Gentle Nights and Calm Mornings

"Papa," Miata said on my back rousing from the sleep she found herself in just hours ago.

"Yes, Miata," I said having an idea of just what she was going to say.

"Miata hungry," she said without disappointing my expectations.

I stopped instantly and looked back to the girl with the most tired and exasperated expression a man like me can make. Because of the hood I wore I could barely make her out but still I managed. "What?" I asked to the point it almost sounded like begging. For the love of the goddess and in the name of the darkest pit in the underworld let me be wrong just this once. Just once let me be in a state of delusion and just imagined she said that.

The gods above said tough luck when I heard her repeat a whinier "I'm hungry" again to my face. She repeated one more time making sure I heard her soft voice and how deep her desire for food runs. For the last couple days we've been traveling together she has been silent, mostly. Ever since I picked her up at the town she just clung to me, cried on my shoulder at night, and not really say too much. She can't talk all that well anyway. I've carried her through most of the desert and when she couldn't keep up with my pace. I've talked to her and taught her a couple things whenever she stares at something with curiosity but most of the talking was done by me.

For a while now the only way I knew she was still alive is by the ravenous appetite the girl possessed. I don't know where in the nine levels of the underworld or the abyss she puts it all, but she sometimes eats as much as I do. I'm a modified and spirit augmented Hunter with the inherited hungriness of at least five grown man, and yet she can keep up with me. How she eats like I do is stifling to say the least. The problem wasn't that she was seven with the appetite of three grown men. No, the problem was that she ends up hungry all the time with that same appetite she had prior which leads me to my question from before.

Where in the goddess does she put it all?

"Miata you just ate an hour ago," I tried to reason with her but she just pouted at me.

"But me hungry," she persisted.

"You ate two rabbits and the potatoes that we cooked with them," I continued on.

"But mmeee hunnnggrrryyy," she whined again. Goddees I wish I had a free hand right now to palm my face. Sadly, I can't follow through with this line of though, because I'm holding her in piggy back with my hands on her legs so I compromised by doing the loudest most exasperated sigh I could manage.

"Bwless you," she said and pat my shoulder since my back is occupied right now.

I sighed again but more because of my jaded situation over anything. I've been dealing with this sort of thing for almost three days now and nearing the breaking point. I have to be nearing a town by now where I can restock and trade and finally get some suitable clothing for Miata. The clothing she has isn't really suitable for girls and it shows. The shirt and pants don't fit her well and if I hadn't tied them down they would have fell off or looked loose on her.

"Papa." Miata whispered in my ear in a tired tone.

"Yes," I answered even though I knew what she was going to ask and I already prepared a counter for the coming argument.

"Can me have water?" Her words had a slur to them but more than anything I found this a relief that her mind was off food and now on water. I instantly complied with a flask of water for her which she swiped it from my hand. Greedily she drank the liquid inside.

From what I found out so far she really likes to be babied. It's like she wants everything given to her to which I made contingencies. I've limited her in ways to damper her desires the best I could. I can sort of understand why she wants to be taken care of with the parentage she had, but I feel it's only right I limit just how much I do baby her.

I swiped the water back away from her in seconds after she got it mainly so I don't have to put her down every five minutes to use the bush or the tree. Miata reached for the mask frantically to drink more. Instead of the flask the girl received a poke to the forehead from my thumb denying her the level of hydration she wanted.

"You've had enough." I felt a pump on my rear and looked back to her puffy cheeked face. She was actually pouting right now but that served to make the hammer come down harder than before. "And you are not eating again so soon. You will wait until dinner. You can't eat whenever you want. You should eat only when you need to."

"Nooo!" I flicked her forehead and shut her down again. "Owwyy," she cried.

Time for my 'control this little girl' tactic.

"What is this?" I pulled out my arm and presented her the bracer I wore on my left arm. I pulled my finger out and flexed my arm triggering the hidden blade on the inside to extend. Miata rubbed her head and looked up to my blade studying it slowly. Pretty much the only way I could think of getting the girl to calm down and to stop pestering me is to have her think of other things. When a human learns something new that "new" subject is what they focus on primarily at the time instead of anything else like hunger, thirst, and pain. Their minds attempt to take in and understand the new information it receives so I tied this logic to the little girl. I had to draw her focus to something I find relevant and the only thing I can thing that came to mind at the time are the tools of my trade. My hidden blade for one caught her eye and she likes it when it retracts and extends.

"Hidden blade thing, nicknamed Sting by papa. It… shot out…"

"It extends Miata."

The girl nodded. "It extends and…" She went silent for a moment scratched her head struggling to remember what she could. "Re-retracts."

I nodded and said, "Very good Miata."

The girl smiled at my praise and I grunted as a signal for her to continue. "Stab, slash, thrust," she cheered openly.

"Yes, it can do all those things? What else?"

The girl frowned rubbing her head again. "Miata get one if me get right."

