Their first targets appeared near a rocky slope on the eastern side of the forest.
Four cadets were gathered around a small camp, sorting through their supplies while discussing their plans for the final hours of the trial.
They had accumulated a respectable number of points, but their current ranking wasn't enough to guarantee the result they wanted.
One of them proposed searching for monsters.
Another suggested finding weaker cadets and taking their points instead.
The discussion continued until a faint breeze passed through the camp.
One of the boys paused.
"Did you hear something?"
His companions looked up.
The forest was quiet.
Too quiet, perhaps, but nothing seemed particularly unusual.
Then the campfire flickered.
Its flames bent sideways as though a sudden gust had swept across the clearing.
The boy turned toward it.
"That's strange..."
Behind him, the shadows beneath the trees shifted.
Two figures emerged from the darkness.
Neither made a sound.
