The night had turned cold a long time ago, wind occasionally swept by the two hidden shadows in the dark. One was yawning as they watched this particular residence closely.
"There are too many guards around, we will never be able to get in. Just leave this place." Sabal whispered in a deep voice. The two beast-men had waited around this place for more than a few hours and now the sun was going to rise soon. If they kept staying here, they would be caught by the beasts.
"Shhh…" A pair of green eyes still glued to the house in front of them. This place belonged to someone in high command, Viosus guessed it that much. It was hidden in a hill and covered by trees. Viosus had counted for a while, over 10 guards on the outside alone. They were definitely guarded for something important. No matter what the snake man said, Viosus refused to leave. The Goat Doctor didn't have much more information about everything that was going on. Their only hope in finding Yilas was in this place.
Suddenly their senses picked up a lot of movements, there was something coming their way. Viosus immediately grabbed Sabal by the arm and climbed up higher in the trees. Sabal turned into a black python, curled himself onto the trunk comfortably. Viosus had no other choice but to stay in his half-civil form, his bright-colored fur would get them caught instantly.
Not long after they had settled, a team of 20 centaur beast-men stomped in, one after another in synchronized formation. They looked nothing less than a specially trained pack. But none of them wore the red fur that signifies the city's guard.
"This might be our chance..." Viosus mumbled on the low, their eyes quickly followed a beast that looked like their leader.
The beast-man was half horse, half civil, he bore many battle scars on his back which were covered mostly by long and straight pure black locks. Even at the height they were, the two could still see the strong outline of muscle on his body, especially his brawny legs. One kick from him would be enough to cripple a beast. Sabal wondered if he was strong enough to strangle those legs of the beast-man.
The beast was in front of the lines, he led the rest of the centaurs quickly through the forest and to the front of this mysterious residence. However, their arrival was not unnoticed, many guards from inside the house had come out and formed a barrier to the entrance. Stopping only when they were face to face with the guards, the head guard called out to the leading centaur beast-man.
"Stop right there! State your matter for coming here!" One of the guards yelled.
"We do not wish to fight your beasts!" The centaur man voiced gravelly and hoarse, even with just his voice, Viosus guessed he was not a young beast. At least, he was much older than Viosus was. "Make way for us to talk to general Mohsen."
Viosus furrowed his eyebrows, it was the same name that Goat Doctor had told them to find. The centaur herd was here on the same business as he was. Viosus looked to Sabal and signaled to him with his eyes, they needed to make their way into the place as soon as chaos broke out before that centaur could get to the beast named Mohsen. They also needed to find out if this group of beast-man had anything to deal with Yilas.
"I don't know if you beasts are aware, the General's residence is to be locked down until our master Bryok commands otherwise. No beasts can enter or exit without permission from the master himself. So take your beasts and be on your way. I will pretend this never happened, Zarek." It seemed like the guard that was speaking knew the leader of the centaurs.
Zarek laughed hysterically, but his voice was so raucous and husky that it sounded terrifying. No matter how Viosus tried to ignore it, his senses were telling him to stay away from this beast, the hair on his spine was rising every time the beast Zarek spoke. Sabal couldn't deny the pressure of that beast either, he was a threat that even a wild beast like him wouldn't want to come across. His instinct was telling him to reserve this fight for another day.
"You must think that I am asking!"
As soon as Zarek finished the last word, over 20 centaur beasts rushed towards the guards. A furious fight broke out in a blink of an eye. But using this chaotic condition, Viosus and Sabal could finally enter the mansion. The two smiled at one another and began to descend the tall tree and blend in with the fighting with ease. Viosus nodded at Sabal, while he got caught up fighting with one of the beasts, Sabal quickly understood the cue and turned into his snake form.
Sabal instantly got an easy pass into the place, even though there was haywire outside, inside the house was a complete opposite. It was completely quiet when he entered, the front yard was magnificently decorated with the rarest findings Sabal had ever seen. There were rainbow snakeskin, white bear fur, even the rare flora that he had never encountered in the wild. 'It must be a desperate showcase of strength', Sabal thought to himself while seemingly climbing the house's polls to find his way around the place. 'Now where would this beast be?'.
Not long after wandering, Sabal realized this mansion was gigantic, and every turn he took looked exactly like the last. Gritting his teeth in frustration, Sabal breathed out his tongue to use his sensor, locating the closest sign of movement.
And there it was, sounds of footsteps, going back and ford restlessly.
"Found you!"