Neil was the first of the trio to leap off of the ship, relieved that his sea sickness subsided, no longer having to endure anymore of the awful nausea. Winter followed behind her big brother, pulling along her noble steed Trot while Neil yanked along Heist. Arch Extent followed quietly behind, desperate to keep a poker face on and hide the inner panic he was experiencing. He noticed the Featherdusters had saddles this time, which meant the hunters he was traveling with shouldn’t be going into combat anytime soon. As they walked off the docks, the trio was greeted by massive steel braziers with flames burning brightly in them. A large red cloth with the Blazerock tribe symbol wavered above them as their feet crossed from a wooden dock to stone terrain.
“I’m so happy to finally be off of that boat.” Neil comments.
“How much did you barf this time?” Winter had to be the one to ask that question, just to get a rise out of Neil. Arch Extent merely glances at both siblings from behind, well aware this was their usual nonsense.
“Let’s just get into town, okay?” Neil groans.
“Hey, at least we’re in tribe territory again!” Winter’s stomach growls immediately after her statement, causing her teeth to clench and a gloved hand to raise up to her belly. Trot feels his own stomach rumble, too. Neil had decided to take away Heist’s questionable bone finally, knowing that he didn’t want anyone to notice that she may have been chewing on a human bone this entire time. Neil loves his girl, but he doesn’t want a cause for alarm, especially when they’re in a much more dense and populated area.
“Hey big bro, I’d love to grab something to eat.”
“My stomach isn’t ready for food yet, sis.”
“Okay, but I can only eat so many of those nasty rations, Neil!” She swears those disgusting rations get more stale with each time she eats one.What the hell were Tribesfolk putting in those things?
“Don’t worry, I’m sure there’s fresher ones at the Hunter’s Lodge.” Neil can hear Winter groan, though he only focuses on getting to the main building ahead.
Arch Extent glances around, watching the town bustle with life, from a diverse handful of different kinds of Tribesfolk selling wares, to what the culture was currently like at this time period on Division 5. He didn’t interact too much directly with the natives of Division 5 in their environments, so it proved to be a learning experience for him: from what food was available, to their fashion, what the current fads were, or what entertainment there was provided. Neil takes his attention away, coming to a full stop at a specific building.
“We’re here.”
The building was made of wood above the cobblestone foundation, and the roof was made out of some type of straw, more or so to ventilate the building since the humidity was known to increase once the summer months would come. Three large curtains draped over the entrance that was up the boarded ramp of the building, two with the Hunter’s Code symbol, and one with the Blazerock symbol. Next to the framework was a bulletin board covered with requests, advertisements, as well as contracts for hunters to choose from in parchments. Beside that was a stable meant for hunters to leave their Featherdusters at, having several poles to hitch mounts to.
The trio begin to go forward, but as they head towards the stables, Winter stops to turn around to face Fancy Hat. Neil carries on, walking past them as he leaves the two to converse.
“Sorry. I forgot to tell you, but you need to wait outside, Fancy Hat. Non-hunters aren’t allowed in there.” She can tell he’s a bit dissatisfied by her answer. While he’s been following her around like a puppy, she’s a bit miffed at the rules herself.
“Not even clients?”
“Nope. We’re required to report or sign into any town with any lodge. It’s a part of the Hunter’s Code rules. Just the way it is, ya know?” Winter glances towards the lodge.
“Is that how they keep track of you?” It would make sense to him. How else would Winter and Neil have tabs kept on them? It was one of the only ways to leave noticeable trails of their contracts if they were needed by the Hunter’s Code, so he thinks. He’s not too familiar with the Hunter’s Code, but he knows the hunters are a big deal in Division 5, having very strict rules to follow.
“Yeah. But don’t worry, I won't be too long.” The Winterlance walks off to place Trot at the stables, eventually walking back to the front of the lodge to sign in. She’s been here before with her big brother Neil, having to sign in before they headed towards Daggermouth. She’s at least aware of the layout and where everything is, including the desk she approaches, eyeing at the various contracts on the wall, announcements in the Code, as well as pending rule changes. She flips open an old leathery black book, seeing hundreds of names written in it. She skims her finger against the page past where Neil signed, taking a feathered writing utensil to dip it in ink and sign her name. Roselinath Winterlance.
Footsteps approach behind Winter, though it wasn’t something she was necessarily paying attention to, as there were other hunters within the vicinity. She leans over, making sure to write the correct date, location, and what contract she was assigned just like Neil. A figure stands not too far behind her and calls out her nickname.
