One month.
A full month had passed.
Joe was more than just stressed. One could even say he was throwing a tantrum. Normally, he would be more composed, often just trying to keep himself busy with doing little hunts and what not. However, the two rookies had finally gone off to doing their own hunts, even going out with Lucian and Ilia from time to time, oftentimes teaming up with each other now that they were more familiar with the landscape.
Reiya hadn't even so much as sent a letter.
To say it was driving Joe nuts would be putting it lightly.
"Hey, Joe!"
Joe grumbled, turning around to face the Astera gates. He had found himself in the trading area, just about to head out on an assignment before he remembered to grab some more supplies before heading out. However, hearing his name caused him to turn around and face Lucian, the man just returning with Hazel and Anna hot on his tail. Lucian's hand was raised as he approached Joe, the latter sighing and putting on a smile as he turned and said, "What's up?"
Lucian glanced back at the two and nudged his head to the side. They both nodded and veered off in a different direction, to which he chuckled and said, "Those two aren't bad. I'm gonna assume they had some prior experience beforehand. They can certainly handle their own."
"I figured as much," Joe replied, "They certainly had…something about them."
Lucian's eyes glanced at Joe, the man's voice very obviously trailing off toward the end there. The tone only caused Lucian to grin, his arm going around the man's shoulder. Joe turned to Lucian in surprise, getting dragged over to the rope railing of the Astera home base as the latter then said, "Is her absence really bothering you that much?"
Joe blinked. He immediately knew who Lucian was referring to, "her absence" immediately bringing up one person in particular. A sigh escaped his lips, taking Lucian's arm off his shoulders as he then said, "...I mean, we haven't seen her for a month. A whole goddamn month."
"Hey, relax," Lucian stated, "Just because she's not here doesn't mean she went and died on us. I think she's fine."
"I hope you weren't referring to me."
Both men, surprised, turned around, seeing Reiya, the topic of conversation, walking up to them. The woman had her hands behind her head as she walked up between the two, shooting a glance at them both. She couldn't help but chuckle, seeing the wide-eyed enthusiasm and surprise on both of their faces.
"What? You guys make it seem like you just seen a ghost or something," Reiya chuckled, finally snapping Joe out of his trance. Lucian began chuckling as well as Joe sighed, clenching his fists, then smiled and relaxed. His gaze softened as he then said, "well, finally decided to show your face back here again?"
"Well, sorry that I'm a very popular hunter over here," Reiya shot back, giving him a sly smirk, "but I wasn't going to miss this next group of researchers coming in."
"Huh? We have another group?"
The two men both looked at Reiya, surprised and with questions popping up left and right in their minds. Reiya was about to answer when the sound of a horn blew in the distance. Her attention then turned to the ocean, a ship just now popping over the horizon. Her eyes widened slightly, excitement filling her very being as she lowered her arms. Joe and Lucian both took notice, turning to look at the ship as well as the latter saying, "well. Look at that."
However, Reiya didn't even notice.
Almost with a purpose, she began making her way down to the Astera docks. Joe watched her take her leave, glancing at Lucian and nudging his head to follow her. Many hunters and people began making their way over to the docks as well, curious to see what all the commotion was about. Already down there was the Commander and the Huntsman, all looking out at the ship, Reiya coming up to stand next to them. Joe and Lucian both stood behind her, looking over her shoulders with their taller statures as the Commander said, "right on time."
Reiya remained silent, her eyes locked onto the ship. Behind her, Joe asked, "umm...sir? What's up with these new hunters and researchers all of a sudden?"
"This one is quite different," the Commander stated, crossing his arms, "this one is straight from the guild. More visitors than hunters or researchers that were assigned to us."
The ship finally made it to the dock.
Ropes went flying off the deck, men scrambling to get the ship tied up to dock. People began scrambling all around as a plank was dropped between the shop and the dock. The Commander couldn't help but chuckle Reiya taking the first steps forward, her eyes locked onto the plank. Joe and Lucian watched as she walked forward in an apparent trance, her mind obviously elsewhere.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Her fingers began trembling, her throat going dry.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
A deep inhale, followed by a deep exhale, a hand going up to her chest in an attempt to calm her racing heart.
