The Monsters in the Mountain's Skirt

"There are creatures that are roaming around the village, and they are harming the village's fences. 

We don't know why they are trying to get here, but they are trying this for weeks. Me and my people thought they would go away and they just came across with us for only that moment, but it wasn't like that. They kept coming and they would always return to the same point that they would come from. 

And whenever we came across them, they would always growl and try to get inside and if they fail to get inside, they would harm the fences."

Orano asked,

"How do these creatures look like?"

"They look like a hare but they are the size of a wolf. I don't remember seeing a creature like this before."

"A Pertinger? Interesting."

Caitrin looked at him confused,

"A Pertinger?"

Orano replied,

"As Miss Mai said, they are a hare. But they have fangs and antlers on their bodies. Also, they might look calm creatures, but they can be more dangerous than a normal wolf."

Then Mai said,

"But what is interesting about it, Mr.Orano?"

Orano closed his eyes and said,

"Creatures of this species often roam in snowy areas and nest in mountainous areas. It is often said that they do this to stay away from people, but it is really interesting that this herd is close to this village."

Then he looked at Mai and said,

"Miss Mai, can you show me where exactly they attack?"

Mai looked at him and replied,

"Yes."

Then they left the house and started walking through the village. 

While they were walking Caitrin saw some of the village's people trying to remove the snow from one of the roads that were covered with snow, and she said,

"Miss Mai, Why the road over there is covered with snow?"

Mai replied,

"Unfortunately, that was the way the warehouse where we stored food was going. But because of this year's snowstorms, the snow overflowed and blocked our way. Even if we have spare food, we can't lose our food supply there. So we're trying to open it as hard as we can."

After a little walk, they arrived at a field near the mountain, where the village's food was planted.

And while they walked through the field, Mai said,

"They don't damage the field or any planted food, but people who work here often start to feel uncomfortable when they see them. And we didn't do them any harm, but we're all nervous about them getting close."

While she was talking, they reached the fences. 

The fences were full of claw marks and they were quite eroded. It looked like it was going to break at the slightest damage.

Orano approached the fences, crouched, and said,

"Have they been here in the last few days?"

"No. They didn't. Any of the people here didn't see them in days either." Mai replied

Caitrin then asked,

"Well is there any evidence that we can track?"

Orano said,

"Unfortunately not."

Then he stood up, turned to them, and said,

"We might have to wait until they come out again. Unless they don't, we will have no clue about where they are coming from or how did they got here."

"You two can stay at my house if you want." Mai said.

Caitrin said surprised, 

"Really?" 

Then she said,

"But, Miss Mai, Since we are intruders, can we really stay here?"

"Oh, Don't worry! After all, the house where you will stay is, my house. Maybe they'll say something about you entering the village, but it's my business who I let in my house, isn't it?" Mai said with a smile.

Having nowhere to stay, Caitrin and Orano agreed and made their way to Mai's house, once again.

And while they were walking, Caitrin once again asked,

"So how long have you been here Miss Mai?"

"My village, "FrostFord", was founded years ago after the Great War, and we've been here for almost over ten years. But as I said, even though I love my village, living conditions in Aetas are really difficult in the winter season. We usually do the necessary work and preparations during summer and wait for the winter to come. But this year was colder and dangerous than we predicted."

And after walking for about ten minutes, they arrived at her house. They got inside and sat down.

Mai showed them a room and said,

"For today, you two can sleep and rest here."

There were just two jumpsuits on the ground.

Mai said,

"It is not that comfortable but it is the least that I can give you."

"Oh no, it is no problem. We are just going to stay one night anyways." Caitrin said,

Mai smiled and said,

"Thank you for your understanding. Have a good night. And if you need anything, please tell me."

Then she left the room.

Orano put his bag on the ground and sat near the window and started looking at the moon.

Caitrin said,

"Why are you lying there? Aren't you going to sleep?"

"Don't worry about me, I will rest when I can. But you have to sleep now, we have important things to do tomorrow."

She sighed and said,

"Okay, okay."

Caitrin got in her jumpsuit and looked at the ceiling. And the ideas filled her mind once more,

*So this is how Aetas is like. I wonder what kind of places we will see next.*

Then she looked at Orano, who was in deep thoughts too.

Then she said to herself,

*I wonder what he is thinking about. He didn't tell me anything, but I shouldn't bother him anyway. After all, It must be important for him not to tell me.*

While thinking, she slowly fell asleep.

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And in the middle of the night, she suddenly woke up. 

Caitrin was gasping for air and looked around slowly. Orano was sitting on the chair and looked like he fell asleep.

She then took a deep breath and said to herself,

"A nightmare huh?"

And when she laid down again, she heard some animal howling. She got up again and looked around.

She said to herself with confusion,

*What was that?*

She then got out of bed and made her way outside. 

At night it was much colder than daytime, and looked like no one was awake. But she knew she had to search for the sound, even in this cold. So she quickly made her way where the sound was coming from. 

And after walking for minutes, she realized that the sound was coming from the fences.

She said,

"Can it be?" 

And started to run towards the sound.

Then, when she reached the fences, she was shocked by what she saw.

It was a Pertinger. Howling with a very sad tone. Like it was in some kind of pain.

*A Pertinger?* She said to herself.

Then she said,

*I must find out where it is going to head.*

But after howling for a couple of seconds, the creature finally realized Caitrin and started to growl.

Caitrin got scared and said to herself,

*Is it going to come towards here? But Miss Mai said they don't. In any case, I must wait patiently and find out.*

Then Caitrin heard two more other howls. 

It was coming behind the mountain. 

And as soon as the creature heard them, it stopped growling and headed towards the other howlings. 

Caitrin then said to herself once more,

*Okay, it is going. I can now find out where it is heading.*

But it was nowhere to be seen. It had just disappeared when it walked behind the mountain. Caitrin was so confused. How it could disappear like thin air from out of nowhere? 

"Hey, where did it go? It was here just a second ago." She said.

Then she got over the fences and ran towards where the monster ran away. And when she reached where the creature disappeared.

She carefully looked around for a clue, but it was hard to see since there was snow falling and it was nighttime. 

And she finally saw it. 

She saw that there was a path going all the way behind the mountain.

"So this is the way that they were coming from." She said with amazement and shock.

Then she turned around and said,

"I must tell Tatsumi about this."