Kip leaped over another fallen tree, black with ash. The grass simmered, the tips glowing a faint orange hue as he ran toward the explosion. Yippers had evacuated most if not all of those who resided in the village, hopefully, Cherry would be able to keep it together, Maddox and Percy had yet to return from their retrieval of Trench and Sylvie. The smog grew thicker the closer he got to where Amber’s house was, her well-kempt cobbled path was now strewn across the forest floor, small heaps of soot gathered in the pits. He was nearly there.

 Sylvie had finally caught up to her much larger, faster company. Heaving, she stuck close to Trench as they picked their way through the once lush forest, the ground still warm underneath her paws…it felt like it was breathing. The group was wary of groaning trees, leaning precariously over them, embers still hungry for their much flammable fur.

 “Look like it’s your day Sylvie…don’t you Phoes love this stuff?” Percy joked dryly, his ears swiveling this and that way to hear any signs of life.

 “Not like this we don’t…” She trailed off, this felt wrong, the embers sickly sweltering. Her tail bushed out, something deep down was making her stomach turn with guilt and horror. “...we need to hurry up, please.” She squeaked, barely audible.

 “Sorry.” Percival whispered as the group picked up their pace, this time Sylvie was more than compliant, even if it would risk singeing her companion’s fur.

 Sylvie turned her face to where the moon should’ve been, hoping for some light, some sight of fresh air but the oncoming smoke and ash hung tightly to the leaves of the trees, strangling them. Thin tendrils wrapped around weak, new branchlets… quickly deciding looking down was the safer option she focused on her paws moving forward.

 Maddox would occasionally enter a coughing fit, quickly reassuring the group he was fine in a way only Maddox could. The smog above had become less of a blanket and more of a ceiling, Trench lowering his head to stay out of its suffocating grasp.

 “That’s strange, her house should be—” Maddox stumbled forward, stamping his feet on charred boards to catch himself, the edges falling away to join the heaps of ash around and below their feet. “—here.” 

 How had they not noticed? Looking closely at the heaps, Sylvie could pick out multiple boards of what once was, bits and pieces of Amber’s items laid out in the field.

 “Amber!” Trench called out, his voice echoing a few times before disappearing. He inhaled, a mistake he’d soon realized as he found himself in a coughing fit. “Amber!” He yelped again, this time weaker.

 “Say something!” Percival joined Trench’s call, his once pure white fur now black with ash. “Amber!”

 “I can’t see anything, how are we going to find her—?” Sylvie began to whine until, as if by magic or pure coincidence, a strong flurry of wind tore through the party, the smog dispersing from above and around them.

 She could feel Trench press into her side, keeping her from flying away until the harsh winds ceased, looking up Sylvie could finally see the moon shine upon them. Inhaling the clean, fresh air she looked excitedly around, surely Amber must’ve heard them and used her magic! Though…there was no Amber, the entire clearing had been cleansed of its litter, and yet…there was a final pile left. Maddox stalked forward, brushing away the grit and dust the wind had kicked up from the top, pushing away a few wooden boards. 

 “Amber…?” Maddox leaned forward, his nose twitching at the acidic scent that lay below.

 “What, Maddox!” Trench warned before the small fox suddenly jerked back. Thick, pristine white claws pressed around his throat, shoving him into the dirt as large, draconic wings unfolded to reveal the assailant.

 “Bullet!” Percival hissed under his breath, remembering the stories Amber had told where this low-life had tried and luckily failed to trap the Phoenix. Why was he here? Where was Amber? What did he do?

 “Bullet—?” Sylvie tried to question the fox before Trench snarled, his hackles rising.

 “Let him go.” Trench barked. “I’m not in the mood for pickin’ fur out of my teeth, Stranger.” He growled through his fangs.

 “That’s quite a rude thing to call me, a stranger.” Bullet lashed his tail, running his tongue over his protruding canines. “Why haven’t you introduced me to your friends, Maddox? I thought we were friends.” He sniggered. “What? Cat got your tongue?” A laugh bellowed from his jaws as he pressed the fox— the weak fool— into where he belonged. “Choked up?”

