Shattered Links

It had been a long time for the three of them, so long in fact that Minjonet could hardly remember the last time they laughed. But here they were laughing around their table with many of their drinks finished with the empty bottles lying on the table. With the second and third rounds empty lay with the rest of the bottles. Now they reminiscing on their old friend and some of their fondest memories for him.

"Yeah, but what would you two idiots always say to each other?" Stella asked Tanner "Wasn't it about how Grey fought. Right?"

"OH YEAH!" Tanner just clueing completely missing the fact that Stella called him an Idiot "I guess it was our thing, I always told him that he needed to learn how to throw a punch and he would say…."

"He would say that you need to learn how to take a punch" Minjonet interrupting Tanner, though no one seemed to mind not even Tanner he just kept a smile on his face. They all just started to laugh at that. Though after they had stopped laughing a dreadful silence fell over the three of them with Minjonet just staring down at her drink. "It has been a long time since we have all laughed like that hasn't it, " She said

"Yeah, it's been while even when get together it's very rare for us to laugh" Stella stated, "though I guess it also shows that we have healed a little bit through the years."

"I guess that's true your Highness though it still sucks that he had to kick the bucket even though he made sure we got out of there," Tanner said though he did have a point Minjonet couldn't help but think about what he said. What would have their lives looked like if Grey was with them today, would they even have been there.

Though what they didn't know was Grey was down the street in a café watching them trying to figure out what they were saying. But he knew that he could never join them the risks that would come from him showing himself would be too great for them. So he was to keep his distance from them not for a selfish reason but for them.

At that moment Tanner stood up from his seat "Hey I'll go grab our next round still just the normal drinks right? Ginger ale for you angel and a cream soda for your Highness?" Tanner asked as he started to walk away from the table and into the restaurant.

"Why can't you just say our actual names and not your stupid nicknames for us? And why 'Your Highness' really?" Stella asked as if she didn't aspect the outcome.

"it's easier for me to remember nicknames instead of actual names though, after all, I have remembered your names. Though I have used them for so long it's just normal now," Tanner stated as he walked away, "and for 'Your Highness' because you act like royalty and have a stick shoved so far up there." He said turning around just so you could see his smile as if he was saying he was kidding but before Stella Could say anything he already disappeared inside.

This caused Minjonet to snicker a little bit though as Tanner walked away. Stella, on the other hand, was on the other side of the spectrum with more of a scowl on her face.

"How did we get stuck with him on our team, He is still as annoying as ever," Stella said in a lowered voice.

"Well to your first question that one speaks for its self after all weren't you two paired up during the first test." Minjonet retorted "but I guess he was also the humor for our team never really taking or saying anything seriously"

"I guess so but he is still annoying though," Stella stated still with a lowered voice but not as low as it once was. "Now that he's gone though I need to ask you something and before I go much further I need to let you know it would be dangerous, " Stella asked back to her normal self.

"Sure but why did you have to wait for him to leave after all I thought you two were such great friends." Minjonet stated in a joking manner "But sure I'll bite what's up?"

"Please don't lump me and him together, " Stella said with a hint of disgust "So about what I wanted to discuss with you. As I am sure you know I have been helping a small village just on the very southern tip of Atlas. Helping them fend of Grimm attacks at first it wasn't so bad there would be the odd Beowolf Attack ever now and then. But their attacks have been getting a lot more savaged recently the village has been considering to hire another Huntsman or even two for that matter."

"So let me guess you want me to come with you and help you just like the old times. Right?" Minjonet asked, "Because we could have Tanner come along for the extra help after all, when it comes to fighting Grimm he isn't the best but he can still help."

"I rather not ask him, to be honest, it would feel too much like we were trying to get the team together and besides you know how much I dislike him" Stella Stated but before Minjonet Could Respond she was interrupted by a familiar voice

"Well don't I feel hurt," Tanner said from their side of the two of them causing him to surprise the two of them epically Stella. "I always knew you never liked me" He joked as he hands the two their drinks "but to dislike me wow never knew you cared that much" trying to make a jab towards Stella "So what are you two talking about while I was away?" he asked

Shocked that he got back so fast Stella tried to do a little bit of damage control. "Oh, nothing Minjonet thought that we could …."

"Stella was asking me if I could help her out with some Grimm that are terrorizing a small village that she was helping to defend," Minjonet responded cutting off Stella before she could finish her train of thought. "She was wondering if I could help her but I have other things going on,"

Minjonet just started to look down at the drink she was handed, she didn't look at her friends after she lied to them. Truthfully she had nothing going later, most likely heading back to Vale or to some other settlement that could use a Huntress' help. But she had no desire to team back with her former teammates. For only one simple reason, she didn't want to lose another friend again, not like Grey. She started to fell back into her memories of the times she would spend with him together. Then no sooner did she lose herself into her memories her friends snapped her back into reality.

"Alright then. It's ok Minjonet" Stella said in a lowered voice, however, Minjonet could almost hear Stella's disappointment in her voice. "I guess I could protect the village by myself. Not like I have been doing it for a while."

"Hey come on now have you forgotten about me already?" Tanner asked with a hint of both humor and actual sadness. Though Minjonet couldn't tell why he would feel hurt by that fact those two never saw eye to eye. "Though I would've told yeah that wouldn't happen." even with those words Minjonet could even tell that statement wasn't completely true but even still she figured it was better to be silent.

"Well good, I wasn't even going to ask you any ways" Stella stated with a hint of something similar to disgust but was somehow closer to Sadness. "Anyways I have to get going, I need to get back to the village before sun down. The Grimm have been getting more active lately."

"Before sun down?" Tanner chuckled as he saying that "Is our little highness still afraid of the dark?" saying that in the most degrading voice he could offer with a hint of laughter in his voice. Though after the words left his mouth he started laughing very loudly.

"OH WOULD YOU SHUT YOUR TRAP!" Stella shouted towards Tanner as Minjonet couldn't help but laugh along with Tanner a little quieter than Tanner but laughing the same. "You know perfectly well why I want to get back before sun down and it has nothing to do with being afraid of the dark!" Stella shouted but down a few octaves though it seemed to cause Tanner to laugh even harder.

"HA HA. Oh man, thanks for that Princess I really need that." Tanner slowly coming down from his laughing fit. "Ha, oh man that was great" after he said that he quickly took a deep breath and silence fell over the group again.

It took a couple minutes before anyone spook up but Minjonet was the first to speak up. "Well I guess I have to get going myself, I think there is enough time to find a transport back to Vale," She said as she rose up from her seat. Once again almost on cue Talon came flying down and rested on Minjonet's shoulder give a loud cry when he felt secure on her shoulder.

"How is it going Talon? I was just about to ask where you were at." Tanner asked Talon as if he could answer. Though Talon did give a quick cry as if he was answering Tanner though Minjonet new better.

"Well, I better going myself" Stella Stated as she stood up from the table herself. "It's a long road back to the village but if I leave now I might be able to make it still."

"Really both of you are leaving already?" Tanner asked the two of them as he still sat down at the table.

"And you're not?" Stella asked back to Tanner. "Don't you have somewhere to be?"

"Of course I don't," He said as he leaned on the back of the chair reaching for his drink. "Have you ever known me to have a plan?"

"No, but if you ever did, I would think you finally grew a brain cell in there," Stella commented before everyone left on their separate ways. With Tanner still drinking at the table with Stella and Minjonet heading in different directions.