Hunter felt a bit in awe and out of place in the amusement park to say the least. He has never been around so many people unless making a public appearance as The Golden Guard, and usually when that happens people would be looking at him... but here? He was just another kid looking to have a day of fun, no one stared at him, tried to talk to him, or talked about him to others just close enough for him to hear.
" I mean the place is set up like a giant oval, it will be easy to just make a circle and hit everything!" Amity said, trying to plan out their day while they stood in front of a park map. " We need to decide where to go for lunch, though, so we can better add it into our plans."
" Are you sure we should pick out a lunch place? It looks like there are A LOT of food stands we can just snack from throughout the day." Luz commented. " Also it's always a 10/90 chance if I can eat what a restaurant serves…"
" Who said we couldn't circle back anyway?" Matt asked. Hunter started to get bored of the conversation, he was really just along for the ride, they could do the planning without him. He started to look around again, the nearest ride was a carousel with many different kids, teens, and adults taking a spin as cheerful music played, some buildings were constructed with the feel of savage age styles in mind, and a few food stands where starting to prepare for the early morning folk who would want to get their funnel cakes out of the way.
Hunter smirked to himself, he felt oddly excited to get things started but was forcing himself to be patient enough for his friends. He had half a mind to just start walking with Willow and if the others caught up, they caught up, if not...well he had his girl and that is what was important to him.
The sudden sound of a few keys on a piano caught Hunter off guard, he looked over to the culprit to see a piano sitting in the center of the street leading deeper into the park with a couple of kids laughing as they pressed different keys. Their mother came up behind them, moving to play a simple tune before ushering her children away.
Hunter smirked, turning to look back at Willow and give her hand a squeeze. When she looked at him he motioned his head to the instrument. She smiled, turning to step away from the rest who more or less didn't notice the two heading away. After leading Willow over, Hunter sat down on the awaiting seat.
" Don't you play piano, Hunter?" Willow asked as she leaned against the top of the piano with her arms folded.
"I do. Want me to play something?" Hunter looked up at her, then over as he noticed the four they left behind had taken note of their absence and were now looking around for them, Gus spotting them first. Willow smirked at Hunter, resting her cheek on her hand.
" Impress me." She said, Hunter wiggled his ears at her, knowing his cheeks were probably turning red again, before trying to force down the smile he was getting as he faced the piano proper. Cracking his knuckles he went through a list of songs in his head, landing on a song from the human realm, from a video game, and began. It was one of the more impressive songs he knew, he even figured out how to add more notes and beats into the song to really bring out the beauty of the tune. Soon enough he found himself engrossed in the music, not noticing he was drawing a small crowd around him as he played the dramatic song.
Luz, Amity, Gus, and Matt formed a semi circle behind him, kids were stopping in awe and forcing their parents to stop as well, adults without kids took pause to listen or slowed their paths to watch the teenager playing. Hunter had closed his eyes without realizing, going off muscle memory alone for the melody that rang out in the square. After the dramatic crescendo, and the slow descent into the last notes, Hunter reopened his eyes and finished the song.
A brief pause was followed by a chorus of cheering, clapping, and some people even whistling. Hunter was taken back, looking up and around at the crowd that gathered around him before he felt his ears wiggle and his face flushed. He looked to Willow for direction, who was wide-eyed with her own blush as she watched Hunter, before realizing his eyes on her. She gave him a big smile, and motioned for him to stand and bow. Well...ok! Hunter stood, giving a bow before turning and facing the group, Willow brushing up to his side to hug his arm.
"Wow, Hunter! That was amazing!" Gus said, his eyes wide in admiration.
" How did you learn to play like that?" Amity inquired.
" A-aahh…" Hunter shrugged, " A mix of long nights practicing and help from Scooter Crane before he retired."
"S-Scooter Crane? The old Bard Coven leader?" Matt looked baffled, eyeing over Hunter in confusion. " How did you get him to teach you?"
