It was calm Friday night, with good hopes of getting good night's rest as tomorrow was finally some time to relax after Hiroshi got to the flow of the job, even if there wasn't much to do majority of the time.

  Nearly about to fall asleep in his own lonesome bliss, he got jolted awake as phone started to ring. In the half-asleep stupor, he took it and answered.

  "It's Hiroshi." he muttered out, only to hear energetic Edith speak from other side

  "Good evening. Apologies to call so late, but we need some help. Seems moth season started earlier than we expected, so we need you on patrol for couple hours at least."

  "I see. I will be going in solo?"

  "Not entirely. Sophia will be on patrol, so just set your radio to usual frequency and she will respond when available. There has been many troubles today, so she may get delayed."

  "What kind of trouble?" he said in concern.

  "Nothing you need to worry about. Just keep an eye out for wild moths that need to be brought into our care."

  With that, she ended the call. begrudgingly he got out of the bed and put on his in-home uniform, which was simple green shirt with "Monster Tamer" written on it and the tool belt, with just the gown bags, flashlight and radio attached.

  Before he could get out of the room, he noticed a concerned Nata peaking through the door, having heard something going on. "Are you alright?" she said with shy tone.

  "Yeah, just need to do some late-night work it seems. I should be back in couple hours." He noted, as he came to the door and gave her a pat on the head. thankfully she had learned to keep a shirt on, so it didn't feel as awkward as the first morning with her on top of him.

  She gave a sad wince, clearly not happy having him work so late. "I will get some chocolate bars, if it eases your mind. Just try to sleep, I will have a partner so no need to fear."

  with that last confirmation, she let him go, even if she wasn't happy on him heading out.

  Empty streets met Hiroshi, as he had a light jog across the lamp-lit streets of Elmspring.

  Even if it was in the city, there was certain magical feeling, warm enough to not freeze, but dark enough to make every corner a mystery, which he honestly didn't prefer.

  Arriving at the park, he turned the radio on, and said to it "Hiroshi calling in, Arrived at park."

  He was left in quiet, looking at the dark woods that seemed to loom in menace, before shortly radio crackled as voice came from other side.

  To his surprise, the voice sounded young, even younger than Nata's. "Sophia Calling in, message clear. Still dealing with couple things and I will arrive. Do the usual patrol, and have flashlight prepared."

  With the message heard, taking the flashlight off the belt and with couple attempts and smacks when it didn't seem to turn on, it shined bright, easily penetrating the darkness in the woods.

  Taking on his usual patrol, there was clear scariness emanating from the park that he didn't expect, aside from the lit foot-paths, there wasn't much vision on your surroundings.

  He could see there were way more night-people in the park than on the normal streets, be it Bat people, Cat people or overall nocturnal people.

  As things kept on going quietly, he's guard was incredibly high, he never liked darkness as a kid, but now as someone who has to deal with monsters, it sounded twice as bad.

  Eventually Hiroshi got surprised as he heard some rustle coming from treetops a top of him, and before he could dodge, he got surprised by a woman crashing onto him.

  Trying to catch his breath from the landing having made him fall on his back onto the concrete floor, as the woman got up with couple groans of pain. "Man, landing through the trees never gets easy."

  Once Hiroshi caught his breath, he looked who crash landed on him, only to get frozen as he saw demonic wings coming from her back, snow white skin and crimson eyes on her.

  Before his fear shook him too deep on trying to process what kind of monster he ended up being struck by, he noticed she was wearing a familiar green uniform, as she got up with heavy apologies. "I am so sorry, Hiroshi. I wanted to land near you, not on you." as she helped him up, and to his shock she did so with ease.

  He could note as she spoke the sharp fangs she had, as the wings seemed to disappear into her back.

  Getting on his feet, he was afraid to ask it, but he already felt he knew the answer. "Let me guess, you are Sophia?"

  "The one and only. Leader of the night patrol, and your local vampire." she said with pride... which fell short due to her shortness, being around same height as Nata, yet somehow built smaller.

  "You know, for a vampire, I would have imagined someone bigger and older." he stated, which clearly she took offense with, as she huffed and crossed her arms, very much not helping her image.

  "I am your senior by hundred years! It is because of you damn humans that I can't keep myself in top-notch condition." she stated, clearly harboring her own frustrations for his kind. "So how about instead of insulting someone's appearances, we do our work."