I did promise to give her the tool of the trade if and only if she can fully explain to me the statistics of each piece of equipment I have. A child assassin, no one would see it coming. It's not going to happen though. She will never get this blade. I can't replicate the mechanism that works it and I don't want her running around cutting people without reason.

We went over a bit more of the weaponry I have and more over Sting and she repeated as things progressed. She's a fast learner if a bit single minded. She focuses too hard on a single subject like mental tunnel vision almost. That's something I can fix though if only ensure it's not used against her.

Sometime later I found it was time to make camp with the sun coming down in the west with a mixture of small ponds everywhere around us. I knelt down and automatically the girl jumped off of my back. "Miata, you know what to do."

"Okay," she enthusiastically said before running off to the surrounding ponds around me in search of large enough rocks to make a fire pit.

So far I've had to establish a good system for the two of us to work with. It's more for her than for me. Even though she's not at that age yet she needs to know how to fend herself in the case that I'm not there to do it for her. She needs to learn basic skills like how to start a fire or how to clean her game as well as cook it. It's all a slow process but she listens when I talk and takes my lessons to heart. Thinking on it now, I still need to teach her how to read. Her vocabulary and lack of one alone shows how poor her education conditions happened to be. I've gotten my hands a few books that are in my language and some in the language here as well. Those came from her town. When she's asleep I read it the best I can to decipher the language. I was able to learn a good deal from the blood of those beasts but knowing and reading are different.

I reached into my coat and unclipped the chain to my sword from my chest then reached over to yank it out from overhead. I stabbed the sheath of my nodachi into the soil as a marker so Miata will know just where camp is. I unclasped the belt with my twin knives on them and clipped it to the top of the tsuba for the girl so she at least has something to use encase of emergency. The knife I've already given her isn't of very good quality so it's always good to have something over nothing.

I go out of the way for that girl sometimes and spoil her even when try not to. It's always worked when dealing with pesky women that bothered me in the past so I sort of extended this mentality towards her as well. I quickly realized I was dooming myself to fail later in life. I've seen spoiled girls so many times and studied how that happens. Before I blamed the parents and found them weak of will if they can't control how much they give a child. I now understand their plight somewhat now that I have a child with me. Little girls can be unknowingly manipulative using their adorable charms to make you give in to their demands. I'm finding it difficult not to just give her whatever she wants just to make her stop complaining.

I sighed and got to hunting instead of focusing on these depressing thoughts. I found a couple rabbits, a couple edible herbs and weeds for nutrients that growing girls need, even though I know she'll cry to me about them. I still have a couple potatoes to add to the stew from that town as well to make it all the better.

As I made my way to back to the camp I saw Miata working hard on the rock circle that turned into a square and not a circle. Soon, even that turned into a hexagon because of the different sized rocks she had ranging from ones as long as her arm and as big as my fist. I have to admit that the girl learned fast when it came to hands-on lessons instead of studious subjects, but she plays a little too much. I keep reminding myself this is a little girl and not a woman. It's not her fault. Though because most of actions in my trade are hands-on teaching her will be simple.

I left the girl to work when I remembered that I needed wood for the fire to search for flint and timber to use. It didn't take long to find the flint but the wood was a different matter. The trees around me are damp on the outside and soaked on the inside, quite literally at that. The trees bleed water when I stab them providing clean water to use but no fire wood to cook. I soon found a tree that was dried out and on top of another tree instead of water.

"This will do." I took down a good amount of branches and left back to the camp sight. When I got there I found Miata waiting patiently for me next to my sword and smiled when I came into view. I was a little relieved to see a smile on her face again like that. It took only two days of silence before she started to respond positively. I made my way to the pit and dropped the branches near it before taking my sword in hand. I drew my blade and kicked the stack of branches in the air and cut them down to size in a messy pile of firewood. I sort of wish I could do that generic thing of cutting the branches so well that they land in a straight and neat pile, but I'm not a magician.

I took some dried leaves and moss I found and place them into the center of the pile along with some fire starter, a red and orange colored wood that is extremely flammable. I noticed Miata sitting with barely contained energy so I called her over for another lesson on making fires. She was reluctant at first but sweet talk can go a long way in making little girls see things your way. I had her stack the wood and instructed her on a few different ways in which you can stack the wood depending on whether you want it to be more for overall heat, durability in the elements, cooking quickly, low visibility, and many more reasons. I didn't tell her all of these at once but periodically throughout the days.

Today's lesson will be on cooking.

Miata stacked the wood like a makeshift puzzle and I watched carefully to make sure she did it correctly. Things went slow because she wanted to quit every time I corrected her, but soon the wood was stacked and the fire was ready to be lit. I took the spark rocks in hand and sparked the flint.

"And then god said let there be light." The flint took flame and the wood caught fire in seconds. "And there was light."

"What that mean papa?" I looked over to the girl and thought on a suitable answer.

"Just a verse from a book I read once." I said simply before reaching for my pot. "Now I have to get the meat ready as well as the herbs and I found for us." Miata predictably stuck her tongue out in disgust. That's the thing about kids, they think anything with green foods in it are nasty, hate bland foods, and are extremely picky about what they eat even if supplies are low.

