-Day 1: Sunday-

Team CFVY leapt from the plane toward the village waiting below. They were on a mission, just four third-year students, responding to an extermination request regarding the recently-swelled grimm population; the situation was overtaking the capabilities of the residents. Recollections to a similar mission in their previous year contributed to their serene demeanor, it was just another job. The first step was to meet with the town's administration for a summary of the issue, then a walking survey to assess the threat. The first night would be about making a plan based on the current state of grimm along with abilities of the village, and settling in for the week; another vessel would arrive in six and a half days, the village being about 9 hours away from Beacon, for a full one-week mission. That was the original plan, with the assumption that they would be able to clear out the grimm and secure the landing pad so that they could be picked up.

Coco landed first, standing up to the sounds of her teammates' boots hitting the dirt to her sides and back. Her shoulders rolled as she looked over her sunglasses at the buildings hobbled together around her. There were marks of attacks and repairs on some, but this was near the edge of the settlement.

Walk to the center, administrators are cowardly, and meet with them first. Next, walk the village perimeter with the main defenders, hunters? untrained hunters? What natural barriers do they have? What could be built or carved to supplement them? What sides are the most at-risk? Move people to concentrate defense there. Third: Ditch villagers to split up and quickly scout for any immediate threats. Gather the team, eliminate the immediate threats, settle in, form a real plan with the team, then rest. Present the plan to the villagers in the morning, frighten them into accepting it "We've done this before . . . The Grimm will keep coming . . ."

Coco's mental rehearsal of the plan took seconds. In that time not a sound was heard until Velvet spoke:

"I expected more of a welcome."

Coco looked around, it was odd but it gave her no pause. Her torso leaned back as she turned to Fox on her right, her head twisting enough to catch Yatsuhashi lurking just beyond her lenses in her peripheral. She was about to vocalize step 1, getting to the administrators, when her mouth closed and her gaze followed Fox's over rooftops, up the height of the communication tower. The top was broken, hanging by a couple bent supports. She quickly spun, scanning the scene with more scrutiny, fleetingly noticing Yatsuhashi draw his blade.

"This isn't just quiet, " began Coco, when Velvet confirmed the second half of the thought and expanded it.

"It's silent. Empty. Desolate. No birds chirping, nor rodents scurrying. Not one voice, nor cooking pot, nor child's cry for parent or play."

"With the tower broken, the warning to not come, or adjustment to the danger level would not have departed the bounds of this town." spoke Coco, her demeanor having gone from simple business to a more subdued reverence for the - it was likely a tomb, or worse nothing remained and it was merely a relic of a fleeting human occupation.

"It also means that we cannot request a return transport, but even if we could, we still need to secure a landing space." Fox stepped forward, not a pace ahead of his leader, weapons already drawn. "What's first?" he asked, leaning his head back to Coco.

Curses! This is not according to plan! The other one is garbage now. Garbage. Now I have to start over, and I have no idea what we are facing. They surely would not land if we cannot offer some assurance, ships are expensive, but if anyone is here, I think this village is likely failed. They would not be able to risk any non-ideal boarding situation. Could there be anyone left? Damn these plan wreckers, I do not even know if there is anyone to save, or if there are any grimm left. What is going on?! First, figure out was is going on. Need information for a plan. Coco, you are a leader. You can work with impromptu. You can be flexible. You can - It sucks! I hate not knowing! Not having a plan! It isn't right.

"We need to figure out what happened. No early conclusions, only evidence. Is this the correct settlement, were the coordinates incorrect? The first step is to objectively assess the situation." barked Coco, breaking herself from her reverie. More collected, she started walking forward. "We remain grouped until more information is collected." she stated simply. The other three followed quietly, the pace of the group slow as each attempted to detect every detail of their surroundings.

The team stopped behind Coco as the appearance of what must be the building of governing halted her silent march. There had been one demolished building, yet few bore not one mark of assault. For an attacked town there sure is very little damage. No people, no bodies, no stains of blood smeared across the dirt roads. Actually, the roads . . . Coco looked to her feet then followed a trail behind them over the road they had traversed. are packed smooth. Grimm dig in their claws for traction when they run. Her attention was snapped back to the administration building, and the communication tower built upon it.

"Velvet. Get to the roof and scan the area quickly. Focus on any possible threats but continue collecting all the details you can see."

The huntress returned without any concerns regarding possible threats.

"In." Ordered Coco in response, "Standard hostile building survey procedure."

At each major junction the team would split. First, into pairs from the main lobby, then alone down corridors. No door was left unopened, no cabinet not checked, but as each room was cleared everything was shut as though untouched. Locks were picked and relocked; silence was maintained. After two and a half hours the teammates met up one by one in the lobby. Coco waited until each of them gave an indication that no living being was discovered before speaking.

"Nothing, really? Not a corpse, nor drop of blood? Nothing of remote interest or out-of-place?"

