Because now it's time to listen to Sara Purcrux Part 2!

The captain wasted little time -- after returning to town, regaining her bearings, and learning that Jim was nowhere to be seen, she was quick to deduce that he had been replaced by some unnatural means (later to be defined as a monster's invasion). What had moved her after losing consciousness was still a mystery to her, but she now knew well that this land was home to many an unnatural thing.

Only one day after returning to Kokkinport, Sara Purcrux set out, weapon in hand and armourclad. Both had been cleaned since her little incident, and she was ready to travel, refusing the insistences of the townsfolk to stay, or at the very least to not travel alone. The explorers knew well how dangerous the land could be, and wished not their captain to stumble upon an ill fate. In the end, the captain would not leave alone, instead joined only by her first and second lieutenants, both of which ignored her demands to stay behind.

First Lieutenant Naomi Willow was a woman almost exactly like the captain herself. Of noble descent, skilled in just about every field, proud, and highly respected. She preferred hand-to-hand combat over bladed duels, but that by no means meant she could not handle a blade. Her quick temper was all that held her back from a captaincy of her own -- that, and a lack of the patience required for the difficulties of management. However, First Lieutenant Willow desperately aspired to attain the rank which Sara Purcrux held, and in secret would be just as happy possessing it as Purcrux' replacement as she would be to possess it as Purcrux' equal.

Second Lieutenant Autumn Kumar was an old friend of Captain Purcrux', from the same high school as the lead cartographer. Her combat skills were adequate, and greater than the average footsoldier, but her calm, rational mind was what gave her the position that she held at the time of this story. Her kindhearted nature meant that she didn't have the bite nor assertiveness required for a captaincy, even if her battling ability was greater, but she was contented with the rank she held. All that Autumn wanted was to stay near to wherever Sara found herself, and keep her from horrible mistakes and danger both. Second Lieutenant Kumar was a licensed (and skilled) surgeon in addition to her rank.

This band assembled and heading out into the yet-uncharted forests, following in the direction of Captain Purcrux' encounter, would travel many days before at last they came across something of importance....