"Just remember it is for your own good Miata." She turned her head away ignoring my words earning a shrug from me. I left the girl at the fire to think on the upending bland and disgusting food she will so be fed sooner rather than later.

I gutted the rabbits one by one and made sure to bury the innards in that ground so not to attract any uninvited guests aka wolves or bears. That is the last thing a guy like me needs to deal with right now. Washing the meat in one corner of the many ponds was not easy and the same could be said about washing the herbs and weeds I found. The pools of water here are not exactly clean enough to do such so I stabbed the trees and used a leaf I rolled up to stick into the hole I made. Water poured like a faucet on top and I cleaned it quietly.

"And done." I declared with a satisfied sigh then threw the meat on my back and the green foods in a pouch before returning to the camp sight. Surprisingly Miata had the pot I used out from the back I had and it was had water in it. The rest of the drinking water from my flask at that, but I wasn't bitter. There's plenty of trees for me to bleed out here.

"Miata, you got everything ready?" The girl nodded her head. I returned it and sat down next to the pot next to the fire. The stand for the pot was missing, but that it's only because she doesn't know how to set it up yet. I need to show her with our hundredth lesson for the day as well.

The stand is a simple iron retractable circle with three legs and is easy to undo. Miata did it in one go over the fire. I picked up the pot placed on top satisfied with the fire and her participation. I went back to what I was doing before cutting up the rabbits, greens, and potatoes and let them fall into the pot. Thankfully I had a couple spices I acquired from that town to use in the stew to help make the "yucky smelling food" taste and smell better. According to the manifests I've found in the town a box of spice is worth more than a box of gold. Five boxes of gold are worth one box of Red Sand. Maybe I should go into the spice business while I'm here. You can never have not have too much gold.

I chuckled a bit at the thought of having more gold to store away maybe in a hidden

"Papa?" I snort then looked up from the nicely cooking rabbit to the girl. "What papa laugh at?"

I cleared my throat first and answered in a low tone. "I'm thinking of something funny."

"What it is?"

I chuckled and pat the girls head at the mix up of words that came out. "That's the wrong question to ask to find something out Miata. If you want to tell someone something pertaining to something in your sight or possession you use 'What it is…' and follow on words. Now if you wish to know something you ask me 'What is it?'." I corrected the best I could. I'm not a grammar teacher or anything, but I think I can fill in a lot of gaps at where this child's knowledge stops. Reading, mathematics, science, and basic survival techniques are going to be difficult to teach without the right atmosphere. I can teach her many things on the road but some have to be taught with a good amount of time and patience.

"O-okay." She said softy repeating what I said in her mind making my realize something. I have a little girl with me. A very young and inexperienced little girl that doesn't know most about life outside of her mother's place. Her cup is empty and depending on what I fill it with will decide on whether she will be an excellent person later in life or a twisted adult like I am that cares more for his own interests over anything else.

"Papa, what is it?" I nodded when she looked at me for conformation that she did indeed use the right question.

"I was thinking about gold," among other things but gold is the most pressing subject on my mind.

"Gold?" I nodded and reached into my pocket and pulled out a gold cylinder for her to see. Miata reached out and took it. "Prwtty." I smiled as the girl examined the gold in her hands with the sort of fascination a guy like me could respect.

"You can have it."

"Really!" I nodded.

Miata smiled brightly and jumped around for some odd reason I could only guess is happiness I guess. I shook my head at the girl's antics as she bounced around. Now I see why I'm spoiling her now. It's that smile of hers and just watching her as she examines something with an innocent curiosity only a child possesses. It's soothing the darkness of the soul. It's calming me down little by little just to see this little candle glowing strong even in a sea of darkness.

I placed the lid on top of the pot to let the food simmer which will take a while. That was enough time to get a wash in because it has been a couple of days since the last time I bathed. I unbuttoned the front of my coat and lifted the hood off of my head right before I placed it in a tree to hang. I looked down to my armor and slowly unstrapped each piece off and placed it all in a neat pile by my sword and knives. The girl watched me intently and tilted her head to the side while watching me get undressed. I tossed my boots away but kept my socks on and the same of most of my clothing.

"What you do Papa?"

"I'm about to take an evening swim in the pond behind this tree. I need a wash off anyway." I finished with my shirt, pants, socks, and underwear still on and got into a sprinting position. I took off and dived into the water. I needed to wash my cloths and clean myself so why not kill a flock of birds with one well timed shot. I stayed under slowly discarding clothing and whipping it around in the water to get everything off really from dried blood to the sweat from walking through that damn god forsaken desert.

I remained under for a good couple minutes moving around in the and ensuring I have all my clothes. I touched the bottom and rushed up to the breaking the surface. I laid back on top of the water with my cloths in hand all completely soaked. I think I did an alright job with cleaning them out during my underwater strip. To take off your layers on land feels good but doing it underwater is a feeling of its own.

