Pines Farm

Oscar wiped his brow as he looked at the horizon, taking in the progress that was already being made from today's work in the field. They still had a ways to go, but the progress was rather remarkable. Much faster than one person could do on their own. Sure his Aunt tended to help when he slept in, but she had a few other things to do. Milk the cows, feed the cattle, the usual things. As it stood Oscar mainly did the -literal- field work. Watered the crops, plowed the soil, pick out the fresh vegetables like corn and lettuce.

Course what he picked depended on the season.

Looking over to Abel, Oscar couldn't help but smile as he saw the older boy help water young crops. They were still rather small, but the water would help they grow. He'd admit though, Abel seemed a bit awkward in watering the plants. He wasn't over doing it, but he looked like he never held a watering can in his life.

Then again, given his state of dress - as some kind of offland Hunter - he was probably more right that he thought.

"First time?" Best to be sure though. Abel just laughed weakly as he nodded his head and moved onto a new plant.

"It's that easy to tell?"

"I've been doing this since I was little. Its easy for me to notice."

"Ah, a fair point." Abel muttered as he emptied the rest of his watering can and the two started walking back towards the well. "This form of manual labor escaped me growing up."

"What did you used to do anyway?" Oscar asked as he watched Abel start working the well. "I mean… before you became a Hunter?"

"I was an acolyte simply put." Abel muttered.

"An acolyte?"

"My family adheres to the Old Ways, the old beliefs. I was taught to uphold them." Abel admitted as Oscar fell silent for a moment.

"What did you do?"

"I attended ceremonies, partook in rituals, I studied the old tomes one thought lost." Abel stated as he stopped and stared off into space. "And I killed monsters."

"Like the Grimm?"

"Well, yes and no." Abel admitted as he sighed. "The Grimm are unlike anything I've seen in my limited lifetime, Still I killed beasts, and I'm ashamed to say that is something deeply embedded into our society as humans." he muttered before clenching his fist. "The need - the desire to kill." Oscar fell silent as he watched Abel frown. Something told him that if he pressed this conversation he was going to regret it. And watching Abel suddenly appear exhausted and older he wisely decided to drop it.

"What kind of books did you read?" Abel looked at Oscar as the younger boy scratched his head. "Sorry it's just… I read a lot in my spare time, so I was curious."

"It's fine." Abel stated before falling silent. He knew that he'd have to chose his next words carefully. Revealing too much would be breaking a vow he took; one all of them were meant to take to their graves. "I… I read about the Time Before mostly."

"The Time Before?"

"Before the calamity that ruined the world. Before Humanity fell and the beasts laid claim to the world." Oscar made an oh noise as he seemed to think for a minute. The Time Before, when he actually thought about it, that made a bit of sense. Though he never ran across such a book himself; Oscar knew of old yellow books, with pages torn and writing faded by time. They existed somewhere in the world, likely depicted the stories that weren't passed down. Stories of how the world used to be like, before the Grimm were born, before the Moon broke. The two fell silent as they both refilled their watering cans and headed back to the fields.

"What do think it was like?" Abel turned to Oscar and seemed to think.

"From what I read… humanity lived, thrived as a great empire." Abel admitted as he went back to watering some plants. "It spanned whole continents, and the people were happy. Technology was… almost like magic." Abel stated as he continued to think back. 'Back then the dragons served us…' "Under the rule of the 1st Kaiser, our empire flourished for many decades and centuries." He stopped for a moment as he remembered. "That is… until the Great Dragon War, and the Perfect Enemy of Humanity was born."

"Perfect Enemy of Humanity?" Oscar paused for a moment. "You mean the Grimm? Abel shook his head

"No, I mean the Black Dragon." As if remembering something he didn't want to Abel shivered as he closed his eyes. "It is more monster - more Great Spirit than beast. It detests humanity with great, abhorrent passion, and it's song and destructive power is well remembered by my people."

"There's a song about it?"

"It's one passed down from my land. At least… some say it's passed down. Even when not, some just seem to know it, like it's a genetic memory passed on from ancestors." Abel admitted with a bit of repulsion. "Everyone remembers it, but the song is sort of taboo," Abel shook his head. "Well not Taboo exactly, but an omen, a warning of sorts that says the Black Dragon is meant to return soon."

"Wouldn't that be impossible though?" Oscar cut in as he looked at the older teen."I mean, if it was real, it would have be what, over a thousand years by now?" He countered with a frown. "Nothing lives that long."

"You never know. Poisonous as it is, hate can be one hell of a motivator, preservative and adrenaline shot." Seeming to think back Abel shivered reflexively. "To many times have I seen great beasts and men pushed to the brink of death in battle, and, to many times have I seen pure rage not just keep them going, but seem to breathe new life into them."

"Yeah~ I'll give you that." Oscar admitted as Abel looked at him.

"You've felt that kind of rage."

"No - no not me. My Aunt." Oscar explained as he looked around, as if checking to see if it was safe to do so. "A few years ago, my Aunt was dumped by this one guy in about being to thick. She got so mad that she focused it into exercise." Oscar shook his head. "I swear by the time she lost the weight she was pretty much bench-pressing the cows." Abel stayed silent surprise on his face before he released a noise.

He laughed, a simple good natured laugh left him as Oscar joined in.

