"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Luna said and bowed, her wet tail skittering across the ground like a leaf used to cool one down during hot summers. When her tail made contact with the earth that had been softened by the lake water nearby, a deep sound was heard. Like a drum being hit in a steady tempo. "Please take care off me," she said.

"Likewise. And welcome to the team." Lothian smiled in return, giving her a nod as he said. "We are four, so we need one more. You don't happen to know someone, do you?"

Luna, the Moon Beaver, put her water-blue claws together. She smiled and lightly shook her head."I'm sorry, this one only knows a few, but those people have already joined other groups."

Lothian held back a slight frown. At this moment, it was already late afternoon, and there were only a few hours remaining until the time limit Mogaro had set. Since they had found their fourth member, Zerki's childhood friend Luna, they only needed one more. And if they couldn't find this last member before nightfall, they would be disqualified and denied participation in the trials for the forest dispatch. If that happened, they would let down they would let down those who believed in them.

"Let's stroll the camp. We might find someone with ability who hasn't joined a group yet." Rulah suggested. "It's always worth a shot, right?"

"Mm, I agree." the young boy nodded his head. "What do you think, girls?"

"That sounds reasonable, but only under the condition that you carry me on your shoulder!" Zerki said as if it was a good thing, something a magical beast with powerful lineage should boast about.

"Yeah, sure, no problem. What about you, Luna?"

"This one does not see any problems with Rulah's suggestion."

"Great, then it's settled! Lothian said cheerfully and allowed the haughty little bird with control over fire and thunder to rest on his shoulder. Under everyone's gaze, she lifted her chin eye and pointed forward with her wing.

"Onwards, my mount!" she chirped. "Let's go!"

Lothian simply laughed in response, knowing how unique Zerki's personality was. Truthfully, there was a reason to why they were her only friends. They were the only ones who could stand her crude jokes and haughty personality without ending up bashing their head in stone to make her stop.

Luna looked at Rulah, seemingly confused, and the golden bear simply smiled back instead of trying to explain something.

                                                                                                                                              ***

"Jade Horse Remus! How would you like to join our party? We are missing one member?"

"Sorry, already joined one. Good luck, though. Try Voris."

                                                                                                                                              ***

Hey, you're Apostle Toad Voris, right?"

"I joined one already if that's what you came for."

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"Cloud Spewing Goat Mardon?"

"Yes?"

"Have you joined a group yet?"

"Oh, yes, I joined one just a moment ago. Why?"

"No, nevermind. Have a great day."

                                                                                                                                              ***

How the heck can this be so hard? Why is everyone we ask already in a group? Dammit, this is making me so irritated!" Lothian cursed loudly as the twelfth beast they asked apologised and said they were in a group. They had walked around the camp, and every time they spotted someone who they knew were powerful but also had an okay personality, they would ask them to join. But of all the twelve they had asked, every single one was already taken by other groups. How vexing!

"We still have another hour left!" Zerki said with stars in her eyes. "Go my mount! Faster!"

"Shut up, I'm really irritated now. Don't make it worse!" Lothian said in annoyance. He stomped on the ground a few times like his mother always did when she was hesitating, and then turned to Rulah, saying. "Hey, brother, are you sure you don't know anyone else?"

"No, not what I can think of..." the golden bear said. "Well, I do know one beast who certainly wouldn't be able to join a group. And that's not because of his strength, more because of his, you know, shrewd personality."

"What do you mean, shrewd personality?" Lothian asked.

"He's quite eccentric and is told to not work well in a team. But his strength is superb. I fought him once and if not for my awesome defence, I would have lost. That's how good he was. At the same time, I couldn't even touch the fine hairs of his skin, so it eventually ended in a draw. His attacks couldn't defeat me, and I couldn't reach him."

"And are you sure he's participating in the Trials?"

Rulah touched his chin and then nodded. "Should be. I saw him earlier."

"Then let's go find him! He may be our last chance!" the young boy shouted. "Where did you see him?"

"Wait, you're actually serious?" Rulah asked, not expecting his friend's answer. He took a deep breath and laughed. "Well, why not. It's not as if we have another choice. Ok, it's like this. I saw him at the left side of the centre, so he might still be there if we're lucky. I can't guarantee that he'll want to join, though. He's a tad special after all.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

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The centre of the camp was filled with resounding laughter and the smell of Torae. The drink truly was something that could get beasts addicted; slaves to their desires. This is one of the reasons Lothian only drank with moderation. He refused to be a slave to anyone but his heart and soul, and barely even those if he had to choose. Walking along the benches, the group of four finally caught the glimpse of a lonely figure, sitting alone on a bench. When they got closer, they could make out an Arcane Jaguar, drinking with his head down from a resplendent cup filled with Torae that lay on the ground.

"Remember me?" Rulah said, breaking the silence.

The Arcane Jaguar looked up, his mouth filled with a sharp set of teeth and his skin carved with mysterious patterns of azure and purple and dark gold. The colours shimmered in the flame nearby and cast the area in a magical light. "Oh, you."

