Centshuu, Ripply, Mosey, and Kove stepped away for a moment, giving some space between themselves and Avery, which was what Shieve was waiting for to join the fray.
"What's going on?" Shieve asked the moment he huddled up with them, and they all looked at him but with disapproving stares.
"You know what this means, right, Centshuu?" Mosey asked, and they all took their attention away from Shieve.
"Yes, of course I do. If what the pug says is true, then this could be big for us" Centshuu replied enthusiastically.
"Emphasis on IF," Shieve remarked, and then Centshuu looked at him discouragingly, which made him look and feel embarrassed.
"Don't mind him, Centshuu. You of all people know how hard it is to control his mouth. Let's just focus on what's at hand and decide what our next move is going to be. So, what's it going to be?" Ripply asked, making Centshuu to take his focus away from Shieve and look at the rest, then grimace.
"Give me a second" Centshuu said, then separated from the rest and went to Avery, which made them, minus Ripply, wonder what he was going to do or ask.
"Hey pug— I mean Avery, where did you say you saw the creature again? Now that I think about it, I don't think you ever disclosed that information", Centshuu said, and Avery shook his head.
"So you didn't. Alright then, if it's no big deal, mind revealing that information right now?" Centshuu asked, making sure to use a tone that let Avery know that he was instructing him to give up the information rather than requesting it.
Avery cleared his throat and then said:
"Everything I remember happened while above... this forest's canopy, so that would mean that I saw the creature around here... as well. I think it was stuck in one of those gravitational streams... things like I was"
After hearing that, Centshuu smirked "Is that so? Alright then, give me a moment, and I'll be right back" he said, then returned to his guys.
"So it was in a parallel stream, falling in whatever direction above the forest's canopy just like the pug," Ripply said the moment Centshuu returned.
"Yes, so now I'm thinking; if the pug got pulled out of his parallel stream by making contact with one of the branches, then what about that thing which is more than five times his size?" Centshuu asked, then they all looked at Kove, who thought for a moment before speaking.
"It has a higher chance of being knocked out of the stream, especially around this forest where its food source can be found. With that strong nose it has, once it smells food, it will go crazy and force itself out of the stream by accident" Kove gave his assessment.
Ripply stopped looking at Kove and looked at Centshuu, "If that's Kove's thoughts on the matter, then there's a little more validity to this" he said, and Centshuu smirked.
Shieve, who was very pessimistic and understood exactly where they were heading with all of this, looked at all four of them in the huddle and then landed his worrisome sight on Centshuu.
"What exactly are you guys planning to do?! You can't be serious can you?!" Shieve asked, causing Centshuu to grin.
Centshuu stepped closer to Sheive whose shoulder he placed his hand on, then with a confident smile, he said "We're going to go hunt a Mystical Beast, our first since we started this line of work. Doesn't that sound like fun?"
Immediately, Shieve's heart dropped straight into his stomach. He started chuckling like someone who had lost all hope, saying: "Fun, huh? That's one way to put it."
"That's what I like to hear," Centshuu said as he patted both of Shieve's sunken shoulders before stepping back and facing a different direction.
"Alright boys, time to get moving" Centshuu instructed, and the other four got ready.
Just then, Ripply stepped closer to Centshuu and asked "What about the pug who gave us the information? What are we going to do with him?"
Centshuu and the others all looked at Avery, who also looked at all five of them, wondering what was going through their minds as they were silently staring at him.
Suddenly, Centshuu smirked and walked closer to Avery.
"Hey Avery, I know I told you that my friends and I would help you get home if you tell us something interesting, and I plan to keep that promise, but there's a little detour we want to make before we can do that. Hope you don't mind coming with us", Centshuu said, and Avery grunted.
"Let me guess, this little detour has something to do with whatever that creature is, doesn't it?" Avery asked and Centshuu grinned from ear to ear.
"I knew I was right, you are a smart kid, and look at that, your Scrimis sounded perfect that time" Centshuu replied, then stayed quiet for a moment, which he used to observe Avery's demeanor.
"Without you having to say anything, I can already tell what that look in your eyes means. Alright then, suit yourself"
Centshuu left Avery and started walking in the direction of their exit route, which made Mosey ask "Centshuu, you didn't say anything about the pug!"
Centshuu, who had been caught up to by Ripply, replied "Isn't it obvious? Our guest says he wants to tag along, so help him up and let's go. We're burning sunlight, and we have to reach that joint before it gets too dark"
Avery looked at Centshuu's massive and confident back.
'Reach where before it gets too dark?' He asked himself, but then heard and saw Mosey coming towards him.
Mosey stretched his hand, saying as he walked closer to Avery "Alright pug, you heard the boss, so give me your hand. It's time to get up so we can high tail out of this fucking maze"
Once he got beside Avery, Mosey grabbed onto the tired young man's arm and was about to pull him up when Avery's eyes widened and he said in a panic "No, no, don't pull me up so fast. My leg is broken—huh?!"
Avery was shocked. He looked down at his legs when Mosey ignored what he was saying and pulled him to his feet only to discover that his leg wasn't broken like he thought.