When Tarek reached the village, using the much quicker road they found not that long ago, he felt a sense of dread almost immediately. He tried to chalk it up to recent events, but even the weight up the older skull placed in his bag--he couldn't bring himself to take the one Holly called 'mama'--something felt off. The feeling only got stronger as he traversed the half empty streets. Even when he cast his eyes to the soldier towers beside the gate, he found them empty. Where did they go? If not for the occasional peasant in the street, he might think the village deserted.

"Excuse me," he called as he entered the main inn. It was here that villagers and strangers alike got many of their meals and bedded. Behind the front counter, the master of the house dried a bowl that looked sparkling already, no one in the room looking the least bit interested in a meal. Tarek couldn't help but frown. Something was wrong. "Is there any news?" he asked as he approached. The man didn't look up at him.

"You'll know soon enough. Don't you people from Sunter, or whatever, know anything?" he added with a grunt. So this was about Tarek being a foreigner? Of course he wouldn't know if no one told him. Before he could say anything though, a voice from the tables cut him off.

"Let's just say we're having faun tail soup tonight!" The man raised a cheer with his tankard held high and the rest of the common room burst out with agreement and guffaws of laughter.

Tarek spun around in alarm. "What did you say?! Tell me that's just an expression!" he exclaimed. He closed the distance between him and the table in a few steps, but had to stop short when the man stood, a dangerous look in his eyes.

"And what if it isn't? Haven't you heard of fauns? They aren't a legend and neither is their magic!"

The words made Tarek feel dizzy. Reaching for the knife at his belt, he wasn't sure what he would do, but he couldn't just stand here. He didn't understand this at all. He just knew he had to fight, for himself, Holly, and all the dead fauns he found. Holly guessed right. Humans did do this and he couldn't forgive that. Before he could pull out the hunting weapon though, a different voice called from the behind him.

"Stupid! Why are you making a scene?" A rough hand gripped his arm and Tarek turned to find an old man leaning on a cane. His fingers still had strength in them and before he could resist, he felt himself pulled into one of the rented rooms of the inn. The man glared hard at him. "If you plan to do anything about this, fighting those idiots won't help. Why don't save the fight for later!"

Tarek gaped. "Just tell me what's going on!"

Sighing, the old man dropped both hand onto the cane's head as if relaxed even if his eyes said anything but. “They’re hunting the fauns for their tails, boy.” the man bit out, his fingers shaking from the strength of his grip. He looked almost young with his determination.

Tarek’s eyes went wide. “W-what…?” It couldn’t be. Holly. She was the only faun left! “Tell me old man! What have they done with her?!” He grabbed the man’s shoulders, not caring if he caused bruises. He had been the one to leave Holly alone when she was weak. It didn’t matter that she ran away from him. Tarek could still take the blame and this man didn’t matter next to the precious secret that was Holly.

With a thwack of his cane, the man knocked Tarek's hand away. “Her? Judging by the news, by now they’ve cut off her tail for the magic within. If you care at all about the fate of both our countries, you should do whatever you can to save her.” Pleading, he gripped Tarek’s arm before he could pull away. “Save her!” The man pushed Tarek back a second later and their violet gaze’s locked. Realization crashed into Tarek. Just one second and he understood. Age hid the color of the old man’s eyes behind a misty film, but without a doubt, this man once hailed from Suntar.

Tarek steeled himself, then nodded. Not wasting time with an answer, he took off at a run. He would never forgive himself if Holly died now. Through the town he ran, no one trying to stop him. Maybe they were too surprised or just too busy. He didn’t care. He just needed to reach the forest as soon as possible. With a last burst of speed, he broke through the trees and kept running. Not knowing what else to do, he pulled out the ocarina that Holly gave him and blew. “Holly! Where are you?!” He blew again as hard as he could. “I’m coming for you! Please be alright. Call out. Please give me anything! Please,” he whispered to himself. “Anything will do…”