Testing, testing, 1,2,3…..Hello, is this thing on?
Note: I. OWN. NOTHING….well, except for my imagination!
Hello, there! I apologize for the writer's block, everybody! I begrudgingly admit that I get those often... Now then, welcome to the third chapter of…..
-The-Hunter:-Warden-of-Vytal-
Chapter Three: The Wrong in the Woods, Pt.1
It was an Autumn midday on a well-travelled road. The sun was shining; the leaves were changing colors. Wildlife was up and about amongst the woods. A cool breeze gently brushed through the trees. Nary a Grimm in sight.
It was also where Naruto found himself tracking down his chosen prey. Running freely from branch to branch he scanned the ground ahead of him with a hunting bow in hand; Kurama following him on his right. Their target was not far now: the former jinchuuriki had been hunting it down for hours now; days it had been since he, Juniper, and Ozma had left the small town of Rivia on their quest heading westbound for Anima-seeing that was where Juniper's father was rumored to have been. Alas, they stopped at a port town opting to wait for the ship to return from sea. In the meantime, the whiskered blond was tasked by a local inn to hunt wildlife for food since there were more people waiting for the ship ride to Anima. So far, the pair have managed to trap phaesants, hares, and boars. But now it was time to hunt down the most elusive game of them all. Many locals and travellers have tried to catch it, but always came home empty-handed. Big, but fast and agile.
The former shinobi had just made it onto the next branch when he heard the faint snapping of twigs. He poised, notched an arrow back, and waited. A second passed, then another.
Then, finally, it emerged from the brush….
The Valean elk, known as the "king of the forest", was truly deserving of its title. It was seven-and-a-half feet tall, covered in greyish-brown pelt. Its massive antlers spread out wide nearly twelve feet across. All ripe for the taking as it neared a small stream for a drink. Now, this animal was the most sensitive of the local wildlife, always watching for any nearby predators. Land predators. So, of course, it was no wonder that it didn't see Naruto aiming his bow at its flank from a high tree branch.
And it never would….
*Thwang!*
-Sometime—Later-
"I still can't believe someone was finally able to kill the stag everyone's been talking about," Juniper spoke as she stabbed her fork into the thick juicy piece of venison steak before bringing it to her mouth. The lady of the party chewed her meal thoroughly, then gulped it down. "though you will not hear me complaining about it! My compliments to the cooks, as it were."
"Oi! In case you forgot, June-bug, I was the one who hunted it down because a certain someone wanted some quality-grade meat!" cried the whiskered blond. Though a devious thought did pass his mind. Naruto gave an unsettling mischievous grin. "'Sides. If it was quality meat you were after, you could've asked Oz here to help feed that 'mouth' of yours. I'm sure he wouldn't mind-OW!"
"What did he mean by that, Ozma?"
"Nothing, I'm sure," the emerald wizard gave a rueful glare at the young man whose leg he'd kicked. It lasted only half a second before fading with a smile "Regardless, Naruto, we do thank you for such a fine meal."
"Yeah, yeah, it was nothin'. Always happy to help out my friends." Grumbled the unhappy Hunter. Rubbing his sore shin, he decided to change the topic. "Anyways, how'd you guys do while Kurama and I were out hunting? Any luck?"
"Oh, yes! Certainly!" And so Juniper proceeded to fill the whiskered blond in on how she and Ozma were able to track down the exact ship that her father supposedly took to get to Anima by bribing the local harbormaster. Which, in truth, was not that hard to do-they just had to offer him a bottle of cheap booze and some coin. He was just about to recount to them how he had managed to track the elk, when suddenly-
"TROLLS!"
The sudden shout drew their attention outside to see a young man and woman-a couple, perhaps-running down the main road, panic evident on their faces. They soon found it was the man shouting: "TROLLS IN THE FOREST!"
And in the midst of all the commotion that was going on around them, it was only Naruto and Kurama that were unfazed. Quickly finishing their meal, the pair looked each other in the eye, gave a slight nod, and managed to slip away undetected.
"We're back."
"There you are!" Ozma exclaimed as the duo had entered the inn rooms they were staying in, arms full of materials. "We couldn't seem to find you two after the commotion at dinner. Just where have you been, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Eh? Oh, I just had to get a few things from the market." the whiskered blond replied as he set his new purchases onto a nearby table, Kurama leaping onto the surface as though to assist. On the tabletop were as followed: potter's clay, slabs and cylinders of steel, black powder, a small brush and numerous small jars of ink. The former bijuu went straight to cutting up some of the steel slabs into tiny pieces with his claws before rolling them into balls while Naruto was taking pieces of clay and drawing seals with the ink and brush. Curiously, Juniper went over to take a closer look as the process continued.
"Naruto," she began, "may I ask as to what you are making?"