"Papa!" I looked up toward the general direction of the voice too late to see anything except a small slash of water everywhere and a small wave hitting me. I up-righted myself once I questioned myself on what just happened. I realized that Miata called me then most likely dove into the water. Judging from the struggling motions she's make its safe to assume she doesn't know how to swim.

"Damn it!" I cursed then proceeded to swim over to the girl and lifted her up out of the water with my clothes under one arm and her cradled in my other. "Miata what's wrong with you?" I asked the girl as I walked her to a portion of the pool she could stand in.

Miata coughed a couple times before answering with her shirt and trousers in hand leaving her in only bloomers. "I… saw papa… copy," she said between pants.

Now I know I'm a bad influence she's copying me and thinks what I did is normal. Next time I'll think twice before I allow her to watch me dive in deep water, strip under said deep water, and come back to the surface with my clothes in hand. I pat the girls head and dropped a couple articles of my clothes down into the water for it. "Come on Miata since you're here we can get you cleaned up."

"Okay!"

I walked out of the pond picking up my clothes a little at a time as I went. I hung all the article of clothing I had in a tree to dry before returning to the pond with a wash cloth and soap in hand. I found it strange that a town like that would have an assorted soaps shop, but I'm not complaining. Soap is a nice luxury to have in the field.

Miata was washing out her clothing the best she could but was having a hard time with the boy's clothing she had. I'm going to buy her some travel clothes for young girls once I get to the next town. I can't stand it if a girl isn't dressed appropriately, and I blame the more modest women I've had to deal with in the past more than anything for this mindset. My master especially forced me to appreciate the finer requirements in comforts women are supposed to have. Clothes was the big one.

I walked into the water and washed off my body inch by inch. After I was finished I walked over to the girl and presented the cloth and what not. She turned away from me, and I narrowed my eyes at the girl. "Miata you need to wash off."

"No." My eye twitched because that was the first time she has ever said no to me and it was about a bath. Just who does this little girl think she is to disobey me. Doesn't she understand the importance of cleanliness? We are almost totally covered in grim and blood to include our clothes and reek with sweat from our travels. This isn't the time to be little monsters.

"Miata," I said in a warning tone. "Either you wash yourself off or I will." The girl turned away to run and instantly I had her up in my arm over my shoulder.

"Nononononono!" Miata screamed and clawed like an anime. It's just a bath so what about this makes her wish to struggle like a rapid dog?

"You are getting a bath whether you want to or not."

I just about jumped back into the water, but the girl snaked out of my grip last minute. What a little brat and escape artist I got here. For a good ten minutes I wrestled with the little ball of stamina to get her still. The girl hits harder than I thought possible, but in the end she settled down and sat in between my legs, so she couldn't run away again, as I washed her hair and back. Miata was silent the entire time as I washed her, and for some reason now really compliant. She even held the soap and gave the bar to me when I asked for it. What brought about this change though?

"Mama… mama always… washed my back and hair."

Ah, I see now. I said nothing as I continued to wipe down her arms and her shoulders. "Well I'm here now to wash your back and hair now princess."

Miata grinned back at me. "Thank you papa." The more she calls me that the harder it becomes to keep her out. She actually sees me as a father figure and calls me as such and it makes me feel… peculiar. I'm not sure what this feeling is, but I don't mind it all that much.

I dunked the rag in water to ringed it over her head. "Close your eyes Miata." She went above and beyond to do this by covering her eyes with her hands instead of just simply closing them. I felt a flash of an image pass over my sight for a moment. I didn't get a good look, but my flashbacks are never good. Never again. I can't let this effect what I'm doing though.

I took a breath and poured water over her long hair and scrubbed it downward. She needs to get this cut. It's a little too long if you ask me without it being in a bun or a braid. I could probably fix once her hair is dry. When I was sure that most of the soap was out of her hair and off body I handed the rag to Miata and said, "Here, dry yourself off." I stood up as the girl did the opposite and stayed sitting looking up to me with her head pulled all the way back. I still couldn't see her eyes with her long numerous bangs so I don't know if she was looking at me or at the sky.

"Papa won't dry Miata?" She inquired referring herself in the third person.

I shook my head and said, "No, Miata is a big girl and can dry herself can't ya?" I spoke in a childish way that put a proud smile on Miata's lips and who responded with a nod of her head and "Mmmhhmm" sort of hum that I found cute in a way. The girl instantly got to work giving me time to take her clothes and hang it up next to mine. I was left in my boxers and Miata when she came back to me was… naked.

"Miata you need to wear something."

"But wet clothes are cold. Momma say so." Miata looked down. She's right about that she could get a cold if she walked around naked like this or if she wore wet clothing. I took the extra shirt I had in my pack for her to wear to instead.

"Arms up Miata." She arms rose up on order, and I slipped the dry shirt over her.

"Warm," she commented on. It had better be because that was my last shirt and I planned to wear it instead, but I man's duty is to sacrifice their own wants for the needs of the children.

