"I should have expected those two to take off in the middle of the night. This is my fault..." Zhutto had a pair of binoculars in his big hands as he attempted searching in the distance from a watchtower. It has been four days since Shade and Kitsuno had taken off to search for the bandits. Ivan had taken liberty of scouting off into the distance for the duo but with no luck. Beatrice and Kleau had no luck finding the kitsunes either. And if those two couldn't find them, that means the situation has gotten worse.

Mally herself was belittled with worry since the two took off and had given both Zhutto and Maurice a lashing about it, but had to compose herself enough to help keep an eye on Wilhelm as he was slowly making a recovery from his injuries. The mages have been working tirelessly to keep him alive as if they had arrived a minute too late, he would have died from blood loss. Their magic is what is keeping him stable enough to regenerate enough blood to make up what he lost while doctors examine his body to see what needed surgery. Magic can't fix everything fully.

Maurice on the other hand, has been busy himself with keeping an eye on the guild, but to keep word on any news about either the missing mages or the missing kitsunes. He has been going over towards any civilians that come in and out of Sarydia frequently to ask of they have seen anything of any of them, or anything that looked out of the ordinary. Aside from a few dead corpses of direwolves, nobody has seen anything that looked like the teens.

One thing that has been noted is the bandit attacks have mysteriously stopped. Three days after the girls had disappeared from Sarydia was where the attacks suddenly stopped all around. Zhutto could only think that those two have found them and struck them hard. Or, the worse scenario. They got captured and are either being used as a ransom to the empire, or are top prize of the slave market. The minotaur sighs as he can only hope that it was the first option.

Meanwhile, two days earlier, out in the wilderness far towards the northeast from Sarydia

The twins had made leeway on distance away from Sarydia. The trail that they have been following of the bandits have been uneasy and the duo had to play it safe when following them. As much as Shade wanted to strike them down hard, the better reward was to follow them to their main hideaway to find Liam.

So far from what they are catching wind of the bandits in the conversations is that they have been getting a good haul going on to make the biggest sales for the year. Which meant that there was a chance the two would be able to find Chester and Hanna's friend amongst the mix as well. What was driving them to these measures was something only of pure greed could stack up to.

The two were hiding away in the treelines as daytime was still amongst them and they had finally located the area that was being concealed to the naked eye. The area that the bandits have weaved into was a sloped cannopy with the trees grown over the area that blocks most of the scenery underneath it. And said scenery was an auction stand with cages standing by off to the sides of the large wooden platform. Shade focuses her eyes on the layout of the area, "Fucking bastards... so this is where they have been dragging others to."

Kitsuno was behind her sister and was taking a complete survey of the surroundings as well. "Heavily concealed... but, it seems to be lacking many ways out. Where the bandits are walking down towards, and there." Kitsuno points over past a section of trees that were cleared out and a small cave system. "How much you want to bet that the caves leads to all the captured people?" Shade looks back at her sister, "More than likely if they want to keep them hidden and silenced."

Shade gets up to start climbing the tree to see what else she could spot. Her eyes dead set on the pathway as she spots a house hidden away with the trees. "Kit, I see a house. Probably belongs to the ringleader. I say when this all begins, I burn the pathway down to prevent escape from that direction." Kitsuno looks up to her older sibling with slight concern in her eyes. "Shade, won't that cause too much damage? We need to get people out of here remember."

The older kitsune nods before leaping down into the shrubbery. "I know that. I'm just saying I make it harder to traverse through by normal means. Once I do that, the slavers and buyers only have one way left." Shade points over to the sloped pathway, "The main path. With nowhere to go, they will be easy pickings." Kitsuno studies the path and nods in agreement. "Alright then. With that settled, should we go and check ahead with that house?" Shade pauses a moment before shaking her head. "No, nobody is out and about right now so they must be resting inside for tonight." Her eyes then drift towards the cave entrance. "Let's just hope we can get everyone out of here."