Breathe.
Breathe.
A metal boot clacked onto the plank. Reiya stopped, her heart stopping as she held her breath. Sapphire blue eyes engaged, locking onto each other as a woman, suited in full, old world Rathian armor, walked onto the dock.
Breathe, dammit.
Breathe.
Reiya's feet were stuck to the ground, almost frozen in place. She couldn't lift a muscle, even if she wanted to.
The woman's gentle smile.
The scars on her armor were evident of her experience as her hands rose up, taking her helm off. Red locks dropped down to her shoulders, but the face and the smile were all clear, the similarities between her and Reiya unmistakable.
Breathe.
The woman stopped just in front of Reiya, her eyes going up and down Reiya's shining, deep blue Velkhana armor. Reiya's breath was still being held, her eyes locked onto the woman's as the woman then said, "my...how strong you've become!"
Reiya opened her mouth to speak, only for no words to come out. The woman's smile turned into a grin, her hand coming up to gently lay on Reiya's shoulder. Reiya stiffened up, still in disbelief, then shut her eyes tightly. The woman's grin turned back into a smile, her other hand coming up and gently grasping Reiya's other shoulder.
"Reiya."
Reiya's face lowered, her eyes still closed as a single tear streaked down onto her cheek.
The woman lifted her face to Reiya's forehead, closing her eyes as she gently planted a kiss onto it.
"You've grown so strong. I'm so proud of you."
Nearby, the Huntsman scoffed, his face well hidden behind his scarred helmet. The woman's sharp ears caught the scoff, a smirk on her face as she pulled Reiya into a hug. She gave the Huntsman a sharp look as she looked over Reiya's shoulder and said, "ah, still alive and kicking, I see. Thought you said you were going to retire."
"And I thought you'd have learned some manners by now," the Huntsman replied, "How's Pokke?"
The woman laid her face down into Reiya's shoulder, ignoring the Huntsman as she took in the younger hunter's presence. There was an obvious bond between the two, all the people all around ignoring them as Joe and Lucian watched nearby, enamored by the reaction. It was most certainly a sight they weren't used to, seeing Reiya show so much emotion to one person.
"Now then," the Commander stated, approaching them, "Let us take this elsewhere. Its busy here right now."
"Alright," the Commander stated, "I suppose I should have you all informed now."
On one side of the meeting table was the Commander the the woman hunter. On the other was Joe, Lucian, Ilia, Hazel, Anna, and Reiya, who had finally recomposed herself. The Commander looked at them all, then stated, "this is Alice. She's a hunter from Pokke Village, here to watch over the two new hunters."
Before anyone could speak, the Commander than said, "and before any of you can say anything, no, I'm not saying that I don't trust any of you. I just need you four-," he shoots a glance at Joe, Lucian, Ilia, and Reiya, "-to do some other assignments. Furthermore-."
"Commander!"
The Commander groaned at the interruption, turning to see a messenger running up to the table. The man stopped next to him, bending over into his knees and gasping for air. The group of hunters all watched the messenger, curious, only for the messenger to look up and excitedly say, "An Arch Tempered Kushala Daora has been slain in the Hoarfrost Reach!"
A collective gasp from people walking around all around them could be heard.
Alice's eyes turned to Reiya, a twitch on her pointer finger evident, though only to the former.
"Who did it?"
"No one knows! Maybe a hunting party?"
"Thats a hell of an achievement, that's for sure!"
"Man, two Arch Tempered elders? What's up with that?"
The question from Lucian weighed heavily on Joe's mind. His eyes wandered to Reiya, the woman's gaze almost stoic, like when they were up in the Astera Gathering Hub. However, he chose not to pursue it this time, seeing as the current situation seemed more important than poking and prodding the woman for whatever she knew about it.
