Chapter Thirty-Seven: Shadow Kraken
Nightfall carefully stalked the Cyclops Mammoth through the undergrowth, keeping her movements slow and steady. The eye was the prize- her contractor was giving her a large sum of money for it intact. The creature had been bothering people in the nearby village, and Nightfall was aware that it needed to be stopped. But one wrong move in this undergrowth right now would spoil the opportunity for an easy kill, forcing her to fight as the mammoth used its full strength.
Something barreled through the bushes, crashing through the mammoth's side and taking it into the clearing. Nightfall stood up to see what was going on. The mammoth was engaged in a fight with a Warsupial, dodging the large wrecking ball that the mammal wielded. The mammoth barreled into the Warsupial's side, though the Warsupial was quickly back up. He disconnected the ball from the chain, using the chain to grip the mammoth in order to launch it into the spinning ball. He never got the chance, as Nightfall quickly leapt out of her hiding place in order to slay the beast. She knocked the Warsupial out of the way and attached her tentacle hair to the mammoth, inserting toxins into its system until it lay still. Using her hooks, she carefully cut the creature's giant eye from its socket, treating it carefully as her prize.
"Fighting a Cyclops Mammoth is no small task, Warsupial," Nightfall told the mammal. "It's no wonder your species' numbers have declined so much. If your kind was more careful, they wouldn't have to hide."
The Warsupial wiped blood off a cut on his lip, glaring at her with one dead eye. "Nothing I couldn't handle," he insisted. "And I had it in my grasp, if it wasn't for you mucking things up."
"I saved your life. I don't think that's in line with 'mucking things up', the way you said it."
No comment.
"If this was a simple border patrol, I don't understand why you'd go so far out from the desert where your clans live."
"Well, what they don't know can't hurt them, right?"
So he was acting against his clan, then? Nightfall was well aware of how strange Warsupials could be, but she'd never heard of this before.
"Guess you can say I'm monster hunting," the Warsupial continued. "Just looking around, seeing what kind of creatures I can tussle with."
"Have you seen many creatures?" Nightfall asked.
"I keep dozens of souvenirs of my fights in my Thump Truck, not to mention some of the scars I've gotten. Oh, except for my eye- that was a work-related injury."
"Teeth, claws, horns and other things?"
"The likes."
"You should bring your vehicle over to the Guild Hall in this area. The monster hunters will pay big sums for everything you bring in- and if you want a regular job, there are always contractors that will ask for your services."
"Is that what you're doing here?"
She didn't elaborate on that. She merely concluded with, "It's something for you to consider."
With that, Nightfall walked off, turning toward the village in order to seek her reward. The Warsupial wasn't too far away, as heard by the clanking of metal from his wrecking ball whenever he took a step. Her tentacle hair raised in irritation. She couldn't have this pest following her. He'd get in the way of her work. If he was around her for long enough, she thought that she might come to like him- and she couldn't stand disappointing people after that happened.
"You can't follow me," she growled.
"Well gee, friend, I have no idea where this monster hunter 'Guild Hall' is," the Warsupial replied. "Perhaps you could show me."
"And you can leave me afterward."
The Warsupial put his hand out for her to grab. "Smash Hit. Nice to meet you," he added.
"My title is Shadow Kraken," Nightfall spat, refusing to shake his hand. "That is what you'll refer to me as."
The Guild Hall was always bustling with activity. Monster hunters from all over Skylands came here, talking about hunts and sharing techniques with others of their kind. Stuffed monsters were placed about on pedestals along the walls, tables set near so people on lunch could admire them. Higher up along the walls were cases set with trophies from monsters, such as weird-looking teeth and claws. There was a stage up front, where posters of bothersome monsters were placed so that hunters could select a contract as they pleased. Many coming in here complained about the rotten smell of certain objects brought back that seemed to linger here- since Nightfall had her breathing mask on, she never noticed.
She sat at the bottom of the stage, the mammoth eye set in her lap as she patiently waited for her contractor to come by. It had been an hour since she departed from the little Warsupial, insisting that her business with him had concluded. He'd seemed pleased, walking off without saying anything else of indignation to her. Just as well. Nightfall couldn't have anyone following her around.
A fox woman squeezed her way through the crowds, calling out Nightfall's title. Nightfall waved over to her, and the fox woman scattered over to the stage. Her leafy clothes seemed tattered from the trek there, but she was otherwise happy to see Nightfall there, and even happier to see the mammoth eye.
"So you've slain the Cyclops Mammoth already," the fox woman smiled. "I only gave the contract out a day ago."
"I don't dilly-dally like these other fools," Nightfall explained. "Why do something like that, especially with people's lives on the line?"