Later into the night

The twins waited for night to fall and kept themselves in the thick of the brush as various amounts of people started showing up through the pathway. Their status from how they looked were more along the rich side for most, but they were here for the same thing. For slaves to use and abuse. Shade kept a very sharp eye on them all as she watched them walk down the path. Mentally keeping tallies on how many there were to not only attack, but to possibly loot everything they had on them to sell. They won't be needing it when she is through with them after all.

Kitsuno was watching as well, but soon caught a glimpse of more familiar faces at the auction block. Tapping on Shade's tail, she points over to the wooden platform and there they saw the wolf bandits again. This time accompanied by two large winged beasts. The two studied them for a bit before Shade whispered, "Those are gargoyles... where the hell did these jokers get that at?" Kitsuno watches as the gargoyles stood guard for a bit before seeing the red furred wolf come up to one of them and points over to the cave. "Wherever they got them, their orders seem clear enough as the guards towards the captured slaves. Not sure how we are going to deal with them though..."

Shade pulls back deeper into the shrub and tugs on her sister to start moving to a different angle. "Don't you worry about it, your arrows are going to be for the more softer targets. Leave those things to me when I attack." Kitsuno slowly follows behind Shade and sighs, knowing that she has no other say in the matter for the attack.

Once the two made it to there next location, they both got better views of the area. Kitsuno looks at Shade and nods before setting up her position. "Now remember, don't stay in the same place for too long." The younger sister looks up at her sibling as she starts laying out a few arrows and drawing out her bow. "So long as you don't get in too deep down there. Nobody else knows where we are so if we screw up, that's it."

"Likewise. But the only ones who have screwed up is them. They shouldn't have left bread crumbs to this place." The elder kitsune then makes her way elsewhere in the folliage to a different location. Down into the auction area, the two gargoyles had left into the cave to return with a handful of slaves from varying ages, races, and gender. A few wolf bandits tagged behind them before opening some of the cages out in the open to throw the slaves inside them.

The more harrowing part of the people who have been captured was that they had nothing on them. Every one of them were bare to the wind due to having their possessions forcibly taken away from them. Some who were covered in scales instead of fur were starting to shiver from the chilling gale that flowed through the area. The only things keeping light in the area were the few bonfires stationed in the area. But only bright enough for the whole area to give off an orange glow. The main auction deck however had more lighting to it, more than likely to present the auctioned slave on stage better. 

As the crowd got situated in their seats, the selected slaves were placed in the cages, and the wolves standing guard where they were suppose to be. Everything grew quiet as from the pathway leading to the hidden house came a large figure slithering down. He was a large opposing figure as he was a twelve foot black serpent adorned with purple robes over his chest. His red and orange piercing eyes observed over the crowd of patrons that has gathered.

The bandits on stage made way for him as he moved to the center of the stage and an icy grin grows on his face before raising his arms out. In a deep voice that reached out towards them, "Ladies and gentlemen. It brings me great pleasure to see you all here tonight. I will guarantee that you all will find the perfect slave to take home for all your needs. Now, without further ado, the annual summer auction begins!"

A roar of applause echoes throughout the area and that was when the red furred bandit approached the serpent. "Sir, I guarantee that this will be a wonderful bounty this time. We recently got our hands on two mages from Sarydia. No need to worry about them using magic to escape, my boys got them restrained with magic depressant chains." The serpent lowers his body down to meet the wolf leader head on, his voice had a strong command over the wolf, "Be that as it may, I've heard that you have been slipping lately. But, given we have a fair amount this season, I will let these transgressions slide." He then inches his face closer and bares his sharp fangs at the wolf, "Do not think that this means you are free to slip up again."