"Come on, let's eat and get warm by the fire." I sat on a log I found and used it as a seat for myself and since Miata likes to be close to me I made sure it was large enough for both of us with my knapsack next to it for ease of access. Though this didn't come to pass. Miata sat in my lap huddling for warmth. I said nothing and mentally shrugged. I reached inside my knapsack and took two bowls and spoons out, but before I could serve the girl I had to make sure it was her kind of edible. And in truth I liked non-yucky foods as well.

I opened the pot by the fire and saw that most of the water was gone and the ingredients inside came together rather well. I dipped my spoon inside of the mix and got a little of everything. I blew on it and opened my mouth to try it, but then I saw Miata staring at me intently. She was giving me those eyes. Eyes I could see because she actually pried her bangs apart so these crisp cool jade colored eyes of hers could piece into my chocolate brown ones. I took a breath before letting the spoon fall from my lips and put it in front of her instead. "Go ahead Miata," I said with a vast amount of my pride shattered at falling to this child's manipulation. She's not even close to being an adolescent yet and is learning how to control men already.

The girl went for it instantly and I smiled when I heard the happy sounds coming from her.

"Good?" I asked.

"Mmhmm," she confirmed. Oh, thank the gods. I poured some into a bowl filling it up and handed it to her. I did the same for myself and we ate in silence. We listened to the crackle of the fire and I gazed up the beautiful night's sky above. The moon above is nice but also devoid of the goddess as well. Her eyes do not fall upon this country it seems. It's a shame. The only reason I didn't feel alone at night is because I knew she was watching over me.

"Papa."

"Hmm."

Miata pointed up to the sky at the moon. "You look hard at big star," she noted and I closed my eyes with a heavy breath.

"The moon you mean," I looked up to waxing moon what will be full very soon. "I stare at it because if the one thing in this world that never changes. Just like the north star." I rose my finger and pointed it out. "It's the bright stare in the sky that isn't the moon," I added in just in case.

"North… star? What are stars Papa?" She asked genuinely curious of the stars above. I bit my lip a bit and dropped my hand. I'm not sure if I should introduce the stars to Miata. That will only solidify her ties to me and to what I previously represented. The knowledge of the stars is something we Hunters all know almost intimately. Whether the ones you see by night or by day they all offer wisdom and stories for humans to learn from for the future. A lessen in the stars as well won't help her survive outside of the North Star.

"Stars are a great many things. Most unknown to us but one this is certain," I pointed at the North Star once more. "That star is your guide for it never moves from its spot in the sky. That star shows you the way North and the many stories attached to it as well. If you find yourself lost and can't find your way look up to that star and it will guide you to me. Understand?" I looked down to the girl as she stared up to the sky with a mystical expression upon her face. I dare say she's almost bewildered at what I've just told her but that's fine. She doesn't need to understand and neither do I wish her to.

We returned to our meal and back into the silence of the night and this marshy environment we found ourselves in. We finished in no time and happily Miata ate to fill the hole that is her stomach and sooth the monster inside her. I did catch her staring up to the stars periodically as time went by. It seems I've developed an interest in the heaven within her. She won't let this rest.

"Thank you Papa." I nodded but I'm not sure what she's thanking me for this time around.

The girl yawned loudly a second later. The girl was tired and in truth so was I. After swimming for goddess knows how long to this continent, walking around a desert for three days, and then trekking across more of it to this marsh for another three days I'm a bit drained myself. I haven't slept for days now to keep an eye on Miata and to keep moving. Normally after eating and once she's asleep I pick her up and fade into the darkness and make more distance during the night hours. I cover more ground in the peace of the dark. Ironically, I don't like the dark. It can hide much more than myself and monsters. It can also turn me into something else if I happened to fall unconscious without the proper barriers. Sadly, even now I can't rest. There's work to be done like washing of the bowls and pot, washing my blades off and doing maintenance on them, I have to read through the map to plan our next route tonight, dry the clothes, and so much more.

I placed a hand on Miata's shoulder and picked up the girl as she struggled with staying awake and doing a good job. She held on top my shoulders and rested her head on my chest but refused to sleep. I cradled the girl under my arm and climbed up to my feet. I took my coat off the tree and laid it down. I placed her down on top near the fire to keep her warm. My knapsack doubled as a pillow for the girl rested on top but still she refused to sleep. "What's wrong princess? Why don't you sleep?"

"Papa," she yawned with her hand out and I took it in mine. "Can papa tell Miata a story."

A story? What manner of story can I tell a child? Most of the stories I possess happen to end in blood. But in the world with man eating wendigo maybe that's exactly the story she needs to hear. "I know few good stories I'm willing to share," I said to the girl and she looked up to me almost desperate until I smiled down at her. These fake smiles are starting to hurt my face but it worked to calm her down. Her girl relaxed in my hand and she looked to be resting in preparation for the story to come.