The fox handed her a little bag filled with precious jewels in it. "They're the best I could find," she promised her. "Thank you, Shadow Kraken."
A sudden blaring horn was heard outside, and the crowds headed outside to see what it was. Nightfall followed them a little ways, stopping at the front door. Feelings of anger and irritation were stirring in her gut, and she could only think of who had fired that horn.
I should just stay right here, and not face whatever lunacy awaits me out there.
But her legs still carried her outside, and she came upon an impressive sight. A huge orange truck sat outside the Guild Hall, its gray wheels almost making up half the vehicle. Something like dirt churned in the front end, and blue flames were broiling in the back. The Warsupial poked his head out, grinning. He dropped a metal box out of the seat before hopping out himself.
"Where's the guildmaster?" Smash Hit asked.
A Kangarat with a long beard and dundee hat waved over to him. Smash Hit picked up the metal box, scurrying over to him and opening the box.
"This is where I keep the trophies from my hunts," the Warsupial explained. "Anything suit your fancy?"
The Kangarat took the box from him, shifting through its contents, eyes widened. Nightfall looked at him in curiosity, curious as to what was in there.
"There's...there's so much," the Kangarat gasped in awe. "I'd like to take the whole thing from you, and I'll pay you for everything here."
"Could I keep the box, though? It's very important to me."
"Of course. Come inside, and I'll sort out the reward for you."
Nightfall watched as the Warsupial followed the Kangarat into the Guild Hall. Smash Hit noticed her, giving her a cheeky grin, and she spotted an eyepatch over his bad eye this time. She walked back inside, heading over to a table. The Warsupial sat at a table close to her, drumming his hands on the surface eagerly. The Kangarat came over to him, carrying both the metal box and a large sack, setting both in front of him. Nightfall's eyes widened at the sack, noticing that it had tipped over and was leaking various gems. Had the rodent's offer been worth that much?!
Smash Hit looked at the bag as well, fiddling with a few of the gems. "I could buy a new mod piece with this," he gasped.
"We'll pay for every piece you get, and depending on who you ask around here, your reward will vary in value," the Kangarat explained. "For specific rewards, you can look at the contracts on the board over there and see what job fits you best."
Smash Hit ran over to the stage, looking at the posters on the board. He pulled one down, the poster detailing a pack of Slobbering Mutticus in the nearby quarry. He held it up eagerly, defining it as his pick.
"Erm, packs of monsters require two people to handle. No exceptions," the Kangarat explained. "If you don't mind sharing the bounty, you can go ahead with that one."
Smash Hit scurried to Nightfall's table, trying to get her attention. Nightfall hid her face away with her tentacle hair, not wanting to talk to him. The Warsupial parted her hair, grinning that stupid grin at her.
"So how 'bout it?" he asked her. "Want to hunt some Mutticus with me?"
"It's a task too big for a rookie such as yourself," Nightfall groaned. "Go ask someone else to kill you."
"Pretty please!? I won't ask anything else of you after that, I promise!"
She wasn't going to be rid of him anytime soon, was she? "Fine. We can go together," she decided. "Let me see that poster."
The Warsupial handed it to her. Nightfall looked it over carefully, studying what the poster said. "We need to collect the tongues as proof of our hunt," she said. "You will do as I say, and go when I go. Got it?"
"Got it."
Though the quarry was nearby, it took them a few days to get there. Nightfall had Smash Hit ride in her Sea Shadow beside her, for it was much quieter and less likely to attract unwanted attention than the "Thump Truck" was. The Warsupial was quite the chatterbox, moving on from one topic to the next, not caring if the Dreadwalker was paying attention. There was something nice about the way he got excited about things, as if the mere thought of doing anything filled him with passion. Nightfall was beginning to grow fond of him- and she hated herself for that.
"Whoa, this vehicle is pretty fast," Smash Hit beamed. "Is there a Rift Engine installed in it?"
"Yes. I found it near Leviathan Lagoon," Nightfall replied. "How did you guess?"
"I have one, too. It's in my Thump Truck. Oh, you should see the way she moves. You can run over anything with it- plants, trees, pesky monsters, the works. I found it out on a job, clearing out some old Arkeyan junk. You know how smart and sneaky those guys were, right? They were practically mining for everything with power, and they-"
Rocks came around the Sea Shadow, and Nightfall halted the vehicle. She stepped out, noting how the trees and vegetation were thinning out around the area. They had made it. Nightfall motioned for Smash Hit to climb out, and she started onward once he was following her. The midday sun created lots of shadows for protection, but they wouldn't find many in the quarry.
"Best to keep on your toes and stay silent," Nightfall whispered. "So detatch that ball from your chain- it makes too much noise."