The red wolf shudders at the thought of what would happen if he were to screw up again. His boss raised himself back up to tower over the bandits and clapped his hands together. "Now, let us begin with the first slave. Fresh from the northwestern hilltops in Aldersburg, our first slave for the night is a strong and hearty yak. Known for their sheer strength and resistance towards the cold climates and good with hard labour." One of the cages was opened up and two wolves enter into it to pull out a sixteen year old male yak from the crowded cage. He struggled quite a bit at first but was forced up further on the stage and he went cold the moment the serpent laid a hand on him, potentially out of fear for the large naga to having quick access to either subdue or if he attempts running away, the risk of being crushed.

The serpent chuckles from the yaks immediate submission before running a hand down on the boys firm shoulders. "Now, look at this form this young lad has. Striking firm for a fit worker. And I can guarantee that at his age," The yak flinches more as the serpent moves a hand lower towards his groin and gives him a firm grope on his testicles. "That he is more than capable of producing some fine sires for you ladies out there." The serpent releases his grip on the yaks balls and looked off into the crowd. "We shall start the bidding off at five hundred."

Amongst the crowd, several patrons began bargaining.

"Seven hundred fifty!"

"Twelve hundred!"

"Sixteen hundred!"

"Fuck you bitch! Twenty-three thousand!"

The serpent looks off in the crowd as the number grows high, two patrons were beginning to fight for the young yak before them for whatever purpose they have for him. "We have this strong sturdy boy standing at twenty-three thousand, anyone else?"

"Thirty-five thousand!"

"God damn it!"

He grins viciously before placing both hands on the yak and starts raising up to look over at the crowd to spot the patron who was outbidding others. He locks eyes with the last bidder, "Thirty-five thousand. Do we have thirty-six thousand?" The crowd looks at one another, some of them already annoyed how they have already lost a good pick of the bunch early on, a few wishing they had gotten more of a sample size of the yak. However, no one else seemed keen on spending more money. "No? Sitting at Thirty-five. Going once. Going twice... Sol--"

"Boss! Watch out!" The serpent immediately reacts as he immediately slithers away from his current position as Shade slams down hard into the stage with her spear. He looks down at the young kitsune as she stands up and yanks her weapon out and glares at him. "Oh, what a surprise we have here. Someone thinks she is being a hero?"

The red wolf readies his crossbow before aiming directly at Shade, "Fucking damnit! It's the spellblade again!" The serpent pauses for a moment before studying Shade. His eyes glistening with curiosity and avarice before a grin widens on his face. He then grabs the yak and throws him back towards his cohorts. The yak bleats a bit before landing on the ground in front of two bandits and they took ahold of him to prevent the boy from escaping. Their boss snaps his finger and the two gargoyles immediately charge forward towards Shade. "A spellblade, and a young kitsune female no less." He then looks over at the crowd as they stare in spite of the kitsune who interrupted the auction. "It seems this time we have a little bonus to begin with. Sit back and enjoy the show everyone as once this kitsune is beaten down and restrained, one of you lucky patrons will get to take her home."

"Keep her intact well enough and I'll pay five hundred thousand for her!"

Shade, now hearing that a price is on her head, coupled with the fact that she is already fuming with rage, let's out a barbaric scream before charging forward against the gargoyles. One of the stone statues blocks her spear as it makes contact and then swipes an arm forward to knock her back. The other statue jumped forward and strikes down with momentum to pound her into the floor, but misses as she rolls back from where she landed.

Shade aims her spear at its eyes to slam the pole against its face. The statue staggers a little bit before regaining its footing and grabbing her spear to pull on it. Shade was yanked off the ground as the spear was pulled and she let go to deliver a punch against the gargoyle on its face. To everyone's surprise the statue reacted a bit from it as it got knocked down. The second gargoyle spread open its wings and began floating above the stage to avoid Shade's close combat.

The serpent looks at the girl before him as she kept assaulting the gargoyle she was on by delivering consecutive punches to its face. He then looks up at the other statue above, "You have permission to use the restraints." The statues eyes glow from a dim yellow to a dark black and it raised its arms forward to form a ball of black magic in front of it. Shade looks up at the magic sphere as it grows in size before the gargoyle beneath her grabs onto her tail to yank her off and throw her across the stage.

