"Hope this works." Hazel said as she took her Claist from her backpack.
She gently blew on the mouthpiece and a soft tune filled the empty streets.
"What did you do that for?" Ace asked as Hazel stopped.
"I need Luna to bring me my flute." Hazel replied before stomping her foot in frustration, "The one time I leave home without it!"
In a flash Luna appeared out of nowhere carrying a flute made of what looked like hazelnut wood and a note.
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“Well Luna will be useful alright." Hazel said as Luna gave Hazel her flute, "Thanks Luna."
"It was my pleasure Ms. Abernathy." Luna said before perching on a nearby street lamp.
"Why, though?" Rachel asked.
"Just watch me." Hazel said before she started playing her flute.
Right after Hazel started playing the windows and doors of every house nearly flung open. The hunters could see the villagers' curious faces. The melody not only brought the villagers' smiles but there spirit as well because right after Hazel finished the villagers exploded with applause.
"That was amazing." one of the villagers said as he ran up to them.
"Thanks." Hazel said smiling, "Glad I could help."
"Where did you learn to play like that?" a sweet voice asked.
Hazel looked down to see a little girl who had black hair, light brown eyes, and white skin staring at her.
"My father taught me." Hazel replied smiling.
"Could you tell me your names please." A woman said walking towards them.
"My name's Gabriel Pasi and these are my friends." Gabriel said before gesturing to the twins, "And these are the Oliviero twins Ace and Rachel." he then gestured to Hazel, "And this is my Kumppani-"
"Hazel Abernathy." The woman interrupted happily.
"How did you-" Ace began.
"Hi, aunt Elizabeth." Hazel interrupted as she turned to the woman.
"Aunt!?" Gabriel and the twins exclaimed surprised.
"Yeah, this is my aunt Elizabeth from my mother's side." Hazel explained.
"So, these are the hunters I've been hearing so much about." Elizabeth said smiling.
"I suppose." Rachel shrugged.
"Since your such good friends, I'll show you to where you'll be sleeping in." Elizabeth said smiling.
"You guys go ahead." Hazel said turning to the opposite direction, "I need to go somewhere first."
"You know your way, right?" Elizabeth said.
"Course I do." Hazel said before Luna perched on her shoulder, "We'll see you later then."
Fifteen minutes later Hazel was sitting in front of a gleaming lake inside the secret grotto she and her family found when she was three with Luna flying around.
"I still can't believe their gone Luna." Hazel said as Luna landed beside her.
Looking at her reflection Hazel slowly lifted her head and closed her eyes and started reliving the memory of when they found this place.
*FLASHBACK*
"Mom, Dad we found something!" A younger Hazel said to her parents.
"Girls be careful!" Rose Abernathy said to her daughters as she and her husband reached their children.
"The two of you are getting too much faster." John Abernathy said smiling at his two daughters.
"Come on, I wanna see what it is!" Hazel's older sister Eliza Abernathy exclaimed.
After Hazel's parents hacked away all the vines the Abernathy family entered the grotto.
*FLASHBACK ENDS*
"Snap out of it." Hazel scolded herself.
"Ms. Abernathy is something wrong?" Luna asked.
And that's when she heard it. The voice that had been haunting her for the last three months.
"You’re the reason they're gone Hazel." The cold voice of Isabella Dark said in Hazel's mind.
'I told you to shut up.' Hazel thought closing her eyes.
"And you thought I'd listen to you?" Isabella's voice asked evilly.
"Let's go Luna." Hazel said opening her eyes.
"Of course, Ms. Abernathy." Luna said as Hazel stood up.
Luna gave her a gentle look as they left the grotto.
Twelve minutes later Hazel and Luna arrived at the guest house she used to share with the rest of her family.
"Hazel where have you been?" Ace asked after Hazel entered the room.
The living room was exactly like how she remembered it. There was a neat fireplace, a few comfy armchairs, a red carpet, and a glass table in the middle of the room.
"Sorry about that." Hazel said sitting down on the floor as Luna perched on the closet armchair.
"Where were you?" Gabriel asked.
"I was just walking." Hazel lied.
"Okay then." Rachel said before Elizabeth placed a tray of tea and cookies on the table.
"If you want Hazel you could celebrate your birthday here." Elizabeth said sitting down.
Just after Elizabeth said that Gabriel and the twins quickly looked at each other before looking at Hazel. As they expected she was as still as a statue.
