Rookie rushed past Tomobi, gun ready, and pointed to the source of the commotion.

“Should we move in and engage?” Rookie’s tone was hardened to stone, her attention focused and unwavering.

“No. It may not bother with us, wait to see if it calms down. Stay on guard. Tomobi light out the fire,” unsure of what was happening Tomobi followed Kiorif's orders, quickly hiding behind Rookie.

As the night finally took over their fire's embers were Tomobi's light, his sight. Kiorif and Rookie meanwhile pulled out binoculars to see around them. The silhouette of the horses showed that the threat was still present but pacing elsewhere. With daunting sounds and the faintest movement of grass dancing out of the way of whatever was stalking them out.

The hustling rushed over towards them until it stopped. Silence, motionless. All three kept focus on the empty field, now waiting for whatever caused the threat to show itself. Rookie could hear her own heartbeat hammering in her head.

A faint glow grew in front of her. The silence was disturbed by a screech. The tension broke from a blur launching itself forward.

Jaws open, tongue out.

The sound of crunching led echoed as Rookie fell. The beast was unlike any seen. A squat body stitched to legs, glowing and most importantly, gnawing on Rookie’s arm. Though it was not alone, many more burst from the grass to gallop towards them.

Kiorif though remained unfazed and replaced Rookie to fire into the knot of beasts. The flash and clashing of his bullets scattered the supposed fearsome predators.

“Tomobi deal with that freak,” Kiorif roared out to him, seeing some unwavered to the lead threat. Still unsure, Tomobi went over to Rookie empty-handed.

“Fat shit,” Rookie let go of her gun and jabbed the creature's socket. Startled, it moved from its discomfort, gun dropped. Rookie took her chance. Gun pointed and fired.

“Little fuckers,” standing she rushed ahead and let a roar of gunshots towards the remaining swarm. The horses from afar cried in terror, running away. Her cry continued as the creatures retreated back into the shadows of the grass.

“AND DON’T EVER FUCKING COME BACK,” Red rage, screaming. Her breath being the only thing pausing her.

“IF YOU DO I SWEAR I’LL STICK YOUR TONGUE SO FAR UP YOUR ASS THAT-”

“Rookie,” Kiorif stopped her from continuing, pulling her back.

“It’s enough, they’ve learned their lesson. Let’s deal with your wounds,” as her breath slowed she calmed down. She rested by the fire to see the damages.

“Tomobi can you at least go help Rookie,”

“Yes Kiorif,” Tomobi looked over to Rookie, her armor cracked and her face scratched.

“Hey easy where you stick that, I’ve had enough trouble for today,” Tomobi continued to treat Rookie’s wounds, though she stayed irritated.

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Kiorif paid no attention to them, continuing to examine the remains of the lifeless monsters. Getting a better look at the squat, toad-like body. Its stitched, muscular legs were decorated with cloven hooves and the source of its glowing was splattered across two sturdy rods like limbs glued to its back. Rookie’s bullet allowed a leak of blood to flow into the beast's maw, revealing stubbed fangs but a bladed tongue stretching itself out to catch the dripping blood.

“Ouch that stings,” Rookie’s cries distracted Kiorif, though she finally had bandages covering herself.

“And look what it did to my armor. Has a couple of chips in it now,” She continued to vent. And each word she said stabbed Tomobi, if he actually did something this would not have happened.

“Rookie, I’m sorry,”

Her train of thought was pulled back. Looking at his defeated face her red was washed away.

“Now would I be mad at you? You didn’t pin me down,” Tomobi looked up, with a mixed look of guilt hidden in his eyes.

“But I didn’t help you,”

“And I got up. You aren’t used to this type of thing, so it’s better that you don’t think that everything’s your fault,” she tried to give herself a smile but her body still held onto scrapes of anger. A sense of irony grew as she continued to comfort Tomobi. Kiorif continued to examine the creature though and began to scan the area.

“Tomobi come here,” Leaving Rookie’s comfort Tomobi came over to the stench of the beast.

“You know what this is?”

“Yes, we call it a Dromeo-Toad,”

“So you knew about this?”

“I mean I knew that they exist,”

“What else?”

“They eat meat and hunt in groups,”

“Well we know that now, is there anything else?”

“No Kiorif,” Now Kiorif had steam built up in him, looking around at his non-existent options as the night grew even darker.

“Well we still need rest so we can’t leave now, so we’ll have to be more on guard. Now we will have two people up for lookout. Tomobi relight the fire” Though two would sit together neither would say a word, paying attention to the shifted world around them. When it turned to Rookie and Kiorif words were finally spoken.

“How are you doing Rookie?”

“A little sore but I think I can still keep our pace,”

“Any bruises yet?”

“Nah. But they will show sooner or later,”

“Are you really not mad at Tomobi? He should’ve helped you,” Kiorif could see Rookie choosing her words.

“Look, he shouldn’t be here. Remember things have changed, we got overgrown running toads, we are breathing on the moon and they aren’t all soldiers anymore. He’s a child, and you should treat him like one,” Kiorif went to object but a ruffle showed the return of the beast, the Dromeo-Toads had come back.

“Oh, these f-'' Kiorif though held Rookie’s gun.

“Wait,” The toads stayed cautious of them, prancing back and forward. Some had eyes on them, whilst others had on the fallen comrade close to their fire. Soon the two sides were close enough to view each other fully, but the toads merely tugged and dragged away the carcass.

“See they just want the dead one,” and once out of the reach of them, they lashed their tongues to dissect the dead toad. Rookie turned away repulsed while Kiorif paid little attention to their cannibalistic feast.

As the hours passed so did new creatures, with each of them seeing the other creations revealed themselves to feed on the leftovers from the masticated mess. So by the time the group had backed away their campfire the deceased toad now turned into a butchered mess.

“Alright because of what has happened, we are going to pick up the pace. Rookie, are you sure you can still keep up?”

“Don’t worry I’ll be so fast that these Domino-Toads won’t be able to catch me,”

“Dromeo-Toads,”

“Close enough,” She picked up her sack and steamed ahead, though with a faint limp. Kiorif and Tomobi followed suit into the extended night, both wanting to say something but not knowing what.