As she lands, the aerial gargoyle locks onto her and is about to unleash the spell onto her, but it's concentration is lost as an arrow comes flying out from the treelines and nails it in one of its eyes, cracking it in the process. The red wolf bandit turns around to some of the other wolf bandits that were on standby. "Don't just stand around, get the slave back in the cages and get out there! If the spellblade is here, then her sniper friend is here as well. Move damnit!"

This sent slight panic in the crowd as a few had gotten up from watching the fight to start funneling their way through the crowd to escape. Shade had gotten up and narrowly dodged the gargoyle on the ground that charged at her, but as it got behind her, she grabbed ahold onto its tail and forced it to trip and fall flat onto the stage. The flying gargoyle swoops down to swipe Shade off of its partner, but another arrow comes flying in and pierced into the damaged eye, causing it to growl and veer off course to land off the stage and onto the ground heavily before it stopped moving entirely.

The gargoyle on the ground attempted getting back up, but Shade viscously grabbed onto its head and started slamming it into the floor. Her eyes dart over to the main exit as she sees some people and some bandits making their way up the path, she lets go of the gargoyle and starts forming fireballs in both of her hands. "Where do you bastards think you are going!? We're just getting started!"

She then launches both fireballs in unison as they go flying fast towards the path. The bandits managed to duck as the fireballs miss the pathway by a few feet and burst open right beneath them on the edge of the slopes. Shade then continues to assault the gargoyle she was on before it smacked her off of its body and it got back up to look at her. It's face having a small crack in it as it glares at its target.

In the trees, Kitsuno was keeping an eye on everything as the slave buyers were starting to go into panic as more were beginning to flee. With another arrow notched in her bow, she pulls back and takes aim before letting go as her next target was a bandit who was getting into a watchtower. The arrow flies forth towards the tower and as soon as the bandit on top grabs onto his own bow to begin his scope out, the arrow lodges itself in his opened shoulder, causing him to stagger back and fall from the ladder to plument down to the ground.

Smiling from her success, Kitsuno quickly climbs down and sneaks her way through the bushes to keep herself hidden. Not long before she reaches an edge of the cliff that she pokes her head out a bit to see the main pathway gathering flames around it, "Dammit Shade, you said you would burn the other one." Her eyes then see some bandits making their way through the pathway and starting to make their way into the folliage. "Crap. Gotta stay hidden or they will find me."

As Kitsuno dives back into the folliage to hide and ambush any bandits that get close to her, Shade continues to beat down the remaining gargoyle. The fight was becoming more one sided as Shade had made contact with her spear on the gargoyle's face several times where the crack was getting bigger and it was starting to become delayed in its own attacks. The serpent and red wolf watched as this unfolds and more and more of the crowd has began to flee. The wolf leader had his crossbow ready and aimed at Shade but the serpent turns around and glares at him. "Don't you dare fire. I want this one alive."

C R A C K

He quickly turns around to see that Shade's spear had snapped in half, but also with the cost that part of the gargoyle's face had broke apart and it fell down on its side. The kitsune was breathing heavily before fire emitted from her hands again as she threw several fireballs towards the other pathway as some patrons had started making their way up it. Screams were heard as the balls of fire bursted and engulfed some of them, causing some to fall off the path and a few to attempt putting themselves out on the ground. She then turns her full attention to the large naga before her. "You're next asshole."

A bandit from below managed to grab onto a bow from one of their fallen comrades and took aim at Shade before an arrow came flying from the upper portion of the grove and pierces through their leather armor and lodges into his left arm. While he managed to let go of the arrow, it didn't fly far due to his concentration being interrupted. The arrow flies shorthly through the air and lands right at the edge of the stage. The wolf leader watched as he saw arrows fly to strike anyone else that posed a threat before tried to pinpoint where the sniper was. "Come on you idiots. How hard is it to find one stupid girl?" He then gets a general idea where Kitsuno was as he saw some rustling going on in the folliage. He then focuses his crossbow a little further to the right of her location. Shade however, saw him before going mad and charged towards him.