"I know of a Jäger of old. One of the very first to become a Hunter of All," I spoke this dead title with a strength and seemed to catch her attention. Miata is truly empathetical is she can understand the weigh and emotion my words carry and not what they mean. This shown when I gave her mother a final farewell at her town and even now that she's listening intently. "This man before he was a Hunter was but a man. A man born from the most ferocious of bloodlines but also the most gentle of humans as well. His mother was a queen of a tribe of powerful warrior known for there hatred of men they found weak but reverence of men that overcame them in combat. The queen was one of the greatest beast tamers and monster hunters in the world."

"Like papa," Miata asked and I shook my head.

"No. She was a better hunter than I but because of her mentality towards violence she missed one crucial piece of a Good Hunter," I spoke with my German accent beginning to come out.

Miata blinked and waited for me to tell her.

"She was missing empathy. An understanding of another and the weight of her actions. This became her undoing same with the Hunter of All. This hunter's father wasn't a fighter. He wasn't a hunter or a warrior. He was Dove. A messenger that spoke of peace between warring factions. He was also a scholar of the vices and virtues of humanity." I nearly spat to the side at the mention of this man. Such a most holy man and died in such a sad manner.

"One day this Dove went to see to this Queen and was challenged to a Dance of Blood by her. She believed if this man desired to change their ways he'd fight for his beliefs just as they do. But the man refused and was enslaved by the Queen to be kept as a pet. The man didn't mind and spoke to the Queen after every single…" I trailed off when I noticed that Miata's eyes had finally closed bringing my story to a halt. I let out a breath before taking up to my feet. I pulled the flap of my coat over her and buttoned it so she could be comfortable at least. A second later I got to work with drying our cloths over the fire. It didn't take long and the rest of my tasks followed after the next.

I looked up to the sky above as I worked and measured out my options for the next route then back down to my map. This map isn't up to date and I've slowly added in roads I've found and measured them out after adding a bar scale to the bottom right corner of the map. I might map out this entire continent as I go since it's barren for the most part. This might be interesting and as an explorer it might be interesting to discover new areas, caves, coves, abandoned constructions, and many more. I need a place to… begin as well.

I took a breath and felt my body shiver suddenly. I rose my hands up and noticed them shaking. I need to sleep and soon. Maybe I can sleep now. The beast has been relatively quiet as of late. Maybe I can sleep without worry this time around.

Maybe…

Maybe…

I felt a bump on my side, but I ignored it for some more sleep. I felt the bump again and again until finally I was forced to investigate is rousing me from my rest. The first rest I've had in so long and without them attacking me in my sleep. How is this possible? I rose my right arm and clenched my fist. I felt the Carnage within but it's… calmer than ever before. How can chaos be calm?

I dropped my hand once I felt another bump and drew attention up raising up my chin. It seems I fell unconscious some time last night without meaning to. In fact I can fell asleep in the midst of sharpening my dirk and infusing the souls of the wendigo to it so I could repair it. I'm still leaning against that tree from yesterday. I fell asleep with my affects close to me though and nothing is missing. Everything is exactly as I left it last I remember outside of Miata. She wasn't where I left her. She's in fact asleep in my lap instead of on her makeshift bed near the fire I recollect leaving her. She must have woken up not to long ago and laid down with me instead of by the fire. She ended up using my thigh as a pillow and not the leg I felt the bump on. It made me wonder what was bumping into me.

I looked over to my right and saw that it was a small wolf of all things. Maybe a wolf dog. I looked at the little thing and saw that it was mature to a point that it wasn't cub anymore being about two feet long and standing half a foot up, but it still had a ways to go. I studied the wolf and it's strange off colored fur. A black and white furred wolf but from what I can see the black coat overshadowing the white meaning this pup was growing in its summer coat and shedding its winter. I watched at the wolf sniffed my side and persist with poking me with its nose again and again. It sort of reminded me of a child poking a dead carcass or something it can't understand with a stick to test its reaction. Does it not know that curiosity killed the cat?

I let my head fall back and sighed loudly surprising the wolf greatly. The wolf jumped back and took on an aggressive stance like it was ready to pounce me. I found this amusing because it was nowhere near the size it needed to be to pose a real threat to me; even asleep. Though for Miata I can't say the same. It would probably be in my best interest to kill this wolf, drink its blood, and use it's fur for a new hood; but against my better judgment I don't think I will. I could find a much better use for a wolf than meat and fur. Wolf dogs have always been a crucial part of tracking and security when it comes to surveying encampments. They can sense what normal humans can't on an instinctive level and thus differentiate between threat to non-threat. It could be of some use and every Hunter needs a partner. Every man needs a beast.

I looked into its red hellfire colored eyes with my own in glare that could make hardened men hesitant. This pup made no move against me. I felt my vision bleed red and at that moment it heeled like a good doggy and whimpered. It knows that I'm too high a threat for it and to pose any form of a danger to me. Attacking me is a good way to get itself killed.

