9:45 A.M. 5/25/917

The two of them trudged through the forest. Charlie was balancing along a fallen tree a few feet above the ground.

“Get down from there. You’re gonna fall!” Ethan called out.

“Oh? Are you worried about me?” Charlie teased in response. Ethan rolled his eyes and scoffed.

“You wish. I just don't want to have to haul you back if you break something.” 

“Mm okaaayy,” Charlie retorted. Ethan was fond of moments like these, just talking, surrounded by the calm of the forest; it was among the few moments he looked forward to each day.

Suddenly, Charlie felt his next step didn’t find the log of the tree, but instead kept descending. He tumbled to the ground, face-planting right next to Ethan, who stifled a laugh. He sat up and brushed himself off. 

“What did I tell you?” Ethan mocked, bearing a smug grin on his face. Charlie glanced up to see how he had fallen and covered his face in embarrassment when he realized. During their conversation, he had neglected to pay attention to where he was heading and walked right off the end of the fallen tree. Ethan reached his hand down to help him up.

As Charlie found his footing once again, a familiar sound echoed through the forest, the snapping of one of their traps. Ethan glanced over at Charlie, who had a wide grin slapped across his face. Ethan had seen him like this a few times before; He hated it equally every time. When Charlie got like this, it was like something flipped inside him; he became a completely different person. While Ethan joined A.V.N. with the hopes of helping people, Charlie simply enjoyed the thrill of hunting. He could never understand it.

Charlie held his hand out in front of him as a glow began emanating from his palm. The blue-tinted light grew brighter and brighter until it flashed white. As the light faded, Charlie stood there, sword in hand, and began approaching the source of the noise. Ethan slowly followed behind.