In a panic, he quickly drew his aim back at Shade and was about to fire before the serpent reaches out with one hand and the air turned frigid around them. As Shade leapt up and came close to slashing down with her hand as she started forming magic claws forged out of her own fire, ice quickly surrounded her and encased the kitsune in place.

The sepernt then slowly claps as he slithers around the entomb kitsune. While several patrons were still panicking, a few had stopped as the witnessed the serpent using his own magic to stop the assaulter. Kitsuno watched as her sister got trapped, but had to move quickly herself as several bandits had seen where her shots were and we close to tailing her. As she dodges through a bush, she accidentally ran into a bandit and he tries to grapple onto her. "Gotcha you little bitch! Thinking it's funny snipping away at people huh?" Kitsuno struggles a bit as he wrestles her down, but she gets the upper hand before rolling them both over and begin tumbling down the cliffside. The serpent and wolf leader watched as the duo come down to the ground the Kitsuno lands hard on the bandit that broke her fall. He let go of her as his breathing became ragged and Kitsuno got back on her feet before attempting to run, but soon froze as a spear of ice ejects from the wall in front of her path.

The serpent looks at her before he slithers forth and towers over her. Kitsuno attempted to draw her bow to shoot, but he acted quickly and slammed his tail against her, sending the younger kitsune flying across the grove and landing in front of one of the cages. The slaves that were held up in it watched as the serpent came closer and grabbed her by the tail before hoisting her up and chuckling to himself as he slithered back to the main center of the stage. "Well now, what do we have here? So, these are the ones who have been causing trouble to you and your crew, correct?"

The red wolf stammers a bit as he looks at Kitsuno and turning his gaze to Shade, "S-sir, with all due respect. Spellblades are no joke to deal with because of how the empire has become lately. We just didn't want to risk-" towering over the wolf and leering at him with a sharp piercing chill in his eyes, "The empire is no threat to us. Several of our patrons are from the empire and they promised that they will do no harm in those that get exchanged for currency. If anything, they are regarded as high coinage in this industry, if caught properly." He then hoists Kitsuno up and dangles her about near her sister. She struggles to break free but is unable to do so as he had a tight grip on her tail. "However, to have a spellblade that is a very exotic and rare specimen... that, is worth more than the wealth of the world in my eyes."

The bandits who haven't been shot down by Kitsuno had started to return to the pathway and some have begun extinguishing the flames that spread thin. While some patrons have fled the scene, those that stuck around took the time to catch their breath from the onslaught. Kitsuno still struggled to get out of the grip the serpent had on her. He then moves away from the imprisoned kitsune to make his way to the cages. "Now that we have the problem situated, work on getting the area cleared up so we can continue the auction while the night is still young."

One of the wolves guarding the cages saw his terrifying leader approach and quickly scrambled to get a cage open. Kitsuno was then forced into the cage and it was shut hard before she could attempt escaping. "This one will be the last to get sold. No doubt someone will pay top dollar for a kitsune." The red wolf looks back towards the frozen block of ice on the stage. "Boss I don't know about this. The one out there is dangerous, she punched solid stone and caused cracks. You really think keeping her is a good idea?" The serpent brings a hand up to his chin as he turns to face the stage. "Be that as it may,  with proper training and breaking of that strong will of hers, I will no doubt turn her into a proper slave for vital use."

"And what about her friend?" The wolf points over at the cage where Kitsuno was. She held herself back as she glared at the other bandits guarding her. He chuckles before slithering away and approached the two gargoyles that laid motionless on the floor. "She is more passive compared to the other one, therefore she is less of a threat and will be easier to handle for the auction. Now, be a good dog and get these moved back to the manor. I'm going to need to repair them later and reprogram them to ensure the next fight they get into, they are able to counter quicker." The serpent then moves down from the stage to gather the patrons around. "Come around those of you that stuck for the end of the show. We still have many things to dicuss."

