Tall grass rustles in the distance as a nimble jaebo stalks for its next meal. A small scaled head peeks above the golden blades, turning left and right, scanning the surroundings. The jaebo's nostrils widen and contract as it takes small and quick breaths, smelling the atmosphere. Thin, tall ears twitch and pan, trying to pick up any sound of prey nearby. Just as its guard is lowered, a projectile whirs past its head, barely nicking its ear. A small and sharp yelp escapes its mouth as pain begins to radiate from the cut. Not sparing a single thought, the jaebo ducks back into the brush and skitters away from its presumed danger.

Tezcatlipoca chuckles lightly, barely registerable as a nose exhale, as Cattleya's eyebrows furl and she growls in frustration. Xochcatl's expression remains completely unchanged.

Xochcatl gives a quick thumbs up as she speaks in her normal, monotone manner. "You are improving."

Cattleya scowls at Xochcatl, letting out an aggressive exhale right before she speaks. "Are you making fun of me?"

Tezcatlipoca rushes to diffuse the possible fight. He gently place a hand on Cattleya's shoulder and reassures her, "No, she's being genuine. Ya might not have gotten it down, but ya hear that cry? That was a cry of pain, not fear. Ya actually hit it this time." Relief washes over him as he manages to get between them before either can continue. Xochcatl's unreadable monotone demeanor and overly concise speech make perfect conditions for misunderstandings. And with Cattleya's eagerness to fight, a misunderstanding can explode into violence at any moment.

Xochcatl gives a single, small nod, and affirms, "I don't joke. Tezcatlipoca speaks truth."

A sigh escapes Tezcatlipoca's nose as he feels the tension ease from Cattleya's shoulder. "Let's see if we can track the jaebo. If it has run back to its burrows, we could prolly camp out and kill a few more when they peek out," he suggests.

"Digging is quicker," responds Xochcatl, as she is already making her way to where the jaebo once stood.

Cattleya quickly prances to Xochcatl's side. Her lips curled into a smile as she says, "Well, let's find it first!"

Tezcatlipoca speed walks to keep up with them.

Tall grass is knocked and bent down as the large creatures stomp their ways to the destination. Unlike their trails, the trail of the small and nimble jaebo is impossible to tell through bent grass alone. Each blade of the grass they push to the side gets knocked back into place by the gentle breeze making the grass sway gently. But this time, a faint metallic smell lingered in the air. With careful observation, diminished glimmers of red is visible near the base of a few blades.

Without as much as a word to the others, Xochcatl follows the faint crimson trail. Having noticed the same thing as well, Tezcatlipoca follows as he turns back to Cattleya and points to the trail. "See that! Thanks to your hit, we're gonna get a lot more of 'em."