 Maddox squirmed until he was facing the Bernard, making a strained gurgling noise before spitting straight into Bullet’s face. “Get off me you freak.” Maddox nodded toward his forearms. “It’s hard to take you seriously.”

 Bullet, eyes wide with rage lifted his paw and slammed it back into Maddox’s throat, a wheezing breath emanating.

 “Dad!” Percival shrieked, rushing forward before Trench stopped him.

 “Just let him go, we have no business with you.” Trench stepped forward, well aware of the leverage this stranger had over them.

 “Oh, but I have business with one of you pathetic hairballs…” He scanned the group. “But it seems the coward hadn’t even shown up.” With a yawn, he shrugged. “I’ll just find that pipsqueak later, speaking of pipsqueak…” He lowered his eyes to the struggling figure below him. “...it’d be easier to finish you off here.”

 “No!” Percival shoved against Trench, trying to clamber over the Merruff.

 “BULLET.” A voice roared from above them, followed by the sky shaking above them.

 Or… it wasn’t the sky… Sylvie squinted, a massive form took only a few steps before it was nearly on top of them. Large soaring wings flapped as taloned feet spanned on either side of them. Even when she threw her head back could she barely see the face of the beast.

 “Bullet. We have what we need. You can play later.” A hooded figure levitated beside the beast’s elbow. “Time is of the essence.”

 At a closer look, she realized it was the figure they had met earlier, Trench to have clicked the pieces together before Sylvie had, his face contorting in silent anger.

 The Bernard huffed, releasing Maddox from his grasp the fox shot up and staggered away from him, back arched. “Maybe next time Maddox.” He grumbled, clearly annoyed at the disruption. Standing on his rear paws and extending his forearms, Bullet took off from the ground and joined his companion, landing somewhere on the… griffins?...back.

 “Get back here!” Trench roared, raising his fin. “Get back here and fight!” His calls were in vain as the hooded stranger found their way to the same area Bullet had gone. Sylvie swore she spotted more figures shifting around up there.

 The griffin turned its back to the group, its long lion-esque tail swaying above their heads. The group stood in shock until a cream blur sprinted past them, frog hat still in tow.

 “Kip!” Percival immediately shoved past Trench and shot forward, chasing the hyena toward the lifting-off beast.

 “Percy! Stop!” Maddox and Trench yelped in unison, Maddox failing to trip his son as Percival leaped over his recovering body.

 The young Nebulruffs caught onto the griffin’s lowered tail as it took off, first Kip then Percival, their bodies barely visible under the sea of midnight feathers and fur.

 “No!” Maddox stumbled over himself, chasing the griffin for just a few feet before collapsing again. Trench and Sylvie ran to his side, helping the disheveled fox to his feet. “Percival.” His voice faltered, his eyes following the griffin until it merged into the starry sky and could no longer be distinguished. “Percival.” His eyes flickered from side to side, his weak demeanor turning to one of anger. “Percival!” He snarled, stamping at the ground. “PERCIVAL.” His muzzle scrunched up, gum and fang barred.

 Sylvie didn’t know how to react or help, Trench could only attempt to lead Maddox away only to get shoved or snapped at.

 How could things get any worse!? She thought frantically, cursing herself for even daring a jinx.

 “Maddox!” Trench found his way in front of the enraged Nebulruff. “Maddox, we need to go back and form a plan. It seems at least one person knows who that Bullet guy was and we still have no clue where Amber is—” Trench’s reasoning was interrupted by a snapping branch.

 From out of the foliage, through the ashen, fallen trees, another figure emerged. Horns grew tall and upward, tufted tail swaying behind her, floppy ears bouncing with each step. Amber picked her way over the pebbles before stopping in front of the group, her eyes wide with naivety. Even the forest seemed to fall silent, each second felt like days waiting for her to speak. She opened her mouth and out came a joyful. “Did I hear my name?”