"Battle?" Autor asks quietly, with raised brows. He doesn't exactly expect an answer, but the question is there should Sherral wish to provide further detail.

"Kidnapping people is its job," the boy says, shrugging. "It's a myt--creature who captures children every year around this time. Either it wandered in here all mixed up or someone tricked it; the beast isn't the brightest crayon in the box."