"It's December two, which means your birthday's only three days away." Elizabeth said sipping a cup of tea.
"I'll think about it." Hazel said quietly.
"I'll let you unpack then." Elizabeth said standing up and walking to the door before turning around and saying "Oh, and Hazel."
"Yes?" Hazel replied.
"It wasn't your fault they’re gone." Elizabeth said before leaving and closing the door.
"You alright Hazel?" Gabriel asked.
"I'll be in my room if you need me." Hazel said standing up and walking away.
Gabriel sighed, closing his eyes as he remembered what he, the twins, and Hazel's aunt discussed earlier.
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*FLASHBACK*
"Ms. Elizabeth can we ask you something?" Rachel asked as they arrived at the guest house.
"Of course, you can." Elizabeth nodded as they entered the living room.
"Does Hazel really think she's the reason Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy are dead?" Ace asked out of the blue as they all sat down.
"Yes, yes she does." Elizabeth said quietly.
"Why?" Rachel asked.
"Back then Hazel always believed her parents would always come back, before the Corpsataur mission." Elizabeth said staring at the fire.
"What's a Corpsataur?" Rachel asked.
"A Corpsataur's a monster that can split its self into two if you kill it once, it’s about twenty feet tall with eight arms and four fiery eyes when its combined." Gabriel said tears at the corner of his eyes.
"But that sounds like the-" Ace began before stopping himself.
"Yep, a Corpsataur killed both our parents." Gabriel said fighting back tears.
"Hazel knew they'd get hurt." Elizabeth said tears falling down her face, "She begged them not to go but they didn't listen. Eventually they finally convinced her that they'd be alright, but when Hazel heard that they were killed she knew that she should've tried harder for them to stay."
'I should've been there for her.' Gabriel thought regretfully as Rachel started crying before he asked as he wiped away a tear, "Is there anything we can do to change her mind?"
"If you could make her enjoy her birthday again then it would be a great help." Elizabeth said.
"We're already on it." Ace said.
*FLASHBACK ENDS*
"We have our work cut out for us." Gabriel muttered.
As Gabriel was reliving about a few minutes ago Hazel was on her bed before pulling her dagger from its sheath.
"Afraid your friends might abandon you?" Isabella's voice echoed in her ears.
"You can't leave me alone for a day, can you?" Hazel replied as her holographic map appeared.
"And miss seeing you miserable?" Isabella's voice said as Hazel studied the Grinch's trail.
"This can't be happening." Hazel said wide eyed.
"This will be fun." Isabella's voice said in pure delight.
But unknown to Hazel and her companions that miles away in The Hideout Chancellor Nevermore, Abbey, Matthew, and James would be having a discussion that could change their lives forever.
"They're here Uncle." Eve said opening the door.
"Thank you, Eve." Chancellor Nevermore said as Matthew, Abbey, and James entered, "You may leave now."
"So, you figured out the Grinch's trail?" James asked as Eve closed the door.
"I did." Chancellor Nevermore said standing up.
"So, what do you want us to do?" Matthew asked folding his arms.
"Investigate." Chancellor Nevermore said.
"Why?" James said leaning on the wall, "I thought the Council would be investigating."
"You know as well as I do that only four hunters, we're able to open The Back Entrance nine years ago." Chancellor Nevermore said as he, Matthew, and Abbey sat down, "And the few chosen never repeat any blood lines."
"And those four hunters are dead." James said.
"You need to figure out why the children of those four hunters and their friends were chosen." Chancellor Nevermore said before dropping to a low whisper, "And we can't trust the Council."
"Why?" Abbey asked also whispering.
"There's some rumors going around about some council members working with The Dark Clan." Chancellor Nevermore explained.
"We need to find out why they were chosen." Abbey said standing up and walking up to a picture of the Abernathys and the Pasis.
"They were some of the greatest hunters here." James said walking up beside her.
"We'll take the mission." Matthew said confidently.
*
"You in here Hazel?" Rachel asked opening the door to Hazel's bedroom.
"Yes." Hazel said as Gabriel and the twins came in.
"Nice room." Ace said as he and Rachel sat down on the floor.
"Thanks." Hazel said smiling, "Tomorrow we'll be walking again so you better get some sleep."
"Yeah, I am pretty exhausted." Gabriel said rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Same here." Rachel said yawning.
"Well, your beds await." Hazel said opening the door.
"Night Hazel." Ace said as he and Rachel left the room.