In reply Fox, Yatsuhashi, and Velvet each shook their heads in turn, checking the response of the others.

"That's the first floor then. However, we have maybe three hours left of light, and will clearly be here overnight even if we call for a transport now." This was met with some general indications of agreement. "We could leave the rest of the building and survey small buildings for a camp, or scan the second floor then split up, with Fox checking the tower and us three roaming separately to get a better idea of where we could stay." Coco fell into a sit, indicating that she had been thinking out-loud, the two plans that most closely fit the original. She pulled out her scroll.

"Fox, check our location against the information we were provided, and known villages - if you have those pre-loaded. Yatsu, Velvet, we will look through all the notes we have, for any . . . clues."

Fifteen minutes later, they had assurance that this was the correct place, the job seemed straight forward with details, and the final communication was three days ago, not out of the ordinary. After checking that short-range communication was possible, they chose the second plan: scan the second floor for threats or obvious hints, then split up to check the tower, find food, water, and shelter.

Two hours of light remained for the day; with no threats, nor indication of violence revealed anywhere in the administration building, the four split up. Fox climbed the tower, tasked with assessing the damage and keeping watch. Yatsuhashi, Velvet, and Coco walked down the residential street with the clearest view from the tower, shots or short-range scroll communication was the plan. The three of them began by entering buildings together, but after three without any threats they instead each went into a building alone as they progressed down the line.

It was curious, those first three with empty cabinets, stripped beds, and decorations but no personal effects. I wonder if the village over built and has furnished accommodations without residents. Strange, so close to the safe center of the settlement. Coco had brushed it off lightly, but as she entered the first house of hers alone, it began to weigh in on her. In a bedroom she sniffed the mattress, opened a closet to find a sparse number of articles of clothing, and clean linens. Nothing looks out of place, it smells clean. Clean. There is that too. No odor of rot or decay. The buildings seem maintained, though we had a message dated just three days prior so that should not be unexpected.

Coco returned to the kitchen. Knives sat in a block on the counter, a fireplace was cleaned, not new, with no wood in the bin. She ran a hand along the counter-top, clean, some dust.Next were the cabinets; open, empty, shut, a pattern that repeated itself, her agitation growing as any find was merely pots or pans. She rifled through each of the draws, finding utensils, no drawer full, always just enough. She tried the sink, once again air churned through the pipes, emitting a grinding sound, eventually spraying muddied water in bursts. She hit the handle down, off, and left the abode.

She had taken longer than the other two, judging by the open doors they had each gone on to their next. Coco did as well. Similarly, she searched the house. Nothing. Emptiness. This place feels like a hollow lie. Lie? A Trap? Perhaps, but for a few third-year students? Unlikely. At each closest, drawer, and cabinet, she wrenched it open a little harder and shut it even more-so. This is starting to creep me out. Perhaps just this road?

Velvet was waiting outside when Coco exited, Yatsuhashi joined from the tenth house. "Did either of you find any food, or water? Any sign of people?" asked Velvet.

Coco looked up to Fox, just to make sure he was still there, then shook her head turning back to Velvet. The other two similarly had nothing to present.

"I think there is a store or two up there, let's check that out before heading back to Fox." suggested Yatsuhashi, leading the way.

Coco was first, walking up to the windowed door and smashing through to unlock it without hesitation, not even to see if it was locked. She strolled in, seeing what was very much a store, a store with empty, no, nearly empty shelves with the other two stepping in behind her. Not empty, but close. Just like the houses. Almost a fake, but not quite. Perhaps the items remaining can spin a tale. Register, soaps, . . . Coco took an inventory as she walked back and forth, up and down each aisle. . . . , cosmetics, paper, toys, home decorations, . . . , along with the same types of useful items found in the houses.

"Yatsu! Check the register." she ordered, unsure if she expected it empty, full, or with just enough to make change, the partial fill that seemed to be everywhere. She checked her scroll for the time.

"Empty, just like everything else here." he reported.

"This place is strange." chipped in Velvet.

Strange? Don't lie. Down right creepy. One hour, maybe a bit more with poor light. Maybe it is just this street. I can tell myself that and pretend to believe it. At least that is plausible.

"We are splitting up again." stated Coco, as she turned to leave. Risky, but no dangers appear to be present. False sense of security to pick us off? Fox would see it coming. It is so quiet we could hear the slightest of tousle. Haha yeah, even the slightest of walking changes. Outside Coco stood facing Fox, who still appeared fine. "Velvet, you check the left street, from here until the tower. Yatsuhashi, the next one over. I will go right. Run through them faster this time." She glanced at them, checking that they had heard her and had no qualms.

Those were produce bins. Empty, and dry. We brought snacks, but we expected some accommodation. A week here with everything devoid of food will be a bigger problem than the risk inherent in the more efficient yet less protected method of working separately.

