Hunter

"The Hunter?" asked Zima. "Oh! The Hunter!" still thinking about the trolls, Zima had momentarily forgotten her quest.
"We are pleased to meet you," said Yae, "We have been looking for you. Zima, you should tell her why we are here."
Zima told The Hunter her story. By the end of it, she had started to cry without realizing it. "Please, please, please help me," she begged.
"Of course I will," replied The Hunter. "Tell me, young lunemara, can you read these signs?"
"No," began Yae, "Well, I can read it, but it's just a jumble of words."
"That is because it is written in a tongue far more ancient than that of the Lunemaras. Perhaps you have heard of a realm that comes and goes?"
"I have!" exclaimed Zima, "Umbra's Veil!"
"Yes, it is Umbra's Veil I speak of, though it has a different name on these signs, one I cannot speak. The signs speak of an evil entity in there, one that does not die. It lives completly hidden, guarded by beings who have never been seen. The Blood Cascade Coven worships it, perhaps that is why they took your sister."

(193 words)

Hunter


Zima paused, surprised, and gave Yae a questioning glance. Yae spoke: "Hunter of the shadows... you must be the famous Hunter right?"
The dark lunemara didn't answer and question, and only chucked. Then she said: "What brings you here? It's a dangerous place for such young ones as yourself"
Zima was still cautious, the lunemara made her uncomfortable. But before she could do anything Yae was already spilling out the story for the Hunter, who floated silently. And listened.
".... and then we fell down the cave crack and bounced on a bunch of mushrooms and now we're here."
"Hm," Hunter mused, "your sister... perhaps..."
"'What?" Zima demanded.
The hunter gave Zima a long look, then said "You and your friend better come along, I have something to show you..."

Hunter
By what stroke of luck could have caused this. Zima wondered as she stood froze in shock. Yae whispered "do you think she is telling the truth." Hunter answered I could or could not that is your choice. If you chose to leave there is a hallway on the left leading back up. Zima decided to trust him. I am looking for my sister. Do you think you can help me. Zima said. "I can, but first tell me your story." Zima told her the story. At the end she realized it was a quite unbelievable story. Why should Hunter believe it. " Ah yes a quite unbelievable story for your kind." They would rather leave unexplainable things alone, as myths." Hunter murmured. So will you help me." " Yes but remember you will owe me a favor" Zima said quickly yes anything just please help me.

Hunter

"The Hunter? You mean, we just needed to come here in the first place?" Zima asked, baffled. The Lumenara nodded. Zima looked at Yae. "You knew?" she asked. Yae shook her head, every bit confused as Zima. Yae cleared her throat and then looked pointedly at Zima. She rolled her hands as if to tell her to get on with things. Zima nodded and looked back at the Lumenara.

"Ok, Hunter." she said. "I need your help." The Lumenara nodded.

"Knew that." she said. "I also know your business. You wish to find this Zuri." she checked, and looked about. Zima nodded and Yae stood, motionless. Zima bumped her, and she jumped up.

"Yes ma'am." Yae squeaked. "Looking for a Vulnyx like her," she pointed to Zima, "we need to find her." The Lumenara nodded.

"Of course." she said simply. "I need something in return, but I see you don't have the time. The stakes are high. I wish you the speed of the shadows." The Lumenara bowed, and disappeared. As Yae and Zima exchanged a glance, the wind picked up, and shadows reached for them.

The world dissolved into darkness.

Hunter


Zima was a bit shocked,she'd expected the hunter to be a lupora or something else.The lunamara chuckled,"You seem surprise,it's expected." he folded two of his six arms."Hunter!" a bulb said hopping into the area,he stopped when he saw the two,"we just uh...." he seemed nervous

"Well?" Hunter asked looking at the bulb expectantly."Well we received a report that the.." he paused."The Blood Cascade Coven has taken hatchings from each race...including the mythical hatchlings" he said nervously."it's okay garnet" the hunter told the bulb patting him with one of his other arms.Zima had stiffened up,"Zima?" Yea asked concerened.Zima backed up"I-i told them they took her" she said sadly.