A gruff looking bear dressed in a red uniform looked over at the stage, "If it's about the kitsune, I expect damage pay to cover buying her. Even more, you should slap some magic restraints on her neck so she's less likely to cast spells." A couple of the clients agreed with him and began bartering with the slaver.

Kitsuno looked over at the other cages as some of the slaves had hunched down and had given up on the attempted rescue. Kitsuno's bow laid in front of one of the other cages, but as one of the slaves attempted reaching for it, a bandit caught them and picked it out of their hands before they managed to get it in the cage.

Kitsuno sighs as she had no way out of this. Until her ears perk up from one of the bandits. "This is bullshit. We just had some people killed by these two again. And they still want to go on with this?" Kitsuno looks up to the two guards, the silver haired wolf was chatting with a black maned wolf, both seemingly not accepting what had transpired. The black wolf looks off to their leader as he had commanded some of the others to help him carry the gargoyles back up the now burnt path to the manor. "I told you ever since we had that direwolf ambush up when we caught the horse and rabbits, we should have taken the opportunity to bail. Since then it's been downhill with some missions we went on." He turns around and points at Kitsuno, "She's part of that reason. And I don't care about how much cash she and her friend are worth. It's not worth risking our necks for that."

This started opening ideas for Kitsuno. Some of the slaves looked at her as the ones who were still sane were listening in and were hoping she would come up with a plan. The silver wolf glances over to the ice prison. "The sniper is one thing, but the spellblade? She's the real problem because of how violent she gets."

"I'd sooner bend over and get my ass eaten by a direwolf. At least that will be swift compared to her. Cause I feel like she will more than likely try to make me burn slowly until I am well done and yet still clinging to life. I still remember what happened back during the raid on that convoy unit."

"So what's stopping you from revolting then?" The two wolves look at Kitsuno before the black one speaks. "The hell do you mean girl? If you're telling us to go against our boss and The Black Serpent, you're out of your mind." The silver wolf quickly looks over towards the serpent before looking back at his accomplice and make a slashing movement around his neck. The serpent, seeming to catch a glance of what was said, gave a harsh glare at the two before turning his attention back to the patrons.

The black wolf sighs before muttering, "God damn... that was close. Who knows what he would have done to us?" He then focuses his attention at Kitsuno, she then takes a glance over to the serpent, then to her sister, and to the bandit holding onto her bow. "Look, I don't know what I can do for you guys, but maybe if you help us get out of here we can get you something better to do. Something that isn't this."

The silver wolf leers at her, "And what would that be? We're bandits and slavers. No doubt that the moment we let you loose, you'll head back to Sarydia to get backup and have us arrested." Kitsuno keeps her resolve despite feeling slightly hopeless on her feeble attempt to convince them to turn sides on a dime. "Well what would you rather do? Capture people and end up in this situation again? If you think my sister is dangerous--"

The black wolf interrupts her, and points a finger where Shade was. "That thing is your sister!? So you're a spellblade too. Where the hell are you two from?" Kitsuno leans back in the cage and sighs. "Look, I'm being nice here and giving you guys a warning. Shade and I always stay together. If she found out what has become of me, you are going to regret everything you have done. She will show no mercy at all. Do you want to have her forever hunting you down?"

The black wolf was about to speak, but then pauses a bit before turning back to Shade's frozen prison. The weight of following orders from someone he did not like, to a harrowing death sentence loomed over his mind. The silver wolf looked over at the brown wolf bandit who had picked up the bow. "Hey, Vern." Vern's ears perked up before looking at the two, "What is it Blake?"

Blake waves a hand to gesture Vern in coming over, to which he did and Blake looked back over towards the serpent as some of the patrons had started walking away. Possibly turned away from what has happened tonight. Blake then grabs Vern to pull him in closer, "Ken and I got watch. Go find some of the others and start asking questions about our boss. And make sure it isn't about the snake."