"I-I uh-" Right… Matt doesn't know he is The Golden Guard, and that is something he rather not openly share with him, even more so in public. Luckily an old couple came in to save him before he had to figure out a lie.
"Oh, young man! That was so beautiful!" One of the old women said, stepping up to speak to the group. Hunter flicked his ears, turning to straighten his stance in a respectable way, a mix of force of habit and wanting to drive the conversation away from him. " It is so refreshing to see young ones nowadays still playing music for the sake of music. No magic needed to make a beautiful song!"
"Absolutely! You must practice for long hours into the night to learn how to play such a beautiful piece by heart!" The other woman, a demon with three large eyes and tendrils for hair, spoke, smiling brightly at Hunter.
" It is one of the joys I get to experience, Ma'ams. I am happy to have played and that you both enjoyed it." Hunter gave a light bow to the two women, who smiled and bowed back.
"You all have a fun day now!" One of the older ladies said, taking the arm of her spouse, who looked to Willow.
"This one is a keeper, dear." She cackled before making her way from the group. Willow smirked up at Hunter, who wiggled his ears and averted his eyes from the girl.
"Yup, I think so." Willow said in reply, though the woman couldn't hear her. She mostly did it just to make Hunter's face flush red more. He scrunched his nose, finally forcing himself to look down at her.
"Keep that up and I am not buying you funnel cake." He folded his arms, watching as Willow scrunched her own nose up at him and stuck her tongue out at him.
"Ok you two lovebirds!" Gus called out. " Titan, you two are just as bad as them." Gus motioned with his thumb over to Luz and Amity. Amity's face turned red at that, as Luz stuck her tongue out at the boy.
"Maybe even worse." Matt commented, though he was facing away from the group. "Can we get the day started now?"
" No no, let them finish!" Luz joked, gaining a glare from Hunter. Soon the group was moving deeper into the park, making idle chat as they made their way to the first ride, stopping to look through a few specialty shops along the way. Hunter made note to come back for a flower hair-pin that Willow had eyed over. Along the way Hunter couldn't help but notice the looks he was getting from Matt. It didn't seem the kid liked him, and often glanced at him over with narrowed eyes and a frown. Not only Matt being...strange, Luz didn't seem to be as bubbly as she usually is. She made her comments, and she was enjoying her time, but it was obvious there was an underlying feeling that was dragging the human down.
Despite Matt not enjoying himself as much as the others, time felt it was flying by for the gang. From ride to ride, to minigames, odds and ends shops, it was soon afternoon. The group decided to find an umbrellaed table to rest for a while and have a bigger snack and get water into their systems.
" Matt and I will go get drinks!" Gus said, grabbing the back of Matt's shirt and dragging him away before he could protest.
"Willow, want to help me get food?" Amity asked, looking at Willow who flicked her ears and nodded.
" Alright, table hunting goes to us, Luz." Hunter said, smiling at the human who gave a thumbs up, then turned and started to look for a table as Amity and Willow turned to get their snacks. Hunter waited for the two to get out of earshot before he looked to Luz.
"Are you doing ok?" Hunter asked, catching the human off guard who stiffened their stance and thinned their lips.
"M-me? Yeeeaaahh! I am, like, so fine!" Luz scoffed, waving a hand before marching forward to an empty table. " I am having a great time!" Hunter furrowed his brow before following after her, helping gather enough chairs for everyone to sit.
" You know you are bad at lying." Hunter commented, sitting the chairs down before looking at Luz who sat down, avoiding his eye contact. " What is wrong, Luz?" The human glanced at Hunter, looking away again before slouching slightly, obviously in conflict about if she wanted to talk or not.
"….What do you know about basilisk?"
_AN_
The song I imagine Hunter playing will be on my tumblr! (Eldritch-raven) But I wanted to leave it vague so anyone could put in their song idea!
I shared the news on Tumblr, so now I shall share it here...I have officially written the last words for 'Of Balanced Stones'! The series will end at chapter 50, but lead into a new part of Hunter and Willow's lives. I hope you guys stay with me for the second half! As always please leave a review, and I love you all!