The golden bear sneered. "It's me indeed. So have you worked on that power of yours, Zerlon?"

"My power? Hah, speed is far more important." Zerlon snorted. He looked glanced over the other tree for a while, especially on Lothian – with a careful gleam in his eyes – and said. "You couldn't even catch my shadow, Rulah"

Lothian sensed the tense atmosphere and merely smiled. Many of the beasts inside of the village were incredibly proud, and wouldn't admit that another was better – certainly not beasts as proud as an Arcane Jaguar or a Golden Bear. The Arcane Jaguar was one of the fastest races in the village, on par with Fire Foxes, and used a combination of water and darkness, along with a touch of fire, in their movements. They were hunters of the night and loved to surprise their prey with blinding teeth in the darkness. Fire Foxes, however, were more of a front liner in that aspect. They had a stronger output for longer periods of time and were also able to use the fire element for attacks that were suited for group battles

Golden bears were also proud creatures. They were heralded as the beasts with the most powerful defences, along with Brutal Rhinos and Ironbark treants and Obsidian Beetles. Golden bears also boasted of a strong attack power with a great affinity for the fire element, close to that of Fire Foxes. Needless to say, neither Rulah nor Zerlon would back out.

"Enough. Let's cut the chase." Rulah continued unperturbed. "Have you found a group yet?"

"No," Zerlon answered and slurped from his Torae. He then held his head high and asked. "What of it?"

"We have a vacant spot."

The Arcane Jaguar smirked. "And you want me to join... haha, you couldn't find anyone else, right?"

"What does it matter?" the golden bear asked expressionlessly. "Join or not. Don't waste out time. But I can tell you, with us, you will become a protector by the end of these trials. And, even though your power is quite weak, I admit you are the second fastest beast in the camp right now, so we would certainly benefit from you."

Wrath flash in Zerlon's eyes. Though the first provocation wasn't taken seriously by him, the second was. How could he accept that anyone was faster than him, even if it was a joke? "What bullshit are you spewing? Who's faster than me?"

"Have you heard of Fire Fox Fuje?"

"That little fox is faster than me? Hah!" Zerlon snorted. "You can't be serious!"

"Well, you'll never know. And that guy might become even faster, as he is tempered by the trials. Perhaps he will already have left you in the dust in the matter of a few years, taking the crown of the fastest in the village. After all, his father is the current speed crown." Rulah said, knowing Zerlon had been caught in the trap. "But if you don't want to be the fastest..."

Arcane Jaguar Zerlon glared at the golden bear. After a while, he finally said. "Fine, I'll join you. But you have to present a chance for me to fight that guy then, or I'll never join."

"You taking care of him is just what I want." the golden bear replied with a smile that wondered if the bear really was as dense as he looked, or merely was a wolf in sheep's clothing, waiting for other to let their guard down. "Welcome to the team."

"Humpf" Zerlon finished his cup on the ground and said. "And I want a rematch between us. You and me."

"Don't worry, talking to you here really makes my paw itch," Rulah said. He turned to Lothian and smiled, and the young boy smiled back. They had finally gathered a team of five. "Now, let's hurry up and report to Vice-leader Mogaro."

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As the group of five walked into Mogaro's hut, the shadow panther with a scar spanning half of his face, looked up from where he lay and said, as he inspected the five beasts, his gaze stopping over Rulah. "Jeez, you little rascal, how come you're this late? I expected you to be finished earlier. Oh, Lothian and Zerki, you're here too. Ah, who's this? Hmm, If I'm correct, the two of you should be Starbeaver Luna and Arcane Jaguar Zerlon. I've heard of you, but I've never met you in person."

"Uncle, we're here to register for the team. " Rulah reminded the panther.

"Of course, of course. No problem." Mogaro answered. "By the way, your father sends his regards. He told me to keep an extra eye on you here, and that I should be extra tough when it comes to judging you and your group."

"The old foggy..." the golden bear smirked.

"Anyway, I'll have the examiners fill you in. Rulah, Zerki, Lothian, Luna and Zerlos, right?"

Rulah nodded.

"Great. Okay, now for the more formal information." the shadow panther explained and looked over the group like he had done over previous groups. "Tomorrow before the first light, you will all gather in the centre of the camp for the first challenge before. Those who come late will be disqualified. And look, I cannot reveal too much, but I can tell you this. The first challenge will be a test to see how good you can adapt and work with each other in your group. After all, this is the most basic ability you must possess as a member of the forest dispatch. Your individual ability is almost of no value compared to the extensive force created when all of your group members are in synergy. Do you understand?

"Yes, sir!"

"Good, now go get some sleep. You need to be at your peak tomorrow to produce good results. The competition this year is very fierce!"

As the group later walked out of the hut, they were filled with an expectation to the next morning. Perhaps not so much Zerki and Zerlon, but Lothian and Rulah and Luna certainly were. Of course, they had no idea what would happen, and at the same time, no idea how much this first challenge would change their way of thinking of a team.