"I swear to you, that is both impressive and unbelievably hot."

Oscar continued to laugh withAbel before it was quickly replaced with a cautious expression. "What?" He asked. "You think my Aunt is hot?"

"Well no - I mean yes, I mean." Abel started to babble as he raised a hand and made to scratch his head. To bad the hand he raised was the one with the watering can, which proceeded to douse him without reservation. Oscar just stared at the sight, a doused Abel standing frozen as Water seemed to drip from his person and armor. Oscar snickered, staring at the drenched teen before he laughed again. Abel just flushed a crimson hue as he heard the laugh and looked elsewhere.

"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry, but you just emptied a watering can over your head."

"I know…" Abel grumbled before kicking some dirt.

"Come on, let's head inside for a minute so you can dry off."

"No need." Abel countered as he quickly removed his armor, leaving himself in his undersuit. With a heavy thump it landed on the ground as he stretched for a his arms behind his head he started to brush mack his hair and wring it dry. Oscar just watched, his laughter slowly dying down as he watched the - admittingly strange - majesty of the sight. Abel just continued to wring his hair dry before looking over to Oscar, confusion on his face as he tilted his head. "What?" Oscar just flushed red as he looked away.

"Nothing!" 'Oh my gosh, he's hot - where did that come from?' Sure Oscar might not of had the best luck with girls but was pretty sure his barn door didn't swing the other way. "L - let's just get you some more water." Oscar didn't even wait for a verbal response as he started walking back towards the well. Abel just followed, the short walk being in silence as he seemed to think.

"So, Oscar, what do you think of this life anyway?"

"Huh?" Oscar turned to Abel for a moment as he looked at Abel

"This life; the life of a farmer, What do you think of it?"

"Well it's alright." Oscar stated. A welcome change of subject bringing a light smile to his face. "I've known it my whole life. I'm used to it, and I like it; Growing the crops, taking care of the animals. Going into town so I can buy seeds and chat with everyone and attend the local festivals."

"Sounds wonderful." Abel muttered. "A simple life without bloodshed or beasts. To have hands that create instead of destroy." Abel hummed as he looked at his hands. "That sounds like paradise."

"I guess, but it does get kinda boring though." Oscar admitted. "Don't get me wrong, I like this… but…"

"You want more don't you?" Oscar stopped and turned to Abel before nodding his head. "You want from life, want to be more than a farmhand."

"I… yeah." Oscar sighed as he looked down, a sense of guilt washing over him. Seeing it, Abel walked over and rested a hand on Oscar's shoulder.

"Hey, don't get down about that. In my travels I've met people who feel the same way. Many just sate that desire by going out into the world, gaining experience before returning home changed." Or they never came back at all. Sometimes they didn't want to, or they couldn't handle what nature threw at them.

After all Nature, as beautiful Nature was, it could be utterly brutal when it wanted to be.

Regardless…

"Oscar… would you like to experience the world?" Abel asked, lowering his arm.

"Well yes but -"

"Then would you like to come with me and the others?" Abel asked as Oscar's eyes widened reflexively. "Me, my brother and my sisters are looking for someone, and we'll be traveling for a while, Would you like to come with us?" Abel rephrased his question as he looked off into the distance. "I can't promise what you'd end up experiencing, and I can't guarantee what you'll see will be pleasant, but if you want, we can show you the world beyond your farm. If that's what you truly desire."

Vale

Neo's Safehouse

"So what exactly happened to you?"

"Got my ass kicked."

"By?

"Rathalos." Gales stated as he looked at the television his chin resting on the crown of Neo's head as she alternates between texting him a message and watching TV. When she was done she tilted it, bringing it to Gales line of sight as he glanced at it.

"Never heard of that Grimm."

"That's because it's not a Grimm." Gales admitted before looking back at the TV and scratched his head. "It's a Flying Wyvern, we call him the King of Skies where I'm from." He raised his head Neo looked up at him with a confused expression.

"Wyvern? Like a Dragon?

"No they're actually two totally different breeds to be honest." Gales stated.

"What's the difference?"

"Number of legs and list of powers for starters." Gales grumbled for a moment and seemed to think. "The Dragons are harder to find too." Gales stated before looking back at Neo. "I'm surprised you don't know that. I mean Wyverns are pretty damn common in the Hunter's community."

"Maybe where you're from."

"Good point." Gales admitted as he read the text. "I mean I never heard of a Grimm until I got here." He seemed to think. "Maybe Vales too far from their annual Migrations." He frowned at that. 'If that's the case… how far am I from home?' Neo just stared at him, her attention turned from the TV as she raised a hand and spread two fingers. She touched the edge of his lips and pushed them upward, forcing him to smile. When he blinked in confusion he saw her smiling at him again, and saw another text already waiting for him to read.

"You look better when you smile."

He just chuckled as she pulled her fingers away and his smile became more natural. That on his face the two just went back to watching TV as he rested his chin on her head again. 'She's so tiny…' Was the thought that went through Gales head as he subconsciously wrapped his arms around Neo's waist. The act made her jump slightly but that Feline-smile remained - grew in fact - as she relaxed into his grip.

Wrapped in a pair of strong arm, she wasn't exactly going to complain.

'I wonder if she's what they call a Loli.'