"How will I hope to injure them?" Smash Hit asked.
"I'll tell you how. Just do as I say."
Smash Hit sighed, detaching the ball from his chain.
"Now you need to avoid the puddles of mucus they produce, because those are highly acidic. They'll also charge at you as well, so you need to be quick. Tire them out, and you can take them down with anything in your arsenal."
Smash Hit ran over to a railing set up near the brown stones, letting out a gasp. "Is that a method for open spaces?" he muttered.
"Of course. You should never get cornered by them," Nightfall insisted, walking next to him. Her eyes widened, and her heart dropped to her chest at the sight of their discovery.
Within the quarry's gorge, a whole mass of Mutticus resided within there. Some were resting, others were spitting up mucus, and a few were pacing around the gorge entrances. There were probably thirty of them down there, more than Nightfall had ever seen in her life.
"Oh my," she muttered. "It would take a whole team of monster hunters to eliminate them."
"Can't you contact any of them?" Smash Hit questioned her.
"I hunt alone. I never saw any point in getting anyone's contact information."
"Aw, we're screwed, we're screwed."
"We're not screwed. We just have to be smart about this. What kind of battle tactics does your kind have?"
"We usually just charge in, throwing bodies at the enemy."
Nightfall rolled her eyes. "Of course you do. I should've known better than to ask- you're part of an endangered species."
"Sometimes we'll draw enemies out so the rest of the battalions can attack. Do you think that could work?"
"It's risky. Mutticus are dangerous in groups."
"Well what does your kind do in battle?"
She suddenly remembered the Leviathan attack on her old home. "My kind have never been to war."
"Oh."
"Let's draw them out."
"Really?"
"You go down them and lure them from the gorge. I'll be up here, ready to fight."
Smash Hit nodded, departing from the railing and running down toward the gorge. Nightfall kept her eyes on the Mutticus pack, awaiting the moment when they started running out. A chorus of strange animal calls came forth, likely from the Warsupial himself. This started up the Mutticus pack, and they charged out of the gorge in single file, racing after Smash Hit.
Nightfall vaulted over the railing, stretching out her tentacle hair to a lagging Mutticus. She was pulled straight to it, tackling it to the ground and poisoning it. She transformed into shadows, hiding beneath the shadows of the Mutticus pack. Nightfall reconfigured herself to her normal form, grabbing a bunch of the monsters with her tentacle hair and slashing at their throats with her hooks. She stood on top of one of them, her arms sticky with their blood, as she looked out for the Warsupial. The rest of the Mutticus pack was after him, though Smash Hit had somehow reattached the ball to his chain and was whipping that around that way. He swerved past they attacks as he lent out his own, keeping one step ahead of them.
Nightfall knew that he was handling himself out there. But fear kicked in, worried that he was going to get hurt. She chased after them, tentacles flared out. She wrapped them around the waists of the Mutticus, trying to hold them back. But Smash Hit threw his wrecking ball at all of the monsters, swiping them away, accidentally taking Nightfall with them. Her tentacle hair released the Mutticus as her side scraped on the hard ground beneath her and dust stung her eyes. The monsters writhed on the ground in pain, and Nightfall staggered to her feet. She looked at Smash Hit, seeing him shake terribly as one hand covered his mouth in shock. His good green eye looked up at her in fear and guilt.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," the Warsupial stammered. "I didn't notice you, honest."
Her sleeve had been scraped up, though her skin hadn't broken. And the pain slowly ebbed away as well. Nightfall nodded at him, and walked toward the injured Mutticus, poisoning them with her tentacles. "I think that's the last of them," she simply stated. "Help me cut their tongues out."
They set up a camp in the woods that night as they began the return trip to the Guild Hall. Smash Hit had been quiet for the rest of the day, simply staring down at the ground in front of him. It made Nightfall uncomfortable. She'd gotten used to his constant chatter, and hated the fact that it had been silenced. Of course, she knew it was her fault. She'd gotten caught in the Warsupial's line of fire, and he was now blaming himself for hurting her.
She couldn't help but feel that she'd disappointed him, and that was a feeling she always hated. Perhaps it was the best, though. Maybe after this, the Warsupial wouldn't be so inclined to follow her around. Nightfall thought she would miss it, but things had to be better that way.
She returned to their little fire, carrying some sticks to keep it going. Smash Hit sat on one of the Sea Shadow's wings, legs crossed. He'd pulled the eyepatch down and covered his good eye with a hand, moving a finger over his bad one. The Warsupial sighed, setting his hands in his lap morosely. Nightfall opened up the trunk of her vehicle, grabbing out two cans and holding them toward him eagerly.
"I've got beans," she announced. "Beans are always good to have. Want me to cook some up for you?"