The whiskered blond shrugged his shoulders, not stopping at all in his work. "It's a sort of trap for the Trolls." he explained. "Y'see how Kurama is making those pieces of steel into tiny little balls?" When she nodded, he continued. "Now, imagine this: you're out there alone. Facing a Grimm horde, I don't care which. You can't risk them getting around behind you since you're out hunting by yourself, so..."
Realization seemed to dawn on her face. "So you're making something to keep them distracted at bay in the meantime."
"Right," the former shinobi added, having finished drawing seals on the last piece of clay before getting up from the table. Kurama was now carefully filling the steel jars with the balls before adding in the black powder. As Naruto came back he had in his hand a scroll and some ninja wire.
Still, there was one thing neither Juniper nor Ozma could quite understand: "So what is it that they do, exactly?"
All they got was a wide, toothy grin. "Trust me. You'll see soon enough."
It was dusk when the four left the town, and all the locals wishing them a safe return. It wasn't long, however, before they managed to reach the deep woods. Before entering however, Naruto told the others to wait as he reached behind his waist. He grabbed a small scroll and held it out to Kurama on his shoulder, much to Ozma's and Juniper's confusion.
"You know what to do, right partner?" he asked, getting a scoff and eye roll from the nine-tailed fox.
"Of course I do, idiot. Who else is gonna keep the third-rate trash off your back?"
"Don't worry," Ozma repied, "We'll do our best to keep him safe."
"I was referring to someone more dependable, human."
"WHY YOU-!"
"Okay, okay. No need to fight." The whiskered blond heeded, sweatdropping at the sight of an irritated Juniper with steam pouring out of her ears. If looks could kill, Kurama would be a fur coat by now. "Kurama, try not to antagonize the odd couple, will you?"
"C-COUPLE?!/EXCUSE ME?!"
"Yeah, yeah, I heard you. No promises though!" Cackling, the fox quickly caught the scroll in his mouth before darting off into the thick overgrowth. Turning around, it took nearly everything Naruto had not to outright laugh as the magic duo were currently doing impressions of steaming tomatoes. Buuuuut he couldn't help it...
"HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!" he guffawed at them, leading Juniper to start swatting his arm with her hand. "I-I'm sorry, but your face!"
"IT'S NOT FUNNY, NARUTO!" She screeched, not letting up her "attack" onto the laughing Hunter currently holding his stomach. It was only when he stopped that she relented. Pulling himself together, he still kept a smirk on his face as he apologized. Juniper narrowed her eyes at him whereas Ozma merely sighed.
"Juniper, I believe he's learned his lesson already..." he began, which led the fair-skinned lady to harrumph in mock disdain. The emerald wizard then turned to Naruto before speaking again. "Any chance of finding the Grimm?"
"Eh, Trolls are known to blend in to their surroundings; they're good sprinters too. That's why I had Kurama set the traps along the perimeter beforehand so we don't end up having to chase the damn things down." the whiskered blond explained, "So until he gets back, we'll be taking point and going further in to find the Trolls."
"And may I ask as to how we're going to find them?" Juniper politely asked.
"Simple, with this."
Then he pulled out what looked to be a glowing blue crystal attached to a small chain.
This was the Tear Stone, the third and final gift from the God of Light.
"What is that?"
"Hm? Oh, this? It lets me navigate through dark caves and corridors, as well as tracking any specific Grimm of my choosing. Granted there's a few other practical functions and tricks to it, but now is not the time for an explanation." Gone was the mirthful smirk only to be replaced by a stoic expression. "Now listen, both of you. Hunting a Grimm through unknown territory is dangerous, especially if ya don't know what you're doing. From this moment on, you must do everything I say. If I tell you to run, you run. If I tell you to hide, you hide. If I tell you to leave me and escape to the nearest settlement, then you must do so. No exceptions. Understand?"
The magic duo grimaced, but nodded. As much as they hated the idea, they had no choice.
And Naruto didn't have the time to coddle them during the hunt, not when there's Trolls in the area that could get the drop on them at any minute.
After all, he had a job to do...
And with that, the party of three entered the deep, dark woods.
-Meanwhile...-
On battle-scarred wastelands there stood a man. Clad head to toe in a pitch black hooded cloak, he gazed out towards the horizon as though searching for something that should be there. Grunting, the man made to leave.
"It's not here." He muttered beneath his breath. "None of it is here."
CAW! CAW!
Looking up, the man was able to see a raven swooping down only to land upon his shoulder. It looked like any other raven besides the fact that it had three red eyes the color of blood. Sighing, the man lowered his hood to reveal pale skin with long black hair, two chin-length bangs framing the sides of his face. A jagged, vertical scar ran down his currently closed right eye. When he opened it, it was shown the man bore crimson orbs with three comma-like patters lazily spinning around the pupil.
"It looks like I'll need your help yet again, Naruto..."
-End-Chapter-