Jessica
Reports of livestock missing was the first thing to come in. People assumed it was nothing, just poor herders or some bold wolves or perhaps worst case scenario a bear. Then people started missing, and someone assumed it was some kind of "Banditry" Situation - this is after all near Mentia. So when an entire detachment of soldiers went missing, people began to panic. Hunters, specifically monster hunters were called to this far region of Salvainia. Promises of high pay and "A glorious hunt" Led many of them here - whatever brought Ishikawa, is up to himself to determine, but that doesn't change that he's now standing in an amphitheater sitting on the stone benches shoulder to shoulder with at least a hundred other monster hunters. 

A hunched over man stands at the bottom of the amphitheater. The man is old by all accounts, having grey hair and wrinkly skin - his eyes dart nervously around and he tugs at the collar of his well made suit before announcing "As you all know already, there have been reports of missing peoples and livestock. Recently, when we sent a small detachment of soldiers into the forest to deal with the never-do-wellers we assumed were there they never came back. This, uh lead us to believe it was something not exactly human. You've all already been paid the fifty silver "Show up" Reward, and um whoever manages to bring back the head of whatever is causing this disturbance gets fifty gold." He coughs, clearing his throat causing an attendant to run up to the stage. The man whispers something into the attendents ear before turning back to face the crowd and saying "You can start now, or tomorrow, or the day after. It doesn't matter how much preparation you need as long as you bring in the uh beast."
Clayton
*Ishikawa shifted uncomfortably as he glanced around the room. He generally preferred to work on his own. Sighing quietly, the Kitsunes ears flicked slightly, listening more to those around him than the man speaking. He didn't care much about the reward, nor the hunt itself. 

The hunter had been dormant for a matter of months after his encounter with the Winter Wolves. He had been focusing on caring for the pups... And his own, old wounds. His hand still shook, though much less than after it had been first healed. The scars, faded slightly... The scarring in his mind, would take far longer, if it went away at all. Regardless, he had come to this place, and it was too late to go back, even if he was starting to have reservations about it. Before he would think to himself that only the gods could tell what will happen, but now... Now he was unsure. Perhaps Lucien was right... __Lucien__.. Shivering slightly, the Kitsune closed his eyes, taking a moment to clear his mind. He'd need it.*
Jessica
One of the larger men on his right is chatting with a man covered in scars - catching them mid conversation Ishikawa manages to pick up: "Honestly think they need to bump it up to one hundred gold. I mean an entire company of men-at-arms wiped off the face of the earth?", "I don't know about you but I'm going to get an early start and head off immediately." He manages to pickup on a conversation from a huntress in the row below him, who mentions "I've never heard of any beasts that managed to take out an entire company of soldiers before. Like, I've heard of beasts who managed to wipe out poorly defended caravans sure but..." Someone else seems to be speaking with her, and Ishikawa cannot pick up on what they are saying but the woman replies "Well yeah, I know the forest is thick..."

It seems most conversations either relate to how high or low the pay is, what time they're going to be leaving, what they believe they will be needing, or about how odd it is that an entire company of soldiers were wiped out. A man with bright orange hair, dark green eyes, and fair skin turns to look at Ishikawa and says "Any clues on what could do something like this? Never in all my years of monster hunting have I ever encountered a situation like this..."
Clayton
*If he weren't so close to the others, he'd shake his head. Now was not the time to think about payment. Ishikawa was likely much, much younger than those around him. Oftentimes he'd be mistaken for a boy, not a man. In some ways, he still was a boy. He did not think himself better than those around him, he acknowledged their experience, their age... However, he felt they underestimated the nature of what a "Monster" Was, as many did. Absentmindedly, he ran his fingers over the scar on his neck, grimacing slightly. 

He looked over to the orange haired man, looking down as he took a moment to think. His hand never left his neck.* 

"I've seen a good number of things in the small amount of time I've been out, things that shouldn't exist, by any measure.. But it's very possible it's not a beast at all."

*Ishikawa's voice softened, and became quieter.* 

"Oftentimes the real monsters come from a place one might not expect." 
"Whatever it is, I have no doubt it's sentient."
Jessica
He nods along in agreeance as he replies "Besides, the only beast I know that could do something like this lives in the ocean." He holds his arms out and scans the horizon with them, well, as best as he can with how packed the area is and continues "And last I checked the ocean was quite some distance away!" He laughs, before turning serious again and stating "If what you're saying is true though, I doubt anyone of us, or all of us, could take on whatever killed those men-at-arms." He falls to a whisper and leans forwards to Ishikawa "But I've heard we don't have much of a choice, since the local duke himself sent a detachment out here to make sure *None* Of us leave before that beast is slain." He leans back and resumes his earlier position, eyes scanning the crowd and the areas capable of being seen outside of the Amphitheater.