Chapter 3: Searching the Predator

A group of professional people, moving from spot to spot avoiding unwanted encounter with the one who play the flute. Lead by a man named Frost, they manage to stay sane for as long as they can remember.

"Aren't you tired? go take a nap in the van." Augen approach Leer and pat her in the back.

Leer is now becoming part of the group under Augen's watch. She willingly help with cleaning the vehicles and helping out with their meal, others also very welcoming and treating her nicely.
"Ah... I'm good, I'm still can help more." Said Leer.
"Aww... What a good kid. Do you often helping with chores in your house?"
"Ah......" Leer froze.

An empty house, light off and curtain closed, a room with no color. A flashback broke into Leer's mind, a shadow figure sitting alone in dining room, looking at tasteless plate of curry on the table. A hand scooping some of the rice with trembling hand, looking at it for some times, and putting it back again.

"Well... Uh... It's..." Leer trying to answer, but she can't make the words as she also trying to hide her sadness with awkward smile.
Augen watching Leer trying to make weird face, she can read what Leer is thinking. She putting her hand on Leer's head and stroking it slowly.
"Hey, no need to get so stiff. I'm just trying to be friendly, don't think too hard about it."
Leer frowning and averted her face to avoid more conversation, but Augen still trying to be friendly.
"Hey uh... You got experience handling pet?" Augen asked.
"Huh? Oh... Yeah... I was in charge for taking care of our rabbit pets in school. I know a thing... or two..." Leer's face lighten up, and Augen smiling.
"Why don't you get along with Helfer? You and him should get along nicely."
"But I'm-"
"Don't worry about it. Come on, I'll come with you to his place."
Augen pulling Leer's hand with her excitedly toward Helfer's place.

A white fan installed with various cushion on the inside to make a comfortable living space for two dogs they have, and it manage by Helfer as former veterinarian in the city. As Leer and Augen approach, He currently petting the parrot that sitting on his left arm, with yellow Retriever and white Argentino sitting quietly near him.
"Meep, what is that?" The parrot speak, alerting Helfer to watch his surrounding, and he see there is two woman approaching him.
"Oh, It's you guys. Hello." Helfer greet them.
"Meep, what is what?" The parrot speak again.
Augen pushing Leer that currently as stiff as a statue, as Leer haven't properly know Helfer is she doesn't know how to act in front of him.
"Wassup, Helfer. I'm bestow this shy turtle to you." Augen said jokingly.
"Um... Good Afternoon, sir..." Said Leer to Helfer
"No need to be that stiff to me." Helfer replied with smile on his face.
"Leer said she have experience handling animals, how about you teach her a thing or-"
"Augen, come."
In the middle of explaning, Augen words got cut by a man voice. It's Forscher, walking steadily toward them.
"Frost is calling. We need to discuss our next plan."
"Aww, can I skip this one for now? I want to cheer this little girl a little bit more~" Augen said playfully.
"No. You have to know the detail." Forscher insist.
"Bah, fine. Sorry Leer, I need to attend this one." Augen leaving Helfer and Leer together, following Forscher.
"Ah... Okay... See you... I guess..." Leer waving her hand at them.

As Augen and Forscher leaving, Leer attention now fixed at a yellow retreiver who also looking deeply at Leer's eyes, it's tail wiggling left to right, Leer's eyes spark excitement. Watching two adorable creature staring excitedly at each other make Helfer smile and giggle.
"You want to pet him?" Helfer asked.
"Ah! No I can't-" Leer startled.
"No no, it's fine. Go ahead."
"Then..."
Leer bring her head down, facing the dog's face directly. She pat it's head gently, the dog wiggle in happily, it even rub his body at Leer. Both of them are smiling at each other.
"His name is Lemon, this white one is Rocket. And this parrot is Apple." Helfer explained.
"That is... cute names. You named it yourself?"
"You can tell? Hahaha, I don't want to make it a hustle when choosing name. Simple one is the best."

While Leer continued to pet Lemon, his mind strike with a question.
"Mr. Helfer..." Said Leer with concerning tone.
"Just Helfer is fine."
"Ah! I'm sorry..."
"It's cool. What is it?"
"Um... Helfer... Where does this animals came from?" Leer asked.
Helfer show a surprised reaction in his eyes, while keep maintaining his friendly face.
"You noticed it." Helfer replied.
"I mean... When that happened... I've seen everything... Turn to dust..." Leer frowned once again.

Helfer relieve a sigh. He put the parrot on his shoulder and bring himself down to face Leer.
"I don't know either..." Helfer putting a serious face.
"Few days after that happened, I found this group and joined them. While helping them on their mission, I stumble upon my old clinic..."
Leer are deep listening to Helfer story, her eyes are locked in.
"I pay a visit, hoping there's gonna be something useful like medicine. But then I hear something, a faint soft growling. I have a feeling, a hope perhaps, that when i check the shelter room I would found something. My feeling are spot on, there it is, a yellow Labrador and white Argentino are trapped inside cages with no way out, with no food, and surrounded by pile of sand and dust."
Leer can't hide her shocked face listening to Helfer story.
"After that, we have a feeling maybe there still some animals that aren't vanish. Like Apple here, we found him two days ago inside abandoned bakery."
"But... Why... How are they still alive?" Leer asked.
"We asking the same question ourselves..."
The situation getting tense, the horror of not knowing what happened fill them both, the unsolved mystery silence the air around them.

"Meep, who is that?" Apple speak once again.
Both of them are surprised for a second, and giggle a little bit after that.
"Why is he talking like that?" Leer asked.
"Oh, I trained her to speak if she see someone or something unfamiliar. I got some experience training parrot back in the days. Very useful with our mission, but I need to make her familiar with your face huh, hahaha." Helfer explained.
"Mission..."

"Helfer, and little girl."
Not long after their conversation, Forscher came back with Augen, but now Augen look pissed as she massaging her forehead.
"Stop frowning." Said Forscher.
"How do you expect me to react? Crazy happy?" Augen replied.
"What is it?" Helfer asked.
Forscher took a long pause lookin at Leer and Helfer before continue to speak.
"We doing ambush mission. Little girl, you coming with us, Frost order."
"Ambush... Mission? I'm sorry to ask, but what are you guys mission exactly?" Leer asked as she new to the group.
"Ah, right. No one told you yet huh." Helfer replied.

Helfer, Forscher, and Augen walk toward the convoy, before Leer decide to follow them from behind.
"We called ourself hunter squad. And we have one big goal to achieve in this fallen world." Said Helfer as they walk together.
"One big goal?" Leer asked.

"To kill the deceiver who started this hell, once for all."