C1: Dawn
The Hunter clutched at his bloodied side, watching as the Moon Presence disappeared, finally dead after hours of striving. The sound of something heavily landing upon the earth jolted the Hunter to the realization that he had fallen to his knees. A long sigh escaped from weary lungs, at long last his aching body could have the rest it had yearned for throughout the hunt. However, work was yet left to do, and the Hunter stood, groaning with the aches and pains his exertions had left him with. Around him, the dream wavered and he felt unsteady.
Slowly but surely he made his way to the lamp, looking at the Doll as he approached her. Her small mouth curved slightly into what could be construed as a smile. "Good hunter, the night of the hunt approaches its end. Rest now that you might have peace."
The Hunter grunted, "Much as I'd like to, there's more than a few loose ends out there. I'll be damned if I came this far just to leave it all unfinished." Her gaze, unsettlingly human as it was, regarded him as he approached the stone that would take him to Cathedral Ward's Oedon Chapel. "Keep the place tidy while I'm gone." Assuming he ever came back. Assuming the Dream wouldn't simply fall apart the second he left. He looked at her. The Doll had been as close to a friend as he'd had in the Hunt, the prospect of never seeing that friendly face or hearing that soft voice again was... unpleasant to say the least.
Still, goodbyes didn't suit him and he traveled to the lamp he wished without uttering a word of farewell. Upon his arrival in the Ward, he noted that the lamp's fire did not dim, perhaps the Dream remained yet. All in all the Hunter wasn't sure if that was a good thing. Grumbling with continued discomfort as a result of the brutal beatings and utter exhaustion, he went into the old Oedon Chapel to speak to the Chapel Dweller.
"Ah, the Hunter. The night's been long, it has. But we've pulled through it, haven't we my friend? Hee hee hee..." The Dweller seemed almost surprised to have survived the night, not that the Hunter blamed him for that. Surviving any amount of time in Yharnam was a shock. "But what's the look on your face, friend? You don't seem to be very happy that the sun's risin."
The Hunter grunted, "I don't think I'm allowed to be all that happy after what I've seen. But I'm here to make sure everyone's alive." And to remember them before I go. "How's Arianna?" The woman of the night had, during the blood moon, given birth to something... other than human, which had reduced her to hysterical laughter and tears.
"She spent a good few hours weeping, I'm afraid. But that old dear gave her something and she calmed right down."
The Hunter let out a humorless chuckle, knowing exactly what the "Old Dear" had given to Arianna. Those selfsame sedatives had proved useful to him as well on a few occasions. He strode into the chapel, noting that the Skeptical Man had already packed up and left. Old fool's probably gone home. The Hunter looked then to Adella the nun. The young woman's face was tracked with tears, and her hands were still clasped together in sign of her constant supplications unto whichever God she prayed to. He gently clasped her hands in his own and said, "Be at peace sister." She did not speak in return, but merely continued to weep as he walked away.
The old woman appeared to be sleeping again, but upon closer inspection the Hunter could see that her skin had turned sallow and no breath filled her lungs. She had died peacefully in her sleep, a mercy if ever there was one. He sighed and place a hand upon her, bowing his head in a silent benediction for her soul to be at peace. He rose and looked down at the once irascible, then helpful, old woman. Her death seemed to be an omen of life resuming its normal course, somehow. A sign that the plague was drawing to a close and men and women would be allowed to die as nature intended. In a way, that made him feel better.
Silently he bore her to the graveyard outside the church, catching the Chapel Dweller's mournful gaze in passing. The Hunter set the deceased woman upon the ground, then took up a shovel and began to dig. Hours passed, the sun grew high, and heat permeated the very air – causing the gore on the Hunter's clothes to reek and steam. Finally, when he was satisfied, he lay the old woman to rest in the grave and began the task of pouring the dirt onto her rigid corpse.
Noon had come and past by the time he had finished by rolling a heavy stone to the head of the churned earth, and he spent the next hour chiseling at the stone with bits of chain and broken tools the townsfolk had used to fend off the beasts. The Hunter wiped his brow, then stood, looking over his handiwork, "Be at peace, Grandmother. May your soul find rest in the worlds beyond." This simple benediction was all he could think of before he turned and strode back into the chapel.
Adella was asleep in her own chair, which was only to be expected, as she had been up the entire night. All of them had been, sleep was too fine a luxury during the hunt. He passed the Dweller as well, who never seemed to rest for some reason, and wound his way to where he knew Arianna would be. And there she was, blonde hair matted and lank, her body slumped in exhaustion. The sedatives had done their work in allowing her to sleep, and now she rested from the trauma of the hunt and birth.
The Hunter looked into her face, a strange longing within him. Not for lust or physical want, but just... talk. During the hunt Arianna had provided him with the comfort of friendship, of simple words exchanged between peers. He slowly reached out and brushed aside her hair, the feeling of touching another human strange in itself. The Hunter's hand retreated as she murmured in her slumber and he shook his head.
After seeing what become of so many other hunters, Gascoigne especially, he could hardly allow himself to do as he wished with Arianna. He would wait until she awoke, then he would speak his last words to her before going to Cainhurst and bidding farewell to his queen. Then... then he'd find somewhere to disappear. Too many hunters before him had submitted to the blood, and even now he felt himself hungering for yet more violence.
He shuddered and sat upon a nearby stair, eyes unfocused as he lost himself in an internal reverie. Cainhurst was safe enough, all the ghosts had been laid to rest, the monsters all slain. He'd made sure of that, as thanks to his queen for her kindness. But even so... it was empty, devoid of all life. None of the Vilebloods remained to tend to the grounds, none of the nobles or knights paced the halls. An idea slowly formed in his mind, perhaps the queen would allow...