  "Right, my bad." he said, awkwardly scratching his neck. It sure is hard to adapt to so many different monsters, even when he has been in direct contact with them for a full week already.

  "As Edith most likely informed you, it is moth season, and since it is currently new moon, we have issues of wild ones clustering around street lights. Our job is to assist them to get their senses back, and possible new ones that may pop up." she said directly. "But seeing there are other patrols going around, no need to worry being only person around to do that."

  "Well, I haven't seen much moth activity myself." he reported, as he no doubts would have noticed it by now.

  "That is why we will broaden the patrol for tonight. If you haven't seen any in the park by now, they most likely will be on the streets somewhere." She said with confidence.

  He could sense couple holes in the plan, especially with him working in the night-shift... but presuming this was also partly as training, decide to go with it.

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  "Oh, and if you do spot any notable wild ones, just be careful and bring them to station. And also, you will be solo." she said, clearly taking him by surprise, that he very much wasn't happy about.

  "Edith said-" before he could continue, she cut him off. "Yeah, but I am your supervisor for tonight, and I make the rules. Gonna complain about it?" She said with smug look. He really would like to, but knowing better than to make more trouble, he let it be.

  Taking his steps to the illuminated streets, it really returned the perspective on how empty the city can be at right time. Walking down, seeing all kind of closed buildings, and couple nightclubs with plenty of noise and activity, things seemed calm otherwise.

  However, things started to turn creepy, as by one of the blocks, he could hear crying coming from an alleyway. He knew he shouldn't, but his curiosity and worry was too high. With flashlight ready, he took careful steps into the cross-section.

  He heard an russian man speak up, at which point he quickly shut his flashlight so he won't be spotted.

  Silently taking a peak around the corner, he could see silhouettes of an woman and a man in the alleyway, with the man smoking cigar.

  The man was clearly angry, but he couldn't understand about what, as the Russian kept on shouting at the crying woman, who wasn't responding to him.

  Before he could get a better look, the man hit the woman across the face, knocking her onto the floor.

  Finishing with his cigar, he threw it towards her, only to miss. It gave away faint sparks to light her enough that he could tell she wasn't a human at least, with what looked like black ears sticking out from the top.

  Hiroshi couldn't watch it any longer, as he took steps around the corner, revealing himself to the two, but kept the flashlight out just in case the man tried to flee after spotting him

  The man took note of Hiroshi, as he gave a begrudging groan, before putting his boot on her back. "Wot ye want, eavesdropper?" he asked in angry tone.

  "Nothing much, just for you to stop harassing a woman." Hiroshi talked back, which didn't ease the man's mood, but did make him chuckle. "So, we hav som local hero, eh?" as he reached into his pocket, only to pull out an knife.

  "Either you piss off, or she won't see another day." the man claimed with confidence in attempt to intimidate Hiroshi away, but he knew he still had the advantage.

  "Neither." Hiroshi stated, as he quickly turned on his flashlight, blinding the guy for a moment, as he rushed to tackle the guy, but he wasn't able to push him onto the ground for being too light against the russian's bulk.

  With heavy grip on both hands, both tried to wrestle for some control, but Hiroshi was on the losing side as the man kicked his gut, pushing him back.

  Quickly recovering and dodging with literal less than a inch as the man started to swing his blade at him.

  Thankfully he was best in dexterity, as he dodged the swings that were done wildly, than with any accuracy.

  Taking a step to the side, he used the man's momentum against him as he quickly disarmed the man by punching the arm that held the weapon and pushed him further, making him stumble onto the ground.

  As now Hiroshi quickly picked up the knife off the floor, and clearly had the speed advantage, the man knew he couldn't win, so with couple seconds of struggle to get up, he ran away without saying a word.

  Hiroshi was left with full of adrenaline coursing in him, taking couple seconds calm down and remember the woman.

  Checking on her, she was by now curled into a ball and still crying. He placed the knife onto his belt for now, just in case more trouble came.

  He carefully used flashlight to see her, only to see she was an moth girl, fluffy white neck with short hair, looking like she had an neck pillow, with black antennae coming from her head, but he could note there were no noticeable wings, as she had ragged shirt on, with all kind of bruising and wounds across her body.

  Quickly pulling out the radio, he acted fast. "Hiroshi reporting. I found an injured moth. Was with what I would presume was eastern-European by speech. No details on appearance, and fled the scene at alleyway by Old Copper bar."

