58 Volume 4 Brief and Prologue

Cover:

https://imgur.com/gEMxM1c

***

Brief:

People

Colin (Me / J-Knight, Hunter): Hunted by Green Men.

Katrin (J-Knight, Detective): My best friend. She's hunted by Green Men also.

Henry (J-Knight, Hunter. Satrox's brother): Admires his brother more than anything. Got caught by the Green Men and can't remember it.

Rita (J-Knight, Detective): Likes to talk a lot when she gets excited. Likewise caught by Green Men and can't remember it.

Jonah (Traveler), Alicia (Traveler), Larry (Traveler): These three go everywhere together and don't like me. Also caught by Green Men, and can't remember a thing.

Phillip (Traveler): The eighth guy who's being hunted by Green Men. We don't even know if he's still on Nakama World.

Satrox (J-Knight, Champion. Henry's brother): Kept me safe from Green Men, taught me a lot.

Zoe (J-Knight, Champion): One of the Seven Champions of the Justice Knights.

Abby (J-Knight, Coordinator): Keeps us in touch with HQ

Sandy (J-Knight, Commander): Tactical leader of a special ops strikeforce

Foxtrot (J-Knight, Resident): Loves foxes and music. Likes to dance around.

Shinji (Wind Knight): Inter-continental courier. I've been a package of his before.

Edward (On Vacation): Gave me a room to stay on his farm before it was wrecked.

Michi (White Coat Scientist Breeder): Gave me Shiro, taught me lots and helped save me too.

Comrades

Shiro (White Wolfcat Cub): Command Type, Sonic/Direct

Raiki (Dark Blue Stormcat Cub)In recovery: Long-range attacker, Sonic/Electric

Kirin (Mostly White Storm Swan Hatchling): Air Assault Transport… one day. Electric/Water

Sonia (Green Sonic Wolf Cub): Command Type, Direct/Sonic

Meek (Orange Common Lynxmouse Adult) Pregnant: Scavenger, Food-hunter and looter, Direct/Geo

***

Prologue

"Colin."

On the seventh night since he had joined Nakama World, Colin Rivers was standing in the village square on Crabby Island with his arms around Katrin, while Katrin's mom had her arms around them both.

Hearing his name, he raised his head and turned to see a figure in blue lightweight armor. Rapid blinking cleared his eyes until he saw blue hair, a fair face and blue eyes. Satrox always did like being 'blue' in color, though not in mood. This time, though, he looked to be in bad shape.

"Satrox! Are you all right?" Colin stared.

Katrin's mom released him, keeping Katrin with her as Colin went over to inspect Satrox. His friend looked worn out, and Satrox's four Comrades all looked exhausted.

"I just need some rest." Satrox said. "More importantly, what happened to you? How did you lose a rank? You're back to Yellow Badge."

"I gave half my Comrades to Katrin." Colin explained. "She lost all of hers."

"They were killed non-stop." Satrox said slowly. "The Green Men attacked her Starting Location. Every time they died and re-spawned, they appeared right back there and were killed over and over again. It's no wonder they went Frenzied and Abandoned her. We'll help out too, but for now, you should join the battle."

{Dying over and over again…}

The very idea made him shiver. "Did you say 'join the battle'? But..."

"The Green Men are gone." Satrox agreed. "At least, if they're still around, they're not wearing their uniforms. But their assaults hit six towns, and Katrin's not the only one to lose many Comrades to non-stop dying. When they turn Frenzied, Comrades go completely out of control and become a lot more powerful. If we leave them too long, it'll be the Uber Marshes all over again."

Colin remembered what May said. That had been disaster.

"As it is, the towns are in ruins. It's all we can do to keep them from running loose." Satrox said. "We need all the help we can get."

"I'll be right there." Colin said. But first, he went back and gave Katrin one last squeeze on the shoulder before he left.

She didn't move.

With a polite nod to Katrin's mom, Colin left Crabby Island and headed to war. Katrin's mom watched him go.