"No, we're going to a new one. We're not welcome there." She waved her hand dismissing his query.

"Ah right, I didn't remember Hamza got exiled." The fox presumed.

"That and they think I'm a ghost. when they saw me they ran like their lives depended on it." She was exuberant with her accomplishment.

"Ooh, That must've been fun to watch!" 

The three readied to move, each one carrying their luggages. They walked for five hours and didn't get anywhere near their destination. 

They crossed a river, went beneath a waterfall, passed through an underground labyrinth … to resume, just the most persistent wouldn't give up. With wild mushrooms as chairs, they had a breather from their journey.

"This village wouldn't by chance be imaginary...right? It's either that or we're lost." He braced himself, sure that the answers wouldn't be very positive.

"Most villages are built in strategic places to keep bandits and monsters outside, it's difficult to reach but I guarantee it exists." Hamza explained while drinking some water.

"Then how do you know where it is?" He was more worried than ever.

"My mother was a traveler from there. Don't worry, we'll get there by dinner's time." She certified her father's claims.

"If we don't go astray, it's my first time going to Dierdre! It's been years since I've heard about which path to take to reach there."

"You're kidding, aren't you dad?" Her voice faltered, her father nervously looked away.

"... You're not kidding." Her coolness was ripped to shreds. 

"See? I told you we're lost!" He threw his arms up.

"We'll get there...eventually." Hamza affirmed, not so sure himself.

...

A giant web covered an entrance. A spider came out from some rocks and opened a hole of their size on it, once they went through the arachnid gatekeeper filled it with new strands. 

A significant group of elders and children were heading to where they just came from, Kyro's appearance somehow intimidated them, foxes aren't generally famous for their friendliness.

"You're all leaving the village?" They were confused, apparently it was a cozy small town. Just had a concerningly small number of empty graves in its cemetery.

"Yes, there's something bad circling around these parts, coincidentally a lot of murders happened as of late." The leader divulged."It's not safe to continue here."

"It used to be lively and serene, now we're waking up thinking who we'll be burying next…" An old lady informed, sorrowful.

"A monster is surely the culprit." Her father opined.

That or one of the villagers is a murderer… though I doubt any of them would be capable of it. 

"Let's get rid of it. I didn't come all this way for nothing." The fox drew his sword.

"I agree, I don't think I can make it all the way back." She got her bow and arrows.

"Why not? It was a nice warm-up." Her father interjected.

His jest wasn't appreciated, they eyed him with absolute disapproval. It took them four months to find this place, running with their tails between their legs wasn't an option, not after enduring so many heavy rains and cold out in the open.

"No use trying to lighten the mood,eh?" He crossed his arms, a bit disappointed that no one laughed.

"Since you're going to catch the culprit, I suppose we could wait a little more." The leader had a tingle of hope in them.

"We'll do our best." The three assured.

Hamza and Kyro stayed to guard the locals that decided to await on the town's square, while Jiya prowled the region looking for clues of the monster's whereabouts.