but not from any human, beastman or even demon nation as they slender builds and long ears identified them as elvers

the last elf in the formation, that was the youngest looking in the group looked like she was only late in her teens with short bob cut blonde hair that swayed over her watchful green eyes as she moved over the uneven forest floor with experience that made it clear she was older then she looked

as she easily walked backwards covering the back of the group she spoke up breaking silence of the forest with her slightly youthful voice

"hey Alvin are we there yet?"

"no we are still some hours away, also call me squad leader or captain when we are on patrol Chloe"

the elf Alvin looked like he was late in his thirties had short blonde hair and green eyes lead the formation responded too Chloe in a hushed voice without looking back and quickly added

"also keep quiet you know we entered the territory of a stealth acid spider nest a few days ago right?"

"geh"

Chloe being reprimanded by Alvin let out a unladylike sound and looked like she just had kicked her little toe against the leg of a marble table as her pretty face contrasted in slight fear while she pictured the magic beast she hated the most in the entire forest before she puffed her cheeks and replied with a slightly stubborn voice

"don't say that Alvi- i mean captain, you know i hate those creepy spiders the most, besides we haven't been attacked by a single spider all week"

feeling irritated by Chloe's whining Alvin almost snapped back at her before he realized that she was right, they had indeed not seen a single spider since they entered the vicinity of a known acid spider nest a few days ago and after thinking for a few seconds he felt a chill and signaled the squad to stop with a hand signal and spoke up while still keeping watch in the front

"Isabel how many magic beast have we killed since we left the safe forest around Green river?"

Isabel the elf behind Alvin looked like she was early in her forties had long golden blond hair that showed signs of graying slightly witch only added to her mature beauty thought for a second before something flashed in her green eyes, as she was his second in command and had worked with Alvin for over 40 years quickly understood what he meant and asked him back understanding his line of thought

"captain do you think it has something to do with that giant smoke column we saw a few days ago?"

they had indeed seen a weird smoke column a few days ago, normally a smoke column that big would mean a forest fire but they had not been able to confirm with the sprites of the forest as they all seemed to have been spooked by something and the fire had seemingly stopped out of nowhere after burning an entire night witch confused them even more therefor Alvin changed they patrol to get closer to the source of the mysterious fire

"yes i think it has"

as Alvin responded to Isabel happy that she knew what he was thinking he turned around and looked her lovingly into her eyes before he heard a low voice from Chloe in the back

"siscon"

as Alvin heard what Chloe said he instantly blushed from equal parts fury and embarra.s.sment and was about to snap back at her before a hand descended on Chloe's head like a iron vise by the so far silent member of the group as he spoke up

"don't be mean to Alvin you know he loves his older sister very much, besides the elders will punish you if you speak out of line too much while on a patrol, even if you are the daughter of the chief"

"ouch! ouch!! old man Rex let go let go please!"

the elf that had grabbed Chloe's head was the least elf and oldest looking in the group with grey hair and with and eye patch covering his missing eye and part of his scared and slightly wrinkled face that always had a typical old man smile, but still Rex gave the impression that he was a old mercenary, or in bad lighting a bandit living off eating raw meat as he had big muscles all over his battle scarred body and he had a powerful build one could be forgiven for thinking he was an ogre instead of an elf

"besides you know he can't help it with such a beautiful elder sister, besides when i was your age---"

"ouch my head! help me Isabel please!"

Chloe having sensed Rex was taking a trip down memory lane while his hand was still firmly grasped on her head slowly crus.h.i.+ng it, pleaded to Isabel to help her with teary eyes while sending desperate pounces and kicks to try and wake up Rex form 'the good old days' that was still mumbling with a gentle old man smile on his face about seemingly unconcerned while punches and kicks that could bend steel landed on his vitals as his muscles absorbed the impacts

"i guess it can't be helped sigh..."

as Isabel let out a sigh that seemed to enhance her mature beauty she held out her hand gasping empty air as the earth below seemed to rise from the ground defying gravity and quickly forming a heavy looking hammer made of compressed soil

"ei!"

letting out a cute sound she effortlessly swung the hammer ruthlessly down on the senile looking old man's head

*BANG*

with a loud bang dirt and dust scattered in the air as the earth hammer exploded on impact with Rex and fragmented

"...you know that's rude to interrupt an old man while he's is talking about the past"

a carefree voice sounded out and as the dust cleared Rex stood completely unharmed with one hand lifted over his head in a defensive stand as his remaining green eye let out a cold glare that seemed to lower the surrounding temperature several degrees for a few seconds before he returned to a harmless old elf

"well i guess i went a little to far, are you okay little lady?"

Looking down at Chloe lying on the ground face first twitching lightly Rex semmensed a little concerned as he kneeled down and poked her for a few seconds before she shoot up from the ground into the arms of Isabel rubbing her teary face on her slightly hard leather armor

"thank you Isabel, that senile old elf almost killed me!"

looking at the chaotic scene he had seen so many times before Alvin recovered from his embarra.s.sment had a weary smile for a few seconds before he put on a stern face commanded his squad

"Attention squad"

hearing the command from the captain Chloe, Isabel and Rex all shut up immediately and kneeled down on the ground with one knee and waiting in silence before Alvin spoke again

"Rex why do you think we haven't run into any stealth acid spiders despite being in their territory for so long?"

hearing his captain's question Rex pondered for a few seconds before answering in a serious tone

"well there are several possible explanations but i think the most likely is that either they have been wiped out by another magic beast, or they have moved their nest or..."

looking at the old elf kneeling in front of him going silent Alvin got a little impatient for an answer before he had a thought and said the at the exact same time as Rex

"the entire nest is hunting another prey"

also looking up Isabel seemed to catch what they were talking about and nodded with a smile that showed how proud she was of her little brothers wit, while Chloe on the side felt a little left out and asked with a slightly confused expression

"captain what does that mean?"

"well it means that the humans might be trying to invade the forest again that would match the smoke column we saw, if an entire army of humans have invaded the forest they might have caused a fire like that"

hearing the name off the race that was most hated in the entire Green river village Chloe showed a detrimend expression as something cold flashed in her green eyes and asked

"then what are your orders captain"

"if an army have invaded the forest we need to know how many they are... even if there is no human army the missing stealth acid spiders i enough to warrant further scouting"

as they heard the captain's orders all 3 elf stood up and gave him a resolute answer

"yes captain!"