"Not right now," Smash Hit muttered.
Nightfall hoisted herself up next to him, opening one can and setting the other down next to her. She adjusted her breathing mask, using her tentacles to hold it up to her nose as she ate while still allowing pure Dreadwalker air to reach her. She gave another look to Smash Hit, who was now staring blankly at the flickering fire.
"Time to be honest," Nightfall decided. "I hunt alone because I get worried about others near me. I feel responsible for their well-being, and I forget to let them worry about themselves. So...what happened back there was not your fault. I just wanted to let you know that."
"You don't trust my abilities," Smash Hit replied silently.
"I don't trust anyone's abilities. That's what I just got done saying."
"It means the same thing. No, it's alright. I don't trust my abilities right now, either. Haven't in a few weeks, actually. I don't think I'm what I used to be."
Nightfall finished off her can, readjusting the breathing mask onto her face. "Is this about your eye?"
"Maybe if I'd had my full sight, I could've avoided hitting you entirely."
"Smash, I'm fine. I am not dead or dying, and you were a big help in getting rid of that Mutticus pack. I would've been no match for them on my own."
Smash Hit took his orange helmet off, setting it on his lap. He crossed his arms over the item and pressed his forehead into them. "Time for me to be honest as well," he began. "We don't actually lure our enemies out. None of us are smart enough to come up with other battle tactics that don't involve charging our enemies. That idea was just something I came up with on the fly- and it was a stupid one as well. We never should've done it."
"But it worked, and we're okay. Just-"
Smash lifted his head up, eyes watery. "And I'm not here because I'm monster hunting. Listen, those Rift Engines are dangerous in the wrong hands. When I found mine and bonded with it, some kind of energy surged out and turned on the other machines in the area, and a piece of shrapnel hit me in the face. The medics in my clan said I could never see out of this eye again, and my abilities were taken into question. I kept getting taken off of jobs, people kept doing chores for me when I didn't ask- they were basically coddling me. I started thinking that I was useless without my full abilities, and I didn't know what I was supposed to do to adjust. So bottom line...I ran away from home. I don't know if I'll go back- I don't think I can stand to do so."
Nightfall understood that feeling. She'd been feeling pretty useless for a long time. No matter how many monsters she'd slain, or how many people she'd saved, she couldn't get over her failure at Fogshadow Tower.
"I ran away from home, too," Nightfall told him. "I haven't spoken to my people in months. Not since I failed them."
"What happened?"
"I was scouting the depths around our home, looking for monsters to wipe out before they could harm anyone. I found a giant egg at the bottom of the sea, and it hatched into this horrible monster. I tried shooting at it, but the pulse beams just bounced off its scales. I hurried back home to warn everyone, to tell them to evacuate. Most got out before that thing attacked us. Everything was destroyed. There was nothing I could do. But everyone seemed rather upset at what had happened. I was sure they'd blame me for it, so I made sure that I left before anyone noticed me. So...what happened back there was not your fault. It was my misunderstanding of the situation that got myself hurt."
She suddenly felt the Warsupial throw himself around her, pouting silently. He was gripping her rather tightly, and she was unsure of how to react to this action.
"Smash Hit, I'm not...really a hugger," Nightfall insisted.
"Too bad, cuz I am," Smash Hit argued.
Nightfall let out a sigh, setting an arm over him. She suddenly found that her eyes were getting misty. The two of them were on their own out here, far from their respective clans, unsure if they could ever return. They might have to stay together for companionship. Nightfall was unsure if she was willing to keep a second person safe all the time. But was that...what companionship was about? Was she supposed to be brave about it?
Did it have to sound like the resounding answer was 'yes'?
They made their way back to the Guild Hall, having been rewarded for the Mutticus tongues. Nightfall was outside, tuning the weapons on the Sea Shadow, and she couldn't help but notice the Warsupial next to his vehicle. He had the metal box in his arms, sorting out a few gems that he insisted he liked the most. He seemed to be getting ready to leave as much as she was.
"Hey, Smash Hit," Nightfall called to him.
Smash Hit looked up. "Yeah?"
"If you want to keep travelling with me...that's okay."
"I thought you wanted me gone."
"I've changed my mind."
Smash Hit got up, crawling into the seat of the Thump Truck. "I'll warn you. I crash into every place with the subtlety of a bulldozer," he began.
"That's fine."
"I'll talk your ear off."
"I like listening to your stories."
"I might interfere with your work."
"Maybe you'll interfere in the best ways."
Smash Hit grinned again. "I don't seem so useless, huh?" he muttered. "Anyway, where are we going, Sha-"
"Call me Nightfall," she replied. "That is my name. If we're going to be travelling together, you should know my actual name."
