Back at the students who cluelessly walk across the huge rainforest a looming shadow can be seen following them. Then as it follows it mistakenly falls on a bush which is near the children.
"Oh it finally fell"
Arabella said while waiting for the beast to come out.
"WHOOSH"
A nimble shadow passed by them and all they saw was its fleeting figure.
"Well it's been following us, what do you think of it"
"It's fast and swings around trees"
Unlike the stag, this one was quite easy for them.
"A leaf capuchin monkey"
They said and the shadow soon transformed into its real appearance.
Besides its leaf colour fur which signifies its affinity to wind element, these magical beasts are recognizable for their expressive faces with round, dark eyes, and a prominent, often pink or flesh-coloured face with a cap of dark green fur on top resembling a hood or cap, which gives them their name.
These magical beast monkeys also have long, prehensile tails that are used for balance and gripping branches as they move through the trees. The limbs that it used to climb and swing around are quite muscular, and typically beasts with speed and agility-type powers have lean bodies but this beast has a strong and big build.
"We got that one right"
Samael said feeling delighted that everything is running smoothly for them.
"So how many have we identified now?" he added while walking alongside his friends.
"If we include that monkey it would be twenty" Arabella said while putting the name of the leaf Capuchin monkey on her list.
"That many? And we are still not done yet"
"Mckenzie we studied dozens of magical beasts so don't complain if we encountered at least a hundred of them" Matilda reminded him.
"Right... I forgot about that"
"It's because you are too nervous Mckenzie lighten up you are shaking"
"Sorry I just felt we are being watched so I can't stay calm"
"Now that you mention I have been feeling it too"
"Could it be a magical beast?" Aaron said while looking around worried.
"Apollo, can you feel something?"
"A stalker jaguar"
"A magical beast that hunts in groups and once it finds its prey, it won't stop until they feast on it"
"Be on guard!"
McKenzie said with all his silliness gone he became serious and prioritized their safety.
"Apollo"
He said in a very cold yet calm tone.
"Can you at least give us a hand here, at least give us a clue"
He added.
Somehow he realized why Alicia and Apollo kept quiet about the situation, and if it weren't for the fact it was him that was targeted then they would never know what was coming.
"Alright"
Apollo said knowing they had realized what he was doing.
"Tell me what does a stalker beast usually do?"
He said while looking at the calm beast that he just identified.
"Remember your lessons because those are the only things you need right now" he added then he stood at the side letting his classmates make their own decisions.
"It'll be best to be fast, they are coming"
Alicia added though she remained standing right beside Vesta and Alya.
So in the end how can they find a beast who was a master of disguise right in its own territory?
Knowing is different from doing, and although they know what it looks like and the skills it has, it's different when you encounter them face to face.
So what exactly are the lessons Apollo was referring to?
They felt confused but still kept themselves in proper stance in case they needed to make an escape. However, they knew that wouldn't be achieved easily.
"Blair?"
Mckenzie said while all of them began to form a 360-degree Defense formation. The concept of this is forming a circle or perimeter, as they adopt a circular defensive formation, each member faces outward to cover all directions. This way they can see and react to any attack.
"I can sense it, they are coming"
Blair just said while trying to track their enemies.