Krim's eerie grin grew wider the closer he got to his destination. This was an area off the radar, which housed a place many wouldn't consider when thinking of the biggest break-out in Variant history.
A large patch of trees formed Yarno's second forest, the Fifity. Named after the glacial blue fifity plants, which make a fine form of tea for many natives.
Despite the prized plants, the groups of workers in the area were fixed on taking care of the forest and the native creatures inside. With so much terrain to cover, Krim brought several friends with him.
More Krims, this time darker in overall color, stood beside him. Each one looked even more twisted and corrupted than the previous. Aside from the color difference, each replica looked perfect.
So each Feral took off into the woods. Jumping on the thick pine trees and darting across the area. Except for the main one, Krim stayed back for a few more seconds.
He wanted to admire the beautiful leaves, which held snow hostage. Pinecones littered the floor, their beautiful brown texture added more to the true nature of the environment.
"This was a home to many careful and respectable animals," Krim's voice was distorted. "It is unfortunate how that was then, not later."
With that, he took off after his clones. They rampaged from trunk to trunk, picking up scents and sticking to them.
Each one did their job nearly perfectly, almost like machines. They found targets, stalked them out, and lured them into a suitable place for killing them.
A fifity plant was glowing on the ground, the commodity was steadily blooming. One of the workers stopped, got on one knee, and examined the petals.
Despite the obvious signs of something lurking beyond their sight, and the lack of movements in the area, the Zegus continued to admire the plant. It was soothing to see them glow.
It was a silent dance, one telling the rest it would soon be ripe for the picking. A distant yelp caught the Zegus' attention. She looked away from the plant for a brief moment.
For several seconds, she continued to look at the direction of the sound. She got ready to get up, figuring it would be best to continue being on patrol.
Only to feel the weight of a Feral pinning them down on the snow-covered ground. Before the Zegus could mutter a word, Krim bit down on her neck.
He lifted his body up, keeping the chunk of meat in his cage-like jaws. The warmth of the blood contrasted the frigid temperatures on the outside.
This taste, it was amazing. Krim enjoyed it, he wished his partner was there to take a bite as well. But unfortunately, he wasn't. So Krim swallowed, letting the metallic taste run down his throat.
More prey was out there, ready to be hunted and killed. He leapt up to a nearby trunk, then darted across the forest. Each time one a replica ambushed prey, he knew.
A hazy vision played out through the eyes of his replica. These were the final moments of each patrolling worker.
Krim laughed to himself, keeping his volume low and approach silent. No one could detect the source of all replicas. Even when he was right overhead.
By the time a pink horizon took the skies, the forest was clear of any Yarno forces. All replicas faded away from existence, leaving nothing behind them as they left.
Except for the memories. Krim snapped out of his trance, gasping from what he's been through. The stamina used to jump clear out the forest in such a little amount of time took its toll on him.
Rough brown branches creaked beneath his weight, threatening to snap and let him fall. But he was not focused on that, he was focused on what he just did.
"What the hell happened?" Krim growled. "I didn't know I could - I could do all of this! Yes, yes. I can - I can feel that kind of adrena - line still."
It was a shock, but not the type a first-time killer felt. This was the kind of shock a retired killer felt after his first kill. Despite being a Feral, he hasn't had a good hunt like this in a while.
Growls mixed with laughter escaped his mouth, he was enjoying how fast-paced it all happened. This was how a Feral was intended to be. Careless, quick, and lethal.
He let out a sharp exhale, returning to normal by the end. There was another game he had to play, it was time to wait it out.
This plan could not advance without all other elites and battalions ready for the attack. So he had to get comfortable, starting with his shelter.
A cabin sat in the outskirts of the forest, this was where the guards would store their belongings. The door was locked when Krim arrived, which wasn't an issue.
Putting locks on doors was useless when the one breaking in did not care if he got caught. So Krim punched a hole straight through it, and unlocked the door.
Fresh, boiling water with a hint of fifity filled his lungs. It had a sweet smell, one that attracted the alpha. He stepped through the dark room, getting closer to the dancing flames.
Krim chirped, sitting down in front of it. By now, the smell got stronger. It was better than he had hoped for. Prompting him to look for a cup to pour some of the drink into.
"Sweet drinks for sweet Ferals," Krim mumbled. "A good-job gift for me!"
He tilted the kettle, pouring some of the sweet drink into the cub he had placed beside it. The drink steamed lightly, somehow cooling down faster than he had hoped for.
None of this made sense to the Feral. For how long was the drink boiling? Why was the drink cooling so quickly? None of it mattered to him, all that did matter was his role was done.
All he had to do next was to defend the forest and wait for the plan itself to spring into action.