Chapter 24

He's changed?

Hunter paused to the word as Jag stared at him oddly. He looked down to his hands and found they weren't as rugged as they used to be. His arms were smoother as the scales appeared to have disappeared. Much like what happened to Pac. "I… changed…" he whispered.

"Hunter, are you okay?" asked Jag's father.

"Yeah… I think so… I mean… I wasn't expecting this…" but a part of him was happy. His brother and sister had changed in appearance, but he hadn't since he became what he was. "Is there a mirror I can use?" he asked.

"Back at the village, come on, let's get you out of the cold." Jag insisted.

They were silent as they made their way to Jaguar father's home. From there he was led to the bathroom where a mirror was in place. Hunter didn't look into it at first, but when he finally did, he froze a little.

He did change drastically!

His once pointed hair was rendered down and shorter than before. The serpents that coiled around his arms and waist were also gone. He rolled up his pant legs to see that the serpent monster there too were no more. He also grew wings! "I didn't need them before… why the hell do I have them?" he muttered. His body was still an emerald green, yet looked more like exposed muscle. His face aged slightly, and yet he wondered why he even turned into this! "I used those things all the time… why did they disappear?" he whispered. In a sense, he missed them.

They were a part of him after all!

He did a quick check behind himself and found there was no tail, "Man, I wanted one of those too!" he muttered.

"Hunter? Everything okay?" asked Jag.

"Yeah, I'm good." He called and came out of the bathroom. He was rather stunned to the change and took a deep breath and sighed over it. "Shit man, I didn't expect this to happen at all!" he said and them laughed. "Than again, I am sort of glad it did… I mean my brother and sister changed long before me. I have always been playing catch up in a sense…"

Jag looked him over and smiled. "You look amazing." He said and blushed.

"Yeah… I do miss those thingy I had… the monster looking dragon things… those guys were cool…" he said and sighed.

Jag looked him over. "I don't think they are gone… what if they just evolved along with you?"

"You think that? I dunno…" Hunter said.

"Let's go out and see. Come on it will be fun!"

Hunter sighed aloud but agreed, if he can get those guys back or at least know where they are, this evolution wouldn't be a total loss!

#

They went to the back of the house, there Jag stood and waited as Hunter was looking over his arms. "I think the ones in my arms are defiantly gone. I don't sense anything no do I feel any movement. Pac still has his from his side, but… I look rather solid down there too…"

Jag took a closer look and nodded in agreement. "Try something… anything you think will bring those things out," he suggested.

Hunter nodded. He then began to focus, he remembered when he had to take in Amai Mask when he lost his looks. His body just unraveled itself and them took hold of him and coxed Sweet Mask into his body. "Whoa…" he heard Jag whisper.

Hunter opened his eyes and saw his core was shifting and moving. "Wait, I still have them down there! Hey… come on guys don't be shy, let me see you please!" he begged.

His core chaffed. Then he saw part of him moving about that shouldn't, his sides bulged out and then, his core opened up! The creatures were bigger and stronger looking than before! "There you are!" he cheered.

They only revealed themselves for a moment, before going back into place. Jag was amazed. "Dude… those things fit in you like puzzle pieces! You look whole and yet at any given moment BOOM these guys can come out!"

"Yeah… I know…" Hunter paused. 'I better talk to dad when I get home about this…' he thought. But then he smiled to Jag. "Well enough about this, you going to show me around town or what?"

Jag's eyes lit up. "Of course! Let's do this!" he grabbed Hunter's hand and began to drag him all over town. A part of him believed Jag just wanted to show him off…

#

The people stopped and stared, they whispered and giggled, as some even blushed to the sight of Hunter. "It's him, the son of Garou!" one group of girls whispered.

"I know, Jag is so lucky…"

"but I hear he likes girls too…"

"Ooo… no, we can't, he's Jag's boyfriend."

Hunter snickered the more he heard the people whisper and talk about him. Jag sighed aloud. "Dad is determined about something… not just for you and me to hook up, but he is trying to find a way to get a grandkid out of us"

Hunter paused to the news. "Wait, I thought he didn't care about that."

Jag ho hummed on the notion. "Well… the thing is this. Dad said that to take pressure off of us. So you would stay and become part of the family. However, since he knows now that we're serious. He has decided he wants more out of this and especially a grandchild!" he explained. "I… I don't know the lengths he is willing to go for this. Leo told me he is even talking to my sister about becoming a surrogate for us!"

Hunter froze to the news. "Why… I mean, I don't really see that happening, it wouldn't be fair to you or your sister… this is getting a little out of hand, don't you think?"

"Tell me about it… Look, I would love to have a family of my own, don't get me wrong about that. But I don't want to use my own family to get it. My sister is a wonderful young woman, we got guys beating down the doors just to get a glimpse of her. If dad forces her to do this… I fear we may ruin her chance at a normal family later. If guys see her walking around pregnant…"

"I get it," Hunter said. "Besides, we can talk about this another time, let's look around and take in your village… Besides, the kids are starting to catch up to us." Hunter said with a smirk as he pointed behind him.

There were children starting to gather in great numbers. Many came to see Hunter himself, curious to why he was here and perhaps wonder what he is capable of doing. Hunter smirked to the notion as they continued on.

