Hello everyone and welcome back to HellFall!
Only one week left of camp, then we'll be back to one chapter every Monday. I'm really not looking forward to the end, but it had to happen at some point.
By the time we arrived at home Grizzly was exhausted. Looks like he didn't get enough sleep earlier, I thought as we entered the house.
"I need to sleep." He said, dragging his feet up the stairs, "You can explain everything later. I'll give you some time to go over your thoughts and stuff"
"Alright," I said, "sleep well"
Outside it was early in the morning. Luckily, I was a self-employed huntress, so I could work whenever I wanted to. Plus I'd already fought in the second round of the tournament, so I didn't need to be anywhere for the rest of the day.
I went to the kitchen and prepared the small breakfast of a single omelet filled with melted cheese and a glass of apple juice. My stomach growled as I prepared the meal, and when I finished it had quieted down.
Staying where I was, seated at the kitchen table, I wondered what I would do for the rest of the day. I guess that I could go hunting. I thought, Earn a bit of Lien.
Standing, I went upstairs and searched my closet, finding only my bladed dust vial revolver, Tina. I'd left my suitcases in Heishi's car when he'd pulled us out, and now his car was gone. I wonder if I'll ever see them again, I wondered, hoping that I would. For now I had to make do with Tina, which wasn't exactly bad. For big missions it'd be harder to use though.
Taking it and throwing it on my bed, I went to get dressed, as I was still in my damp pajamas. I reached for my usual dress, then decided to wear something different. It was still early, so the morning winds would be cool, and my pink dress showed more skin than I would like for the cold.
I pulled on a pair of dark blue jeans, a white T-shirt, and a thick hot pink jacket with pale pink fur lining the hood. The coat was long and went down to my ankles (like a dress, only it was a jacket and less formal). It was meant for someone taller and was only meant to go past my knees.
Going to the bathroom I untied my pink hair bun and reapplied my make-up. I was going to take a shower, but I was already dressed and wasn't in the mood. Once I finished I tucked my medium-length hair into the back of my jacket and pulled up hood. Taking one last look at myself in the mirror, I headed out, clipping Tina to my waist before opening my front door.
I locked the door behind me, then headed out. It was likely that the Atlas Outskirts Defense (AOD) could use some extra help. Often when I couldn't find work here in Atlas, as I usually lived in Vale, I would join the hunters there and help out for a few hours. They paid me fairly there as well, which was a bonus.
Some early risers walked by me, casting Tina curious glances. Someone walking around with a sword or gun on their back or waist was pretty normal, most people were just curious as to what it looked like or what type of weapon it was.
Once I reached the wall lining the city of Atlas I walked through the front gates, nodding to the guards at the door. Inside the wall were the living quarters for several of the AOD members.
"Morning Bole" I said, walking in.
The man, Bole, cocked his head from where he was lying down on his bed.
"Morning" He said, smiling.
"You got anything going on today?" I asked.
He shrugged, "I think so." He replied, "We almost always head out. You joining us?"
"I think so." I replied. "How long will it be?"
Bole paused, "Probably just half the day." He replied, "The usual"
"I'll join for the morning one" I decided.
"What about later?" He asked, "The tournament?"
"Nah," I replied, "Already fought. I have to meet someone"
Bole rolled up from a lying position to a sitting one to look at me, "Like a date?" He asked.
I shook my head, "No," I replied, "He's a friend who's staying with me for the tournament"
"He's living with you?" He asked, "Who is this guy? A boyfriend?"
"No," I replied, laughing a little, "He's only fifteen years old. Like I said, he's only staying for the tournament"
"That seems a little inappropriate" Bole said.
"Oh shut it." I said, "There's nothing wrong with it"
"I know there isn't." He said, "But to other people who don't know you it may sound inappropriate"
"Other people's opinions don't matter unless they're important to you" I pointed out.