“Winter?”
The female Winterlance whips around, blonde locks swaying with her stance as she faces a Blazerock hunter. It’s someone she knows, and he takes a few steps closer to her. His hair is tied back into a medium length ponytail, displaying fiery orange hair to match his red eyes, as well as his light complexion. An ebony piece of leather armor straps over his chest with a quiver tightly fastened on his back. Several arrows were nestled safely inside the quiver, and a black bow was latched to it. He wore the traditional Hunter’s Code corset around his waist, as well as the official climbing gloves, just as Winter or Neil wore. He was adorned with a dark red tunic, having the elbow regions of the tunic ripped around to display bandages wrapped around his arms underneath.
“Aiden? What are you doing here?” She hasn’t seen this man for two years. It’s been a long time since Winter ran into an old friend, though she’s not sure if she’s excited or not to see the fellow hunter.
“I could ask you the same thing.” Aiden perks his eyebrows up.
“Yeah, been a long time. You hunting?”
“I am. But really, what are you doing here, Winter? I thought a beauty like you stayed in Hightop with Neil. You two never go out this far across the world.”
“Uh…” Beauty? Is he really still interested in me? She’s bothered by that word thrown at her.
“Aiden?” Neil calls out when he walks in through the doorway. Aiden smiles at the Treetop hunter, walking up to him and giving him a hug. It’s been so many years since the two had seen each other, which meant a warm greeting was in order.
“It’s the best hunter from the Treetop Tribe! It’s good to see you.”
“I didn’t expect to see you here.” Neil finally lets go and adjusts the band around his waist.
“I’m a Blazerock, and it’s Matrum. Gotta help my tribe out!” Aiden perks up with an even bigger smile.
“I should go. My client’s outside. I’ll let you two catch up.” With that, Winter walks outside, eager to hurry out of the Hunter’s Lodge. She notices there’s something slightly off about Fancy Hat’s demeanor, how he looked nervous and was constantly watching his surroundings as if trouble would show up unprompted. Knowing how many enemies he has, Winter finds justification to his weary behavior. “You okay?”
“We have a change of plans. We need to head to Knyocke labs, immediately.”
“Whoa, hold on. We JUST got here! I didn’t even get any fuckin’ dinner yet! And Knyocke? That’s like a bit out of the way from Lyke.” She wonders if she’ll ever get a decent meal again.
“We can grab a meal for you, but we need to leave as soon as possible, Winter. It’s important.”
Winter groans at his response. She wants some rational explanation for the scientist’s sudden change of plan. Was it Nexus? Is that why he isn’t being forward? Did he suddenly figure out something else? She swears she wasn’t even inside the Hunter’s Lodge for ten minutes for something to happen to them, and the location they’re currently in is relatively safe. Even from the monsters of Divon.
“We’re not going anywhere until you give me some damn explanations at least.” Winter crosses her arms.
“It has to do with Cosmos Plague and you, but I need to get to a lab. Something did happen and–”
“Hey Winter!” Aiden peers out from around the corner, a smile etching across his expression as he lands his eyes on one Winterlance beauty. Arch Extent watches as Winter’s face fades instantaneously from frustration with him to aversion. Aiden takes a few steps, standing next to the two, observing carefully at the odd getup Arch Extent has. Considering that Winter was interacting with a person, the Blazerock hunter makes the safe assumption that Winter is working for this man. “So, are you the client who’s taking my beautiful Winter away?”
It doesn’t take long for the Arch to immediately register that this man is making his Winterlance companion uncomfortable. Winter has many swings of emotions as she broadcasts how she feels loudly, but this was the clearest he’s ever seen it on her face. This man just might be a bigger annoyance to him than her big brother Neil.
“You know what, Fancy Hat? You don’t owe me that explanation. I’d love to go to Knyocke.”
“Oh? You two are heading to Knyocke? Mind if I tag along?” Aiden’s voice perks up.
Arch Extent may not understand the history between both hunters, but he’s well informed enough as to how this will affect his relationship with Winter, that the Blazerock hunter is nothing but a pesky obstacle in the way of figuring out how to stop Cosmos Plague. Winter had turned to Aiden, ready to state her mind, but she’s a bit set back by Fancy Hat deciding to adamantly speak on her behalf.
“Winter is the one I hired to travel with, and her brother is also permitted to travel with us. But I don’t have any use for any more hunters.”
Damn. Fancy Hat really laid it out at him.
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