Chapter 237: Clues left behind.

The place was crawling with dozens of disgusting, pot sized Blood frogs were gathered on the ground, greedily slurping up the dried blood left behind by slain beasts.

With a lazy flick of its giant wing, Zyra’s Drake sent a blast of current-laced wind surging across the dirt. The shockwave zapped the frogs instantly. They croaked, twitched, and dropped dead on the spot like little rubber toys.

Zyra leaned forward and patted the Drake’s head. "Good boy! Now that’s what I call pest control."

The Drake puffed its chest out proudly, shooting a smug glance over at Tyrant as if to say, See that? Look how useful I am.

Tyrant grunted, rolling his golden eyes. "Hmph. Slaughtering a few weak frogs is nothing to brag about, little ducky," he growled in a low, rumbling voice.

Zyra chuckled at the petty rival beasts before hopping down onto a tree branch. "Alright, playmates, settle down. We’ve got work to do."

Hunter beat her to the cockpit, and he ripped out the large branch which was fixed in a gaping hole. Then, he stuck his head through the hole, sniffing the inside like a Salamander on a tracking mission. "The girls aren’t in here," he called out, his voice echoing slightly. "No bodies either, which is good news. Although, someone did die in the pilot’s seat. There are sputters of blood and what looks like left over dry brain matter."

Zyra went around the open half and she walked around like an inspector, with Beauty scanning the inside. There were empty food cans, signs that someone had been living there but they were gone.

"Nothing here too." She shouted and climbed down the tree, her boots sinking into the wet earth. "Where could they have gone? They should not have left this place. Right now, every beast is coming out of flood hibernation to hunt. If they are not careful, they will be beast dinner before the night ends." A thought crossed her mind, that at worst, they would be captured and sold to a slave market in another nation. Such markets were illegal, but the underground markets still partook in such trade.

She squinted at the sky, as light rain was pouring down. Had the girls decided to take shelter in a highland somewhere?

Hunter knelt low, squinting at the mud. He lightly pressed two fingers against a faint indentation. "There are footprint trails leading south. They are still fresh, which means the girls have not been gone for more than a day. They survived the crash and walked away... but this rain isn’t helping. The water is washing the tracks away fast. I hope they haven’t gone too far."

While Hunter carefully traced the fading prints_ sniffing the air and checking broken twigs like an experienced tracker_ Zyra poked the mud, sending bag packs into the beast domain.

Suddenly, Drake called from above, and Zyra rushed back. The duck had found something on the plane. She stepped closer, wiping away a smear of mud. Scratched into the side of the wing was a jagged, frantic message:

T, we are alive.

Zyra stood frozen on the tree branch. She raised a trembling hand and gently traced the dried red letters with her fingertips. A wave of overwhelming relief washed over her, and tears stung the corners of her eyes.

She didn’t even know Etania or Claudia or Mai or any of the other girls personally. They were just names to her a few days ago. But back at Beast Valley, every single human was holding their breath, praying for these girls to pull through. In a world where death came so easily, finding a sign of life felt like a miracle.

"Hunter! Over here!" her voice cracked slightly.

Hunter used his boots to fly over, his eyes widening as he read the message. A grin broke out across his mud-splattered face. "Well, look at that. Those girls are tough as nails. They knew not to spell out Tessi’s full name and leave the message somewhere inconspicuous." He clapped his hands together. "If we move fast and follow what’s left of these tracks, we might actually catch up to them soon."

"Then let’s not waste another second," Zyra wiped her eyes, feeling a surge of fresh hope. "Lead the way, tracker."

The rain poured heavier as Zyra and Hunter ventured deeper into the dense, jungle of the Wild Lands. The canopy above was so thick it turned the afternoon into a gloomy twilight.

"Lost it again," Hunter grunted, kneeling in the mud. He wiped rain from his face, looking at a washed-out patch of mud. "The rain and what looks like rabbits have completely destroyed the footprints here. It’s like searching for a dropped needle in the middle of an ocean."

Zyra sighed, adjusting the heavy grip of her spear. "They’re smart maidens. They wouldn’t just wander aimlessly without leaving signs for Tessi to find. Beauty, can you find anything that could lead us to them?"

[Finally, you are asking the expert.] Beauty’s sweet, metallic voice rang in Zyra’s mind. [Notice the tree trunk three meters to your left. Someone used a sharp blade to carve a T into the bark.]

Zyra walked over to a big, moss-covered oak tree and peeled back a hanging vine. Sure enough, a small, subtle symbol_ a triangle with two dots and a letter T, was carved into the wood.

"Look at this," Zyra called out.

Hunter jogged over, his eyes lighting up. "Good eye! How did you even spot that in this dim forest? Wait....thank you Beauty." He looked at the space around her and waved.

[You are welcome, Hunter. See Host, it does not take a lot to show that you are grateful.]

"I was about to say, good job Beauty." Zyra rolled her eyes.

[You’re welcome, Host. Continuing clue scan at no cost at all.]

As they moved forward, relying on tree markings and Beauty’s radar, a sudden low growl shook the bushes. Three Feral Wolves_ beasts with jet-black fur and black eyes—leapt out, drool dripping from their fangs.

"I’ve got this," Zyra said calmly.

Before Hunter could even draw his knives, Zyra dashed forward. Her movements were a fluid dance of raw power and speed. Her spear flashed like lightning, piercing through the dimness.

In less than three seconds, all three wolves were sent flying into the trees, completely knocked out.

Hunter stood frozen, his mouth slightly open. "You fight like a whirlwind now. This is good progress, little protege."

Zyra felt her cheeks burn a little under his intense, admiring stare. She quickly turned her head away, pretending to wipe dust off her jacket. "It’s_ nothing special."

"No, seriously," Hunter said, stepping closer. His boots squelched in the muddy ground, bringing him just inches away from her. The sudden proximity made Zyra’s heart do an unseemly flip. He pointed toward her glowing weapon. "That spear_ I’ve been meaning to ask. Where did you get it?"

Zyra held the spear tighter, her eyes softening with a hint of nostalgia. "It belonged to my mother."

Hunter’s face softened instantly, a gentle, understanding smile touching his lips. He nodded slowly. "That makes sense. It’s not just a masterwork, it’s Somnivore technology powered by soul energy. Not all Soul maidens can wield metals like that; you must have a strong blood line like yours" He looked up into her eyes. "Aunt Zena was an incredible warrior.... you are just like her. I think you will do greater things than her."