Bole juggled his head back and forth, "Even then maybe not." He said, "Some people you just know not to care about their opinions because of how different they are than yours"
"Right." I replied. "People like you"
"You don't agree with me?" He asked.
"Not always." I replied, "That was a joke, Bole"
"Oh" He replied, smiling a little.
"Hey!" Someone said. I looked past Bole, seeing Umber walking towards us, "You're here Nicole"
"I am," I replied, "did you just wake up?" Umber switched from sleep to wakefulness almost seamlessly. I'd never seen her drowsy before. Nor had I ever seen her with bedhead.
"I did" She replied, running a hand through her shoulder-length brown hair. Both she and Bole had brown hair.
"So do you have any details on the expedition?" Umber asked us.
"Assuming it's just two half-days again" Bole replied.
"Alright." Umber replied, starting to walk away, "I'm going to go figure it out"
"Bye" Bole said.
"I'm not going to be gone long," She said, "You don't need to say 'bye' every time I walk out the door"
Bole waved, "Bye" He said again.
Umber snickered, then left.
"Can you call me when you figure everything out?" I asked, starting to turn.
"Sure." He replied, "No problem"
"Thanks" I said, turning and leaving. As I walked out I pulled out my scroll and called Grizzly. I didn't expect to actually talk to him, and when it went to voicemail I wasn't surprised. He was out like a light.
"Hey Grizzly?" I started, leaving a message, "So I'm going to be out for a few hours. I'll be back around lunchtime. Bye for now" then I hung up.
Looking around, I saw that the city was still very inactive, as it was still very early in the morning. I sat down on a nearby bench and watched the people occasionally walk by.
Shortly after I sat down I felt my scroll ringing. Pulling it out I found a call from Bole.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Just one half-day's expedition today." He said, "Because of the tournament we all get the second half of the day off, if we make it of course"
"Alright," I said, "I'm just outside. I'll be in in a second"
Hanging up and standing, I headed back into the gate and saw the four hunters who lived in the gate getting ready.
"You know the drill" Elwood, the commander, told me.
"Right" I replied, heading to the armory and finding the required chainmail vest and leather gauntlets and slipping them on over my jacket.
"You sure you want the jacket?" Elwood asked me.
"Oh," I said, "don't want to get it ripped or dirty" I said, pulling off the armor and jacket, then replacing the armor. I was now only wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt.
"You really aren't dressed for the weather today, Miss Rozovyy." Elwood commented, "If you want to go home and change, you've got time"
"Thanks," I said, "but I think I'm fine"
"That shirt's stain ain't gonna be pretty" He pointed out.
"The Grimm don't bleed," I reminded him, "they evaporate. I'll be fine"
Elwood shrugged, "What about the blood of the hunters?" He asked.
"When was your last casualty?" I asked.
He paused to think. "Got me there" He replied. Most of the time people didn't die in the AOD. We were all experienced veterans, having hunted for at least a decade.
I found my way to the conference room, where people were already gathering. I sat down next to Bole, who had his steel bow staff leaned against the table next to him. It was a perfectly smooth silver pole, with only a few dents on the ends from combat. I found myself wondering on several occasions how it didn't slip from his hands while he fought.
Once all seven members, not including Elwood or me, had arrived he walked in and started to explain where we were going.
"We're heading up north." He said, "The Grimm have been accumulating more up there. We'll stick with the regular formation. Nicole, you'll join Bole and Umber as usual today. This isn't going to be anything crazy, just a few too many Grimm a few too many miles close to our city. Any questions? No? Good, let's get a move on then."
So there you have it. A simple chapter, a few new faces, the usual.
As usual, not much to say, plus I'm a little tired. I'm posting a short story on Fictionpress soon after this, so check that out. Its labelled 'Smooth Jazz' by SquigglyCrunch.
Anyways, as usual, favorite, follow, review, tell your friends, tell your enemies, or don't if you don't want to and I'll see you all in the next chapter.