I put my hand out towards the wolf and beckoned it forward. Slowly but surely the pup crawled low towards me in touching distance and allowed me to pet its head. "You're the first wolf I've seen since I've arrived here to this land," I spoke to the animal with a smile on my lips. The pup came a little closer as I scratched behind his or her ears. I wonder why the pup even thought of coming toward us in the first laced. Why risk approaching humans? Wolves aren't idiots so why risk it? My first though was that it is hungry and wants some food that I might have, or it was curious choose to investigate the strangers in his or her forest. Might be a mixture of both too.

I gently laid Miata to the side next to me and pulled my leg out from her hold and replaced my leg with a hastily rolled-up sheet I used while getting a count of my weaponry by placing it on top of said sheet. She latched onto it like a little leech and I was in the clear. I laid her down between my legs and slowly got myself up to my feet and stretched my cracking joints back in place. It was earlier in the morning and the sun has yet to come out. It was still dark around me, but the darkness never affected me that badly. I can see through it with near perfect clarity. Sometimes even more so than if it was day time.

After stretching out my body and waking it up I turned my attention back to the small wolf pup. "Well now," I mused as I kneeled down to the cub. "What should I do with you now that you came to my camp?" I asked the cub to no answer. "Do you have a den mother?" The wolf tilted its head right. I'm forgetting that talking to an animal of a different country or land. The wild animals of this land more than likely aren't tied to the astral and so won't be capable of understanding me. I've yet to establish a bond with the wolf so I'll refrain from entering its mind. I don't really wish to create at tether between this animal and myself thus making it a familiar. I frowned as I stood to my feet. I sort of wish I took those lessons from Beth on those spells to talk to animals. I have other ways of doing this I'd rather not turn to them yet.

I looked around the camp the day before and didn't see any form of wolf trails while I hunted. Now that I have a fully awake look over of the wolf, by the looks of it this little one is malnourished. I can see his or her bones so maybe it lost its den mother some time ago. I know that wolf furs are desirable on the market so what I can assume is that the mother was out hunting but became the prey instead and this cub was left allow to fend for itself. That's a shame really if my assessment is true and it would be a waste to leave it out here without something.

The cub scratched weakly at the bark of the tree I had my back too. I looked up to the top at the rabbit I left out to smoke over the open fire last night and hung up to finish drying out. I made sure to make a fire underneath the meat to keep the bugs away to dry in peace. I reached up and took some off the iron scythe I had the strips of meat hanging off of and leaned down.

"Ah," I winced at the quick spike of pain that surprised me a bit. I moved a bit too fast and cut my finger on the tip of my scythe. Some of my darkened red blood began to saturate the meat I tore off and spread quickly on it. This made me think.

The blood of a Hunter is dangerous to anyone not exposed to the void bit I think a place like this has no problem whatsoever with exposure to that plane. My blood can destroy or create a beast much like myself if administered in the right dosages at the right time. If I give the pup this I wonder what might happened to it other than acquire near human level intelligence over time?

With this in mind I kneeled down to the cub. "Here." The wolf cub rushed to the meat and practically destroy swallowed the meat whole ravenously. I pet the cubs back gently and smiled.

"You must've been hungry huh?" The cub barked with bright eyes taking me back to a time when I had a wolf hound mixed pup I raised for years to be like me. He was a constant companion for me and a monster in a fight. The cub barked again and rubbed against my hand. Then it licked my finger that had a bit of my blood on it still which made me smile. "I could say and other week or two and you will be a lot stronger and faster than before. Hunt on your own and have a small pack as well." My blood will make sure of that.

I picked the pup up in my arms and sat down again with my back to the tree. "Ifrit," I said with a tired smile. "A long time ago I had a fire salamander and that was his name for the time I knew him but," I reached under the cub and smirked. "The name of a powerful male fire spirit won't suit you." The cub turned out to be a female of all things, so I expected her to grow up to be big and strong. "So, you will need a different sort of name huh?"

I thought on it for a minutes thinking on all the names I learned on deities, gods, and spirits. I knew many but what could I call this little soon to be big one. I shrugged and decided on, "Arsenal." I rubbed now sleeping wolf on her head. Arsenal will do. I though was I closed my eyes again to get a couple more hours in.

"Papa?" A newly awoken Miata called just as I finished placing my pots into my knapsack. I turned to Miata whom of which was staring at me intently with those jade eyes of hers. She stared at my knapsack in curiosity and tilted her head over the more I placed into the bag. I know what's going through her mind right now. How does he put all that stuff into that small bag? How doesn't it get bigger or smaller? I can't very well tell her that it's magic now can I? While I could demonstrate how it works and how magic for me helps make life easier I'd rather not get into it right now.

"Yes," I answered waiting for her to ask what she wanted to ask.

"How does papa do that?" She predictably asked to which I shrugged.

"Magic," I answered. Miata appeared confused by my answer so I just pat her over her head and ruffled her already messy hair. "I'll explain in a moment how it works."

"Miata knows about magic," she said quite defensively.

"Oh, really now? What does Miata know about magic then?" I turned completely around and made sure she knew she has my Full attention now.

She looked skeptically to the side for a moment but there is not avoiding this. She opened Pandora's pithos so there is no avoiding this now. I'm going to have to hear this.