It wasn't long until it was time to eat. Jaguar's family dines in the great hall so everyone has a chance to sit down and enjoy themselves. When Hunter arrived it remained him a lot of home. There were kids running around everywhere. Jag's brothers were dotting over their wives, many who were expecting by the looks of it. His father was trying to keep the grandkids contained as the mother and the other daughters cooked the meal. Yet when Hunter walked in, it all came to a sudden stop. "Hello…" he said meekly.

"Oh, this is the infamous son of Garou?" one of the wives asked. "I thought he would be bigger"

"Trust me he is, that's just him containing his power!" Leo announced.

Ty nodded in agreement. "He's got muscle that would take more than the family to bring down… I would not want to make the likes of him angry to say the least."

"Hunter, sit down!" Jag's father called. He nodded and graciously took a seat. They talked over various things, monster attacks for one that appear to have died down quite a bit. "We haven't really seen this before. Normally we get monster attacks just before winter, but this year, they are rather scares to say the least."

"Indeed, I noticed that too, all the dens have been cleared out. None are daring to come to the village…"

Hunter then remembered it was about a year ago since Pac left to find himself. He wondered if perhaps his brother set up camp near the village, since then, his presence alone drove off the other monsters…

"We should celebrate either way!" said Jag's father.

Yet as everyone was yelling about, Hunter stood and approached the women who were hard at work. "Can I help in anyway?" he asked.

They were surprised to the offer. "It's okay, the women take care of the men…" Jag's mother insisted. She was a slightly older woman but a heavy build, however her eyes shined as she smiled.

"In my family, we help out, if there is anything I can do to assist…"

"Well… if you want to help, can you cut up some meat?" the youngest sister asked. She had to be in her late teens to say the least, but she was a beauty. Hunter smiled and nodded as he saw the large stack of meat waiting on the table. He was so fast that many of them blinked and missed him cutting it all up into perfect portions. "Whoa…" the sister whispered.

"How…"

"I come from a family just as big as yours you know." Hunter laughed. "In mine, you help get food on the table fast, everyone is hungry, and if you knew my dad well enough… you would understand." He continued to help prepare the meal and even cook, Jag's mother was quite impressed with him, the sisters and in-laws who were able to help were also taken aback by his presence in the kitchen. When the meal finished, it was quickly served before the masses.

Just like his family as well, it became a free for all as the food hit the table!

They tore into it without hesitation, Hunter managed to get his plate full as did Jag who was now rolling his eyes to the whole thing. "I think your family is more civil than mine!" he whispered.

"I'll reserve judgment later" Hunter snickered back.

It was a wonderful meal, very filling as the table appeared content. "I didn't think there was going to be enough! Especially with three of the ladies here expecting!" Jag's father laughed. Then he suddenly appeared serious. "Hunter… have you considered your options for a family?" he asked seriously.

The table fell into an odd silence. All eyes came upon him as Jag froze. "YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T BRING THAT UP!" Jaguar protested.

"I merely wish to see where his intentions lie."

Hunter thought it over carefully. He gave a small smile and said. "Family has crossed my mind, many times. However at the moment I am still trying to understand who I am and what I have now become. Evolution from one thing to another isn't always easy in my family. Given time, I will strongly consider the option."

A nod came from the massive man as he turned to the youngest daughter. The cute 18 year old Hunter saw blushing earlier. "My daughter… has offered to bare a child for you two." He explained. "I did not force her hand in this, she came to me and made the suggestion…"

"Father, you know people will speak ill willed of her!" Jag stated. "Sister… Lynx, you don't have to do this for our sake"

She nodded. "I know, but… I also know Hunter is a great hero to our people. There will be those who will speak behind my back if I am to do this for you, but do not care what they think, what they believe. I know the two of you should have a child. Jaguar, you are kind and caring to say the least. You always defended me when I was younger. Hunter… I strongly believe that your great power is for the benefit of all. You have never abused it and have learned greatly from your family on how to use what you have been given." She said.

Hunter smirked to her. "As kind as it is for you to make a grand offer such as this, I must politely decline and refuse." Hunter said. "Besides, you do know we have someone else who can perhaps assist us if we decide to have a family. We are also still dating, a child is a lot to consider on the notion."

The table froze once more. "YOU HAVEN'T ASKED HIM!" Leo shouted to Jag.

"WE'RE DATING STILL!" he snapped back. "Why the hell are all of you so desperate to have me marry?"

"We want to be sure no one else gets the son of Garou!" stated Ty.

"ENOUGH!" father shouted.

He sighed aloud as he turned to Hunter and Jag. "I do apologize for this. It is very rare for us to find someone strong suited and to be called family here. Hunter, I apologize for forcing the issue. Jaguar, I too am sorry for pushing you both like this. We will refrain from interfering from this moment on. Is that clear?" he said as he gave dagger eyes to the table. Every head nodded in agreement.

Hunter smiled and thanked them for the meal. "I should be heading back myself. It was wonderful to meet you all, and I apologize for my actions earlier… I didn't mean to scare the tar out of all of you,"

"We weren't scared!" protested Cougar. "We were impressed"

"Hunter… I think I am going to stay a couple of days here… is that okay?" Jag asked.

He nodded in agreement. "No problem. I am going to head home and see what I can do to help out around the house. See you soon." Hunter stood as did Jag, they hugged, and yet Hunter was quick to sneak a kiss before heading off.

He had never seen Jag turn so red before.