Hunter

"Great!" Zima jumped in front of the black lunemara. "I'm so glad to have finally find you! Look I need your help- my sister is missing and the council-"
"Thinks you did it?" The hunter responded with a grin. "I know, my dear Zima."
A shudder went down Zima's spine. "you know me? How? Also how do you know about the vanishing of my sister?"
Yae slid up to Zima and nudged her side. "The hunter has a power like no other!" She whispered loudly. "This is why we needed her!"
"It's true!" The hunter said with a laugh. "I do have a power, if you'd like to call it that. I am able to see into other sylesti's thoughts."
Zima was amazed, she had never met someone like this before! "Wow! So you can hear what I'm thinking right now?" She circled the dark lunemara, examining her. "Oh! Tell me what I'm thinking!" She said briefly forgetting about her sister.
"You're wondering if this is even possible." The Lunemara responded. "You're also thinking about how you don't know my name; It's Lerane, since you asked." She said with a wink. "Oh, and you're thinking about how this would be a fun thing to prank others with, which I agree, it can be quite fun."
Zima breathed in sharply. So Lerane really did have powers! This could be her best shot at finding her sister!

~ Hunter ~

Fear coiled into Zima and Yae's already perplexed demeanor. What creature was this? Zima cast her brilliant gaze onto the dark critter. She stared, perplexed, as specks of midnight blue powder fluttering off of it's magnificent wings and onto the chilled trail.
"Now," began the Hunter. "What do you seek?" he was barely given a moment of rest before the beige Vulnyx began to speak.
"I am looking for my sister!" shouted Zima as her temper quickly boiled over. "The Blood Cascade Caven stole her from me!" Tears eagerly lapped at the edge of her wide sky blue eyes as she pressed further, "You have to help me save her!!!" She yelled, desperation stricking Zima for the first time that journey. Yae squirmed over to her friends side, her own gaze clouded with worry and doubt. The moment of shared comfort was brief.
Yanking them out of their misery by a deep voice, Zima turned her attention towards the Hunter, "I shall help you." He croaked as his magnificent wings fluttered into motion. "But, you must pay a price."
"A price?" Zima began to utter as a thick blue powder drifted onto minuscule duo. "What kin-d..." was all she managed to utter before her paws grew sluggish. Left with only seconds to wonder of their fate, Zima left her waking world and drifted into a restless sleep.

Hunter

"Hunter?" Zima squeaked, stepping back out of fright.
"Yessss, the Hunter." The dark Lunemara flew a forward a tad, causing Zima and Yae to back up even more.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Mister Hunter," Yae stuttered nervously, "we can just go..." Yae turns around to walk away, but the Hunter appeared before her, making her stumble back, and almost fall. "Eep!" Yae winced.
"You wouldn't be here without a good reason..." The Hunter looked closely at Zima and Yae. "Nobody comes down here..."
Zima drummed up the courage and said, "We're looking for a lost Vulnyx. Have you seen one?"
"I'm afraid that I need a better reason to answer your question." the Hunter grinned creepily.
"Uh..." Zima and Yae looked at each other. "What do you need?"
"Hmm. Let me think." the Hunter landed down on the ground. "You know, I need some..."

Hunter

"AAAHHH!!!" Zima yells. "You're the Hunter??"
"I kind of expected the Hunter to be green or something. Like a hunter," Yae says, hiding her fear as best as she can. However, she betrays her real emotions by munching on a leaf worriedly.
"Yes. There's nothing to fear. I won't hurt you, I promise! I'm actually a pretty nice guy!" the Hunter says.
"Then what was that laugh for..." Zima doesn't believe her at all.
"Oh, hehe. My evil laugh. Well, I've had lots of time to practice it," she replies. "But you came here for help looking for your sister, yes?"
"Yeah..."
"Alright. Well, follow me. I have some things and advice that may assist you in your journey."