"Miata saw magic show. Weird man made puppets talk papa. Make card things go away and come back." During her explanation of this man's 'magic' that she witnessed she decided to illustrate with her hands and arms of the puppets talking and putting her arms out when she mentioned and disappearing card trick to make it seem more impressive than it deserves. All that I'm gathering is that this man was and expert in card tricks and a ventriloquist it seems.

"I wager he pulled things out of his hat like a rabbit right?" I asked her.

Miata nodded excitedly. "Yes papa. Like with sack," she pointed to my knapsack.

I smiled at her childish naiveté and pat her over the head again. "That is an interesting kind of magic, but mine is different." I rose my right hand up and let the markings branded into my skin glow as I channeled then Od from within into them. Miata watched in wonder at the small light show, but I was anything but done. With a flick of my wrist a small shard of ice appeared over my hands and hovered over my palm. Miata's expression was worth the small show. I never thought children were this easy to impress with such low leveled magic. This was nothing compared to what Bethany could do. I might as well be a baby compared to her.

"This is magic Miata. It allows you to bend elements of nature like water turning it into ice. Or maybe," I snapped my fingers and the ice melted away before steaming up becoming replaced with a flame of the same size. It's orange-red flames licked the air as if eager to grow much larger than what it was now. "Or spawn fire."

"Wow!" She awed with her mouth wide open. One I persisted to close before a fly landed inside.

"Indeed." I closed my hand and the fire faded away. The small eye brand on my palm as well at the wing on top of my hand lost their glow and I dropped my hand back down. "His magic and mine are very different and works outside a small cart."

"Can you teach Miata papa?" She asked excitedly.

"Maybe when your older." The girl didn't like this answer but thankfully a ruffle of her head and quick kiss on her forehead turned her around real quick. Physical affection works wonders on a child that's never received much of it in the past. I let my hand fall from her head and waved her off. "Go take care of Arsenal for now okay."

I've long introduced her to that wolf. She wasn't afraid of it strangely. She actually hugged it and called it her "puppy-kins" for some odd reason. I didn't question this for now. The wolf is suffering from the after effects of that blood she took and little by little it's going to change her. For better or for worse I can only wait and see. If it goes feral I know that I'm going to have to put her down and baptize the corpse in holy fire. Hopefully it won't come to that.

"Okay!" Miata ran back to where the wolf was resting and pat her head. Miata took a bit of a shine to the wolf in a very short time. Children will be children it seems.

I noticed that her hair is nearly touching the ground now that I'm looking closely. I'm going to have to brush that while I have the chance to do so. I have a brush and a comb I got my hands on not too long ago that I'm knew would've came in handy eventually. Something tells me that I'm going to have to brush it myself. Speaking of hair, I need to cut it but I don't wish to mess it up. Then again I might not have much choice. It's unusually long, to the point that it almost touches her knees. I'm going to have to cut it short to at least her lower back at the most before we divulge deeper into the forest. All that hair will get caught up on something being another reason why I've carried her most of the way through. It's about time she started walking on her own two feet now.

'I wonder how she'll react when I tell her she's going to need to cut it short. Maybe she'll be against it at first but I doubt she will wish to disappoint me in such a way. I need to finish collecting my weapons though while I have the moment without her hovering over my every move.' I finished thinking to myself as I slowly formulated a plan. With that new distraction in the form of a wolf I gathered my affects without worrying about dropping one on top of her. With the way she clings to me it's hard not to trip and drop something sharp. I fixed my straps first and then placed a slightly different loadout on my person. I put my pistol away for only my crossbow Swiftrunner/Isabela instead. I placed the small quiver of bolts on my belt and bolstered the retracted form of my bow behind me on the small of my back. I have Love and Hate at my hip and the black blade on my back. I fitted my chest holster for throwing knives and pulled my hood over my head. My field pushed out the moisture from inside my coat and regulated the atmosphere within my coat. I may adapt to different ecosystems and climates quickly, but it's a waste of energy. This is easier this way, and I've plenty of Od to work with.

I was ready to leave and Miata was dressed in her dry clothes in no time. Now I just need to cut her hair. Luckily I used to cut hair during one infiltration into a city I will never remember voluntarily. I pulled out a pair of scissors, a brush, and a comb along with a senbon. I remember being given this by a kunoichi, one of the last in fact, and she used these large needles for her hair. She showed me how she rolled up her hair and used this to keep it set and think it will work for now once I shorten that hair.

"Miata," I called and waved her over when she looked up. "I need to cut your hair." Just like that her eyes widened and she hugged her hair to her chest. I know that look in her eyes and responded accordingly.

"Don't run, come here."

"Papa," she cried and I shook my head and pointed at the log I wanted her to sit on. She snort and slowly dragged herself to me obediently.

"Good girl," I looked over her head and got on a knee. I pulled out a comb and a bush and took a breath. This might take a moment.

A/N: Most chapters will range between 8000 to 12000 words.