  Silence returning, as he put away the radio. He gently approached her. "Can you talk?" he asked, but she didn't seem to respond, as she kept on weeping, with couple squeaky coughs from her mouth getting dry.

  He tried to gently get her to stand up, but as he graced her, she quickly panicked and pushed herself against the wall with fear in her eyes, taking heavy breaths as she stared at him, as if trying to understand who, and what he wanted.

  Noticing it, he gave her some space and gave a reassuring smile, as their silence was broken up by the radio. "I informed dispatch. Can you take her to the station?"

  "She is still in shock, but I think I can." as he put the radio away, as he looked back at the moth, who was staring at him. pupils way larger than he has seen on anyone.

  The mood slowly calmed down, as he got to relax after taking a fight he didn't expect, and giving her time to inspect Hiroshi to the tiniest detail.

  "Can you understand me?" he asked, at this point expecting her not to talk, he should at least check if she understood english, or speech overall. and to his comfort, she nodded with affirmation.

  "I won't hurt you," as he gently placed his hand in front of her. She slightly reeled back, before switching her looking between the hand and Hiroshi's face. "Let's get you up and somewhere save, ok?" he gave a reassuring smile

  Heavy doubt in her mind, she took grip of his with a shivering hand, as he helped her up onto her feet. He could note how she felt ice-cold, and was standing up weakly. So putting her arm across his back, he assisted her as they got to the bright streets, walking her to the station.

  On the walk, when her head was slumped over, he could notice the familiar tattoo on her neck, just above the mane tuft, a same 'e' as Nata has. Taking note of it, they continue their way.

  Upon arriving at the station, the night-shift's clerk was quick noticing the two coming in. "You two alright?" as they quickly came assisting the moth that was having trouble walking. "For now, yes. also, could use an baggie, i have some evidence on me."

  as with moth being seated, and the knife was put in the bag for save keeping to be inspected later, the clerk still gave concerned looks. "You sure you are alright, your face is cut." and as they said that, he realized it as well as he put his hand on the cheek, showing it was bleeding. "Not a major wound, at least."

  As time passed by, moth has been taken for medical care, while Hiroshi was brought to the back for quick de-infecting and band-aids for the cut. the adrenaline was wearing down, making him feel the stings now.

  Sophia came with a light hurry, and before he could greet her, he could notice there was anger coming from her, and it was clear to who it was directed for.

  "You have gotten yourself in some big mess, big guy." she said almost like she shouted it at me.

  "What did i do?" clearly confused on what got her mood so sour now.

  "It isn't what you did, but who you dealt it with." as she gave a deep sigh, which took the first-aid personal jump in surprise, but nod in understanding before she continued. "But to put it simply, you have entered a fight we have had for couple months now."

  When monster's appeared, it became highly disputed argument if they counted as people, and these arguments even still to this day is being questioned.

  In most countries, it has been declared every law against humans, is functionally same to monsters, this includes every co-habitation city-state with minor alterations, to insure equity between everyone.

  However, in some of the more corrupt countries, these law changes came too late before huge criminal organizations were formed.

  In these criminal activities, monster trafficking became extremely popular. Be it for violence or pleasures, they made sure they had it. Be it corruption of governments, or taking lands and people as they pleased, the struggle for power in this black market influenced everyone from poor civilians, to richest and most powerful of people.

  Thanks to monster tamer forces, and laws starting to widen all across the world, the threat of these organizations has been coming to larger view, and upon it, a war has been had between these forces for years now.

  "And for us, have been trying to deal with one of the biggest Russian organization trying to smuggle monsters across and out of Finland to Russia, where they can be more easily processed." Sophia finished explaining.

  "you... you are serious?" Hiroshi said, cold sweat starting to come over him. "I had no idea." he muttered, trying to process the information... but there was lingering feeling of worry.

  "About the tattoo..." he wanted to ask, just to confirm his doubts.

  "A mark made on the trafficked monsters. Each one has different meaning. The letter you saw on that moth doesn't have direct meaning, but from context clues on victims, we know it is linked to disposable assets. The kind that they don't care if end up dead in someone's hands, as long they can pay the fees of keeping it alive." she said in grim tone.

  The answer left him speechless. While he finally understood further with Nata, it only left plenty more questions left to be answered. And while processing things through, Sophia took note as she saw a smile creep onto his face.

  Curiously looking what got him smiling, Hiroshi gave a uncertain smile, as he declared "I know I will regret this, but let me join your fight."

  He knew he would regret it, as many things he has done in the past.