Chapter 2- The start of the hunt
Author's Notes
Hey I hope you are liking this story so far. If you could offer any advice or criticism I'm all ears! Enjoy this chapter
Finn has been missing every since his 17th birthday 5 weeks ago with neither hide nor tail of the missing hero. The kingdoms scattered around Ooo has grown scared and concern for the missing hero's fate more and more as the days turned to weeks, causing some kingdoms to train and send their own trackers out into their domains, using whatever at hand to search the hero. They have had no luck.
Jake the dog was seen carrying a stack of posters under one arm and a stapler in the other. The posters read 'Missing, Finn the Human, last seen March 14, Please send any possible information as to his whereabouts to the Candy Kingdom's Guard Watch'. The Picture was taken during his birthday courtesy of BMO. He was smiling in the picture, holding a fork with a piece of his birthday cake, laughing at something happening outside of the picture. Jake remember that day like it was yesterday. It was just him. PB, Marceline, the banana guards, BMO, Starchy, and Huntress Wizard. It wasn't like his usual Bdays, but it was a fun time! Even if PB was being a bit paranoid about her extended family coming to attack and only allowing a select few that Finn could invite. The party had plenty of games to keep them entertained and the shenanigans that were pulled. He even saw Finn and Huntress Wizard slinked off to a somewhere more private. Jake felt so proud of the birthday boy, silently rooting him on in spirit as he kept the others distracted as best as he could. But that was 5 weeks ago. 5 weeks since he saw him walk through the front door. He's been posting them all other the woods he was in. Rocks and trees were not spared, and even an unfortunate sleeping chameleon sleeping on a tree got a poster stapled on it.
"Where are you Finn? BMO is bummed out, PB's flipping out and becoming even more paranoid", Jake mumbled to himself, a worry look on his face," even if you went full on ninja, you would've told me or someone. Heck, I'd settle for a call or letter or something to make sure you're alright."
Jake placed another poster on another tree. He went to staple it when a arrow struck it right above Jake's hand, pinning it in place. Jake jumped back in surprised, dropping the posters and the stapler onto the ground. He scanned the wood, trying in vain to find the one who let loose the arrow.
"So you're the one putting the posters all over the forest", a calm feminine voice spoke. Jake looked in the direction of the voice, watching a women step out of a bush without rusting a single leaf. She was green skinned with green wolf like eyes, green leaves spilled out from under her hood. Wooden antlers, a few leaves growing here and their, rests atop her head. She wore a plain green shirt and tan pants that were held up by a black belt, A quiver of arrows rested on her back atop her green cloak. It was a person he hasn't seen since Finn's birthday. It was Huntress Wizard.
"Huntress Wizard!? I haven't seen you since Finn's birthday, what'd you been up to?"
Huntress shrugged and pointed at the scatterd pile of posters on the ground. Jake looked down at the posters being blown by a gentle breeze, quickly picking up everything he dropped before they blow across the land of Ooo. That wasn't such a bad idea to send them out but some Kingdoms were more…. Robust. He was kind of glad that the posters weren't flame proof.
"I was trailing this person who's been putting these posters up all over the woods. Seems I found the culprit " Huntress looked at the poster she pinned to the tree, staring at the picture of Finn. "How long has he been missing?"
"About 5 days, going on 6." Jake gloomily replied.
"That doesn't seem so long, he could be on a longer adventure somewhere, probably hunting a beast or a relic or something."
"Oh, did I say 5 days? I meant weeks. Finn's been gone 5 weeks going on 6", Jake corrected himself as he morphed his hand into a number 5. Huntress's eyes widen at the new revelation. Sure she's been busy with keeping up with managing the wildlife and watching the ecosystem of the forests, but 5 weeks? She hasn't lost herself to the wild like that in a long time…. And how in Globs name did Jake mix up days and weeks! She would've went to Finn and see if he was interested in a hunt or dungeon crawl or even try to teach him archery but there has been some MAJOR mumbo jumbo going around that has required her full attention. Freighting and nightmarish beasts have kept popping up shortly after Finn's birthday. The things reaped havoc and carried a scent so vile, like rancid blood and disease, wherever they went. The beast seemed to taint wherever they go and whatever they touch with their stench. Oddly enough, they simply stopped appearing recently. Just poof, gone, nothing, gonzo, not even leaving so much as a trace.
"Um, Huntress, you there?" Jake asked, breaking her train of thought. Huntress nodded quickly, filing these thoughts for later and focused on the problem at hand. Finding Fin.
"When was the last time you saw or spoken to Finn?"
Jake pondered for a moment before speaking." Last I talked with him was the day after his birthday. He said he got a letter requesting help with multiple swamp golems smashing houses and stealing money. I asked if he wanted me to tag along, maybe find something extremely fun to do together to make up for the small party we threw him, but he told me", Jake morphed his hand into Finn's face, parodying his voice," no, I got this man. You go spend time with Lady." Jake's hand returned back to normal he sighed sadly." I guess I should've just tag along with him and take no for an answer and gone with him. I really should've gone with him. Maybe he wouldn't have gone missing…" he whispered quietly to himself.
Huntress heard what Jake said thanks to her acute hearing and could feel the guilt radiating from him. It wasn't his fault but he still feels responsible for the disappearance of his brother. That way of thinking leads down a dark road that she has traveled down many times before. She knew the hole one can dig themselves into. She put her hand on his shoulder to try to ease him and get his attention.
"Any Swamp in particular?" She asked, trying to get Jake focused on the present. Jake scratched his chin, "hmmm, I think he said the Pale Swamp or the Bloody swamp, or was it the Moon Swamp? I know it was something swamp. Or was it a bayou?"
After a few minutes of listing to places where Finn might've went, Huntress cut him off from his rambling.
" Finn's trail has went cold by now, but I can attempt a spell I know to track him down. Problem is it's really difficult and really expensive, like BIG expensive, but we can use it to find Finn. Or the very least find a new trail to track."
Jake looked up to Huntress when she said that. All guilt was gone from his eyes, replaced by resolve. A resolve to find his missing brother.
"I don't care how much loot it'll take, I want my bro back!"
Huntress grew a faint smile at Jake's declaration and nodded approvingly. "Let's get heading up your guy's place so I can get started. I am going to need a couple things to work with though" she started to list off her fingers, "I'll need to make a special paint, a few things with his scent on it, and finally something that is very dear to him."
Jake grew a smug smile when he heard that last item on the list. Huntress didn't like the look one bit. She never liked it when Jake acted smug; he acted like he knew everything about everything when it came to her and Finn. Something she is still working through.
"What?'
"Oh, nothing", the smug look never leaving Jake's face." I'm sure I can find what we need, you might even know what it might be hehe."
Huntress just shook her head, a little flustered as she pieces together what Jake was hinting at. Huntress just frowned and shook her head at Jake's words.
" We should really get moving if we want to find Finn. Time is of the essence."
"Well alrighty then! Hop on my back and I'll get us home quicker than me eating a tub of ice cream! Where's that paint at anyway?" Jake Morphed and grew larger, his legs growing longer, expanding his muscle in his legs. Huntress shrugged and hopped on, grabbing on tightly to Jake's body he propelled them forward in record time. Huntress was glad that she held on tight.