looked to those with him, recognising most. "And now the group of five is together," Mark said. Norbert nodded in response, seeing Mark, another warrior, Nessie and Azalea standing around.

Looking at the mystery woman in armour, Norbert waved his hand, inviting her to speak, "Rachel, but she doesn't like talking"; Mark answered. The woman Rachel nodded in response. Norbert looked at her chestnut hair cut short, seeing a scar on her cheek. Not wanting to stare, Norbert looked away, sure it was a point of embarrassment for the woman.

Mark rummaged inside his backpack, pulling out some food and a water skin. He handed it over to Norbert, who placed it in his bag and needed to rustle some of the items around to fit. Everyone packed again the group started jogging again at the pace before. Norbert can easily keep up, not even feeling like he is trying.

Over the grass, they went off the plains, the tall green grass going up to their knees, the group crushing it as they went by. Travelling together, Mark at the front, Norbert and Nessie on either side, Azalea at the centre, and Rachel taking the rear.

Like this, Norbert looked out, trying to spot something from his right side. Looking at Mark, Norbert shouted over the wind, "Why are we all going together?"

Mark didn't say anything without even turning his head; Norbert could hear he was focusing on his breathing. Nessie from the other side said, "Because these hunt in packs. Before you know it, they will jump out of the grass, surround you finish you off."

Norbert looked to the grass, quickly seeing them. "They aren't that easy to stop, and what makes them so hard to spot?"

Nessie exclaimed, "Cause they use magic to blend in, this is heightened by them being the same colour as the grass. Sightings have seen them shake on the spot and able to go through the grass without touching anything."

Norbert just shook in response, not knowing how he could find a pack of creatures that seemed to be able to blend in and surprise at a moment's notice completely.

Thinking, Norbert asked, "And how many are normally in a pack?"

Nessie replied, "Normally, there are at least twenty; what ransacked the village before was about two packs coming together."

Norbert whistled in response, knowing why so many people had come, unsure if he could escape with twenty of those raptors appearing out of thin air. And thinking about their colour and what the healer said about poison, he would not want to be alone.

Continuing to run through the flat plains, only broken up by an occasional tree, the only marker they were moving. Occasionally looking behind themselves, Norbert could see the village they went to save go out of sight slowly. Seeing another tree come up, Mark slowed down, the entire group followed suit.

As the non-scouts in the group lay down on the ground panting heavily, Norbert just looked back at Nessie. She just walked to the other side of the tree, sitting down and looking outside. Seeing the others, Norbert assumed they had no endurance elixirs, as they could not keep up with the leisurely pace.

Looking up at the stout tree, its bark a deep black, with branches reaching far out, providing a large shade from the sun. As the others sat up, Norbert thought they would leave, instead taking their water out and having a bite of food.

Looking up at the branches again, Norbert could nearly touch the lowest ones. Jumping up, reaching out, grabbing hold of the branch, and climbed atop it. Standing up, balancing, Norbert could see a little more. Up above, Norbert saw another branch; reaching out, he jumped for it again.

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Like this, Norbert climbed up the tree until the branches became too small to support his weight; up in the air, Norbert could now see far and wide. Above seeing the plains, just completely flat for as far as he could see up there. No trees, forests or gullies anywhere. To the side, Norbert saw a road going away from him in a straight line; following it, Norbert could see it came from the village.

Hearing the jingle of metal hitting metal, Norbert looked down, seeing the others starting to get up. Seeing no branches in his way to the ground, Norbert just jumped down, landing on the ground, a dust cloud coming up around him. As one, they set off again, jogging across the plains.

Stopping occasionally, Norbert could see another tree, the sun going down after a day of moving, hearing the others panting, their faces red from tiredness but scrunched up in determination as Mark moved them to the tree.

At the base of the tree, the others sat down, Azalea allowing light to stay floating in the air with magic, allowing the others to at least see around them. Norbert watched the others take out their food and scoff it down. Looking at his own and noticing the vast difference in quantity, shrugging his shoulders, happy that he didn't need to carry any extra weight.

Waiting for the others to eat, Norbert sipped on his water, lying against the ground and looking up at the stars in the sky. Trying to find patterns in the sky but not knowing how to make constellations, Norbert stared up at the sky, looking at the twinkly lights.

"How many more days of travel will this take?" Norbert asked the group.

Mark cleared his throat and replied, "Id assume another day, but who knows? Max will be three more days heading out as supposedly there is a ravine cutting through the plains."

Norbert nodded in response, remembering his teachers were with him now. "Training?" Norbert asked the question in general.

Moving his head to the side, Norbert saw Mark wave his hand. "Not while we are out here; I don't want the sound attracting anything nasty."

"Can't blame you there," Norbert said, looking towards Azalea.

Looking back at Norbert, she exclaimed, "Fine, did you bring your bestiary?"

Norbert nodded, sitting up and reaching into his bag. Taking the mask out to find the book, Nessie Azalea said, "Why do you have that?"

Taking out the book, Norbert looked at what she was pointing at; seeing the mask, Norbert flicked it into his palm before putting it on and speaking out. "Cause it's cool", he said, voice now monotone.

Azalea shook her head, saying, "The red light clashes with the green, though."

Norbert took off the mask, looking at it and seeing it black. Thinking his leg was being pulled, Norbert asked, "Red light, isn't it solid black?"

Azalea just reached out, Norbert passing the mask to her as she put it on. When she spoke, a line curling underneath and around her eyes and along her jaw breathed red light in the rhythm of her talking, "See, red light doesn't sit well with your other clothes." Taking the mask off and handing it over.

"Then what's it used for?" Norbert asked.

Azalea just breathed out, "The exact reason you bought it for a cool piece kids like to play with, those with enough money to buy them. But that's enough of that; time to start going through this."

Norbert nodded, taking off his pendant as he was shown the words.

***

After some time, not as long as usual, Azalea shut the book saying, "Enough others sleep."

Norbert nodded in return, replying, "Ok."

Norbert just stared back at her as she smiled, patting him as she handed the book over. Norbert looked down to the book in one hand and the pendant in the other.

He

Was

LEARNING

Whipping his arms into the air, Norbert exclaimed, "Yes, progress" Smiling, he fell back, looking up at the stars. From the corner of his eye, Norbert saw Rachel move her head slightly in his direction, dismissing the girl. Norbert just smiled.

A tap on his shoulder brought his attention back to reality. "Obsius?" he asked.

Seeing who was tapping his shoulder was not the bird, but a person. Norbert looked up, seeing Nessie there. "Your shift for the night watch. You can either do the rest or tag someone else in."

Norbert sat up and nodded as he climbed up the tree, staring into the distance.

***

Galamamon sat at the table, tapping his foot on the ground. Looking around the circular table, waiting impatiently as the others just sat in silence, sipping their drinks or being distracted by morals.

They would all have the desired entertainment if they just hurried this along.

The double doors opened, and seeing the leading cause of this wait, Lady Luck walked in. She was gliding around, giggling to herself as she took her seat.

"What has your mood so chipper, Luck?" Galamamon asked.

"Oh, knowing I made you this grumpy is all I need", Luck responded.

Galamamon infuriated, looked around the table. "Can this begin already?"

Martura just raised a hand. "Soon, the time must be ripe for the picking."

Galamamon looked around and strode out of the room, the doors closing behind him. Martura looked towards Luck. "That may be the last time I can slow it down."

Luck just nodded. "And that will be all the time I need." As her thoughts went out to Norbert, hoping she was right.