With a sigh, the Commander continued, "anyway, back to what I was saying. Furthermore, Joe, I need you to go to Seliana with Lucian and Ilia. There's been reports of a Velkhana being sighted in the region. I need you to confirm it and report it to my grandson."
"Just us? What about Reiya?"
The question seemingly boomed in Joe's ear, Ilia the one inquiring this time. Hazel and Anna both leaned over to see the reaction from Reiya, Joe's eyes turning to her as well. However, Reiya, like last time, stood still, stoic as she was before. The Commander sighed and replied, "the Sapphire Star is needed here to investigate some Elder Dragon tracks. As much as I'd love to send her, she's needed here."
"Why does it seem like you're keeping her away from us," Joe mumbled, then released an exaggerated sigh and replied with a simple "yes sir."
Later that day, Joe, Lucian, Ilia, Reiya, and Alice all found themselves wandering into Reiya's private quarters. With the two rookies hunters having gone off on another expedition, the veteran hunters decided to have a small gathering before the three took off for Seliana in the morning. Lucian and Ilia were cuddled up next to each other on one bench while Reiya and Alice sat nexr to each other on the other. Joe stood between the two, the group all sitting in front of the pond that currently housed a Gastronome Tuna and two Petricanths, their blue spots glowing brightly under the water, contrasting beautifully under the moonlit sky.
"So I've just gotta ask," Joe stated, his arms crossed as he watched the fish, "how do you two know each other?"
Lucian and Ilia's eyes turned to look at Reiya and Alice, already knowing the question was directed at them. Alice turned to look at the man as Reiya glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, adjusting her glasses a little. A smile graced Reiya's face as she turned to look at Alice, the woman also smiling as the latter then said, "well, a mother oughta see her child every now and then. Even if they're halfway around the world."
"Mother…," Joe repeated, then gawked and turned to look at the two women. Reiya couldn't help but giggle as Lucian and Ilia both stood up, surprised as well. Alice began to lightly laugh as all three of them, I sync, screamed, "MOTHER!?"
"So THAT'S why you were so eager to run down there," Joe said, now finally understanding Reiya's eagerness in getting back. Lucian and Ilia both oooh'd in amazement, now walking over. Reiya had a gigantic grin plastered on her face, attempting to hide it in her palms. Alice simply chuckled and reached over, pulling her in for another hug as she then said, "I had heard rumors about this one's accomplishments, so I just had to come and see for myself. She certainly takes after her mother, I see."
"...mom, stop," Reiya mumbled, turning her face to dig it into the crook of Alice's neck. Alice simply smiled, raising a hand to play with the bun that Reiya kept her hair in. The woman was content, being able to hold her daughter again, despite the both of them being older than the last that they had seen each other. Reiya was still her child.
"She was so young when she left Pokke, Reiya was. I was so worried when she had volunteered to come to the New World. Now, I'm glad that she did. She's become such a powerful hunter. Everyone back home knows about her."
The three listened to Alice speak of Reiya, the voice of a proud parent booming in all of their ears. Reiya remained quiet, too embarrassed to say anything as Alice then said, "if...if only her father could see her now."
"Her father…," Joe said to himself, "where is he?"
Alice's smile disappeared, her grip tightening on Reiya ever so slightly. The latter's eyes opened, feeling her mother's grip tighten as Alice then said, "...he was killed. On a hunt. I...I can't give the details. They're...they're…."
Joe could feel the distraught in the woman's voice, her demeanor making a complete 180 compared to before.
"...it's alright. I'm sorry. I never should've asked," Joe apologized. Alice remained quiet, holding Reiya close as the latter closed her eyes again. It was several moments later when Alice looked down at Reiya and smiled, then said, "You two should really hook up."
Reiya's eyes shot open, wide with embarrassment as she stood up in a hurry. Joe's eyes widened as well as he turned away, Reiya now beginning to scold her mother for the embarrassing remark.
"M-mom! What are you saying!? We're not like that!"
Lucian and Ilia simply laughed, Alice shooting her own smart remarks back as the parent and child had a small squabble that lasted some time into the night.