His thoughts were interrupted by a groan and the sound of Arianna shifting in her chair, her grey eyes fluttering open as she awoke. The Hunter stood, slowly, and walked to her, "Feeling any better yet?" He asked, falling into the neutral tones he always used when unpleasantness could be near.
She looked up at him, eyes still slightly unfocused, "Hunter..? That is you, is it not?" She let out another pained groan as she sat up, "Forgive me, but I..." New tears formed in the corners of her eyes as she looked away from him.
The Hunter reached out to her and placed his hand upon her shoulder, causing her to flinch slightly. She did not look up, however. "Arianna, I will not hurt you. I'm only here to make sure you're safe. Of all people, you are the last I wish to fear me."
"It is not fear that overcomes me, noble Hunter, but shame." She choked slightly, body trembling with suppressed sobs, "How could I birth such a...thing? Who could have planted such a vile seed within me to bring a creature like that forth from my body?" She bowed her head and wept again, in pain and disgrace.
He did not remove his hand from her shoulder and she looked up at him, tears flowing down her dirtied cheeks, leaving clear tracks through the grime, "Hunter... please. Do not withhold your thoughts from me. Am I a monster in your mind now?" Arianna's voice trembled with emotion as her eyes, colored that of storm clouds, searched his face for anything resembling the hate he held for beasts.
She did not find it and he allowed his hand to drift down her arm and clasp hers. He held her gaze with his own golden eyes, "You are no monster Arianna. Never shall I think of you as such." He crouched before her, almost kneeling, so that their eyes were level.
"Dear Hunter..." He saw in her eyes something new, and wished he had been more careful in his comforting of her, "The Hunt has ended for you, has it not? I can... see in your eyes that you have done what you sought to do." Arianna swallowed then, and he heard the hope rise in her voice, "Would you...stay beside me, then? I... now find myself in need of comfort." Her hand tightened about his.
The Hunter was torn, and to allow himself time to sort through his own thoughts he replied with a question of his own, "Where is it you'll go now, then? I am not sure your old home is safe yet, even if the Hunt is ended." Why couldn't he simply deny her? He had to, to keep her safe from a worse beast than any other. But... those grey eyes would not allow him to depart so easily.
"I..." She faltered, obviously having not considered that. Her silence allowed him to solidify his thoughts into a cohesive plan.
"I will find you a new home then. One safer than even here." His voice was filled with familiar steel as he made to stand.
She clutched at him, tears appearing once more, expression and voice desperate, "Please, darling Hunter, do not leave me yet! I... I have need of you at my side." Arianna wrapped both her hands around his and looked at him, everything about her pleading for him to stay.
The Hunter opened his mouth to say no, to tell her that he must go now to find her safe haven. He tried to speak, but could not force the words. Instead he found himself saying, "There are others I must check on. Children. I must see to their safety now, but..." He couldn't do it. Curses formed in his mind as he spoke, "I will come back." Relief filled Arianna and she relaxed back into her chair. Before she could speak again he turned and left, hurrying to the house of Gascoigne's two daughters.
Silently he berated himself, passing by despondent citizens who roamed the streets, looking for loved ones, hoping for mercy that would never come. Yharnam was a graveyard now, and it was only a matter of time before it's people moved on. That would be for the best, the Hunter knew. Leave this bloodied city to the crows and mongrels and start anew. That, at least would provide some modicum of hope for its beleaguered citizens.
He wove between buildings and strode down alleys, ignoring the ever present scent of rot and charred flesh. Finally, his footsteps halted outside an all too familiar window. He rapped upon it and heard a child's voice from within, "Is that you, Hunter? Have you found our parents yet?" The curtains parted to reveal two young girls, one could only have been six, the other perhaps thirteen.
The Hunter sighed and told them everything that had occurred with their father, Gascoigne, and their mother. Even telling them of the man they called grandad, Gascoigne's old friend, Henryk. The two children wept profusely for their loss, and the Hunter felt himself grieving with them. But he had yet more to do with these two, to secure their future and safety. He cleared his throat and said, "I know it may seem much to ask of you, but I could take you to a woman who would care for you herself. It may be poor recompense for your losses, but I will ensure that all of you are safe and taken care of."
"I-is she nice?" The youngest of the two girls asked, voice quavering.
"She is one of the kindest people I know. Like you, she has suffered, but she retains her kind heart even so." The two agreed, and, after an hour, emerged carrying bags laden with their belongings. The younger girl had a white ribbon holding back her raven hair. The ribbon was pristine, and by its cleanliness he knew that it was precious to her above all else. He took their burdens and led them to Oedon chapel, whereupon he introduced them to Arianna, the Dweller, and Adella.
Night approached steadily and the Hunter looked out over the darkening streets of Yharnam. The two girls had quickly attached themselves to Arianna, and she to them. He felt some satisfaction in his decision to bring them to her, and no small relief in the fact that the two girls seemed to distract Arianna from both him and her tragedy.
The Hunter went then to the doors of Oedon chapel and shut them. He knew, better than any, that beasts still hid in the dark corners of Yharnam. And he was not about to let his greatest success be torn asunder. Doors closed and windows boarded, he sat in the middle of the chapel, eyes half closed, Rakuyo in his lap. He remained in this half sleeping state throughout the night, garnering some rest and renewed vigor from it.