Coco walked down a cross street to the next road. A sigh escaped her chest as she once more assured herself that Fox was still on the tower, watching, and resumed her search. The buildings here were different, with more stores interspersed with the residences. A business district, perhaps? There was a clothing store that had empty spaces, but was not cleaned out, a store for shoes that had boxes laying about but was not poorly stocked, and more furnished yet unstocked kitchens. There was even a restaurant, with a broken front window, upturned furnishings, and a desolate store room. Her handbag-weapon was growing heavy even as it was swapped between hands, as was her supplies backpack that seemed increasingly understocked. She had picked up her pace though, once alone, despite eager to flush out any detail that might prove pertinent. She reached the end of her road, where it was closest to the administration building, after 45 minutes. Velvet was walking into the vacant cross street about the same time, and Yatsuhashi was likely not far off from done, she could hear his heavier footsteps. Damn this place is quiet.

Coco slowly walked toward the large, white building, looking up at the sky. I think we have about half an hour, a quarter more than I accounted for. I suppose that is something good. Coco looked up at the tower, then messaged Fox.

How does it look?

"I sure hope you two have some interesting finds," started Yatsuhashi with a slight laugh, "because my street was just as boring as the first."

Velvet shook her head, her face seemed drawn in Coco's opinion. Great. No food.

"Unless you are interested which buildings had damage versus others, and the minutiae of what things are around, mine was not anything more interesting. More shops though."

empty streets, tower is bent, but looks like it was just hit 1x

get dwn?

Fox had replied, Coco noted, checking the message and answering his question.

Yes

Looking back to the other two, Coco inhaled before issuing further demands. "Do either of you have a map, or recall seeing one?" she asked.

Yatsuhashi shook his head, but Velvet stood straighter and spoke up, "Yeah, I think I saw something in one of the administration building rooms. It might not be it, or outdated, I don't know, but I can go grab it!" She seemed excited for anything that felt useful. Coco nodded and Velvet started to take off.

"Wait!" called Coco, louder than necessary as her voice sliced through the silence and echoed from structures' walls. "Did either of you find a place that looked more secure or better equipped than another?"

Velvet skidded to a stop just outside the building door. She shrugged and disappeared into its walls. Yatsuhashi offered a half-smile with his shrug.

"Fox's message was that the tower likely took just one hit, so it should not be terrible to repair." offered Coco to Yatsuhashi. "Want to start down the first street? It had more residences and is insulated by the rest of the settlement."

"Don't they all have just two rooms?"

"Drag mattresses from one to another? Put them all in the living room?"

"I can go pick a house to stay at and start with that. You can wait for the other two and see which house it is from here." offered Yatsuhashi.

Coco accepted gratefully and stepped forward to better see the administration entrance as well as the chosen street. Fox walked up just as Yatsuhashi departed.

"Did I miss something?" inquired Fox, looking from his leader, to Yatsuhashi, and back.

"He is going to grab mattresses from one house, and place them in the one that will serve as our base. Oh, and that is it. Seriously. Empty homes, empty stores, save for a few, and not one indication of food." Coco turned to look at Fox, her demeanor had soured since he had split from the group.

"Ah- oh." he responded, his voice lower with the second sound as the implication of her words sunk in.

"How about you?"

"Right! The tower was hit, hard, but it was not annihilated, so maybe by tomorrow night we can have it fixed? I can handle the wiring but you or Yatsu will probably be needed to bend the frame back." he reported what seemed to be the best news of the day.

"Any ideas?"

"On what caused it? Something strong hit it, from one side, angled," Fox was now facing the tower, leaning as if to match the angle of the attack, "only once and not with enough force to loosen the bottom supports or break it all the way off."

"A plane? Humans?"

"Too metal, strong, and hard to replicate with ropes." answered Fox, hesitating to give his assessment: "If I had to guess, a Nevermore."

"But there were no claw nor feather marks." he added hastily.

The two partners looked down the street, Yatsuhashi was carrying the second mattress. I'm glad he offered. They are not heavy, but their size and floppiness is such a bother, height does have some advantages, although disadvantages as well.

Velvet jogged out of the building, with a large roll of paper under her arm flapping behind her, and a pen behind each of her human ears. "I'm still not sure this is it, but it might be and if not we can draw one on the back." she said with a smile.

Coco nodded to her before walking to the house Yatsuhashi had selected. Fox gave Velvet a smile and walked beside her.

The map was spread out on the floor, encircled by their weapons and supply bags, rimmed by the four mattresses in the living room of a vacant house. The couches and tables had been discarded to a bedroom; sheets had be casually draped over each mattress. Wrappers from their packed snacks were sparingly littered around, remains from supper. The four students huddled over the map, the administration building already circled, as well as the place they likely landed - after a discussion that took more time than it should have. They were using a flashlight, the light from the sunset no longer enough to read by even if the room had had more windows. Curse these people and their fear of windowless rooms. So much less secure.