"You should get some sleep too Gab." Hazel said turning to her friend.
"I suppose." Gabriel said standing up, "Night."
Gabriel was about to leave before he turned to Hazel, "Hazel."
"Yeah?" Hazel asked.
"What would you do if your parents were here?" Gabriel asked quietly.
"I guess I'd tell them everything that's happened since they left." Hazel said picking up a picture of her parents, "Why'd you ask?"
"Just wondering." Gabriel said before leaving the room.
"You are one strange kid Gabriel Pasi." Hazel mumbled smiling to herself.
After the last of Gabriel's footsteps died out Hazel quickly changed into black leggings and black hoodie and sneaked out the house through her balcony. Little did she know that a pair of eyes were watching her.
"What are you up to Hazel Abernathy?" Gabriel thought out loud from the back of the house before he saw Luna from the corner of his eye, "You wanna go see what Hazel's up to Luna?"
"No disrespect Mr. Pasi but I would prefer if you don't nose around in Ms. Abernathy's business." Luna said before flying off.
*
"There's someone following you." Isabella's voice said as Hazel was halfway to the grotto.
'I already know that.' Hazel thought as she pulled her dagger out, "Who's there!?"
Gabriel froze before quickly hiding behind a tree.
"Did you really expect that to work?" Isabella's voice asked.
'I guess I'll just have to make them come out.' Hazel thought pulling out a black piece of cloth to cover her faces.
'What is she doing?' Gabriel thought looking from behind the tree.
"This is your final warning!" Hazel exclaimed.
Hazel expected the perpetrator to not show himself but to throw a rock in a different direction?
"That old trick doesn't work on me!" Hazel exclaimed, "So come out and save both of us the trouble!"
"Alright Hazel." Gabriel said stepping out of his hiding place, arms up in surrender, "You got me."
"What in the - you think it's funny to follow someone in the woods that has a dagger!?" Hazel exclaimed.
"I'm sorry alright!" Gabriel exclaimed, "You've just been so distant with everyone that I couldn't help but worry about you."
Hazel felt heat rising to her cheeks before sighing, "I already told you Gabriel. I just have so much on my mind."
"Hazel I can help, please." Gabriel said tears at the corner of his eyes, "I don't wanna lose you."
Just after he said those five words Hazel remembered when she was the one telling them all those years ago.
*FLASHBACK*
"Hazel please, Mommy and I have to do this." John Abernathy said slipping his bow on.
"But you and Mommy will get hurt." A younger version of Hazel said hugging her father.
"Hazel I know it's hard but Daddy and I need to do this." Rose Abernathy said kneeling down to face her youngest daughter.
"I can help, please." Hazel said crying, "I don't wanna lose you."
"Hazel I promise we'll be alright." Rose Abernathy said.
"Promise?" Hazel asked.
"We promise." John Abernathy said giving his wife her sword.
*FLASHBACK ENDS*
When Hazel snapped back into reality, she could see tears silently running down Gabriel's cheeks.
"What am I going to do with you Gab?" Hazel said as she hugged him.
"I want to help." Gabriel replied as they separated.
Hazel sighed before nodding, "Follow me then."
Twelve minutes later Gabriel and Hazel were standing just outside the grotto.
"C'mon." Hazel said leading Gabriel inside by the hand.
"Woah." Gabriel said amazed as they entered.
"I don't see anything special about it." Isabella's voice whispered in Hazel's ear.
"This place is amazing." Gabriel commented as they sat down.
"My family and I found this place ten years ago." Hazel said smiling, "Gab can I tell you something?"
"Course you can." Gabriel replied smiling.
"I think the Grinch is headed for Stone Hall Village." Hazel said quietly.
"H-how can that be possible?" Gabriel asked stuttering a little.
"I don't know." Hazel said hugging her knees, "I don't wanna go back to that place."
"Even if it meant children being miserable on Christmas?" Gabriel asked looking at his Kumppani.
"Now that is a good question Hazel." Isabella's voice said.
"Shut up." Hazel whispered.
"Hazel, is everything okay?" Gabriel asked worry edged on his face.
"So, what will it be Abernathy?" Isabella's voice taunted, "Go back to a place where everyone wants you dead or don't go and live with the burden of being too scared to save a village."
"I said shut up!" Hazel exclaimed standing up, "Just leave me-"
"Hazel!" Gabriel exclaimed catching her unconscious body before it hit the ground.