Once they left the waterfall the six monster hunters took to the road again. As Hazel watched the tree line and walked in sync with Gabriel, they and the twins heard the screams of a woman.
“Did you guys hear that?” Ace asked as the four of them turned around in alarm.
“Hear what?” Eliza asked as she and Carla saw that the four had once again stopped walking.
“The screaming?” Hazel said with a raised brow.
Carla and Eliza looked at each other before looking back at their inferiors with weird looks.
“I didn’t hear anything.” Eliza said shaking her head, “Carla?”
“I’m just as clueless as you Eli.” Carla replied, “Did you guys get enough sleep last night?”
This caused both the twins and Gabriel to snap, “We’re wide awake and we know what we heard!”
Hazel was about to say something before she and her friends heard the scream again but it was quickly followed by a monstrous hissing sound.
“That sounded close.” Ace said as he and his twin drew their swords forward, “We should check it out.”
“Agreed.” Gabriel said nodding while pulling his bow forward before he turned to Hazel, “On your mark Abernathy.”
“Hazel come on; you guys need to stop playing around.” Eliza said folding her arms, “Carla and I hear nothing.”
Hazel turned to her with a bewildered stare before she rested her hand on the hilt of her dagger.
“It’s probably nothing Hazel.” Carla said with a worried look on her face, “And even if it’s not, another Monster Hunter will take care of it.”
Hazel contemplated for a moment before the hissing returned.
“Sorry sis but I can’t take that risk.” Hazel said before she and the other three accompanied by Phoenix ran to the forest with the two older Monster Hunters calling after them.
“Hazel where did that hissing come from!?” Ace yelled as they maneuvered through and over trees, fallen trunks, rocks, and the occasional river.
“A few minutes from here straight forward!”
Phoenix barked before he led the four hunters. They ran for a short while before they were greeted by numerous stone statues that formed a circle and, in the middle, laid a giant snake, its poison green scales almost glimmering in the sunlight.
“Basilisk.” Gabriel muttered wide-eyed as they all hid behind the trees.
“Okay, so how do you kill a Basilisk?” Rachel asked.
Hazel was about to say something before she heard a growl from behind her. She cautiously turned around only to find Phoenix, teeth bared and growling at the giant snake.
“Phoenix be quiet.” Hazel whispered in worry for her and her friends’ safety.
But Phoenix only continued growling at the beast. It was only when Gabriel clamped his mouth shut with his hands that the red fox finally stopped growling and sat down. The four hunters sighed in relief at the fox’s silence before they turned back to the green snake behind them.
“So, anyone got any bright ideas?” Rachel asked in a low whisper.
Hazel hummed quietly in thought before an idea struck and she turned to Gabriel.
“Gab do you think you could pin it down with your arrows?”
“If we attach a net on four of them then yes.” Gabriel said before he caught Hazel’s eye.
The two smiled almost as if thinking the same thing before they nodded to each other.
“Ace, Rachel help us with this.” Hazel said fishing a wide net from one of her pouches.
‘Where in all the seven lands did, she learn how to fit that in such a small bag?’ The twins thought as they quietly crept to their friends to help secure the net to the arrows that Gabriel’s bow created.
Once the four hunters were satisfied with the knots the reptilian behind them began to stir.
“We got to hurry.” Ace said as Gabriel nocked one of the arrows, “Hurry up Gab.”
‘Deep breathes Gabriel.’ Gabriel thought before letting the arrow fly.
“Bull’s eye.” Hazel said smiling to Gabriel, “As usual.”
“You guys are up.” Gabriel said smiling at the three-blade wielders.
The twins smirked at each other as Hazel playfully flipped her dagger before the three quietly stalked to the sleeping reptilian. Hazel made a hand signal for them to stop before she pointed to her own eyes. The two nodded before they quietly climbed on the snake, miraculously not waking the fifty feet snake up. They looked at each other before nodding and stabbing the snake’s eyes.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“Oh, boy.” Hazel mumbled as the snake woke up and began thrashing around, “Gab its nostrils!”
“One step ahead of you.” Gabriel said shooting the snake’s nostrils, “On the dot.”
“Thank you!” Hazel said before jumping inside the snake’s mouth.
“Hazel!” Rachel and the boys yelled in both shock and grief upon what they saw with Phoenix growling ferally.
Gabriel’s eyes widened, dropping his bow, he began to shake uncontrollably before his eyes began to water. Before either of the twins could stab the snake in rage the blade of a familiar dagger appeared from inside it. The basilisk gave one last loud hiss before dropping dead; the twins clinging on the net for dear life and Hazel having to slice her way out of its mouth – or at least try to…
“A little help!?” Hazel called from inside, “Its breath smells like death!”
This was all Gabriel had to hear before he picked up his bow and ran up to the reptilian corpse with Phoenix behind him, a look of worry and anxiety written clear on his face. The twins struggled a bit before they freed themselves and joined Gabriel by the basilisk’s mouth.
“You still doing okay in there Hazel!?” Rachel called as she and the boys searched for the slit that Hazel’s dagger made.
“I’d be better if I wasn’t inside a fifty feet snake’s throat!” Hazel replied.
“Well maybe you wouldn’t be in this situation if you didn’t jump into this mouth.” Gabriel muttered before he found the slit, they had been looking for, “Stay still!”
After a couple of minutes, Hazel had finally managed to crawl out, covered in the giant snake’s saliva.
“Nobody touch-;” Hazel began before she was quickly interrupted by Gabriel enveloping her into a tight hug, “G-Gab are you okay?”
“Never scare me like that again.” Gabriel whispered as he tightened his grip over her, “I thought I was going to lose you. I was scared that you->”
“I’m pretty sure you know better than anyone that I’m pretty hard to kill.” Hazel whispered back while returning the hug, “…But thanks for worrying about me.”
The two separated but not before connecting their foreheads and smiled at each other. They gave a quiet chuckle before they heard their names being called. The brunettes quickly let go of one another annoying the twins who were watching the exchange with anticipation before their gazes and Phoenix’s were turned to the forest’s edge.
“What happened?” Carla asked as she and Eliza came out and saw the scaled corpse at the feet of their inferiors.
“That was what we were trying to tell you about earlier.” Ace said folding his arms as he and the others put their weapons away.
“So, what happened to them?” Eliza asked pointing to her sister and Gabriel who were both drenched in the basilisk’s saliva, “Did they jump into its mouth or something?”
“Just Hazel.” Rachel replied folding her arms behind her back, “Gabriel just hugged her and got drenched in it.”
Carla and Eliza glanced at each other before they turned away to try and stifle their giggles of delight but to no avail. Hazel and Gabriel groaned as the twins joined in on them.
“Can we find a place to change please?” Gabriel moaned before his stomach made a loud growling sound, “And a place to get some lunch.”
Hazel giggled a bit before she brought her dagger out and the holographic map appeared.
“There’s a tavern just a few minutes from here.” Hazel informed them.
“Which way?” Gabriel asked.
“North.” Hazel replied, “I hope they have a shower.”
“You and me both Hazel.” Gabriel said as he tried to mop the saliva from his shirt, “I’m soaked.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have hugged her then.” Rachel teased.
“Oh, really?” Gabriel fake gasped, “I didn’t notice.”
“Well calm down Mr. Grumpy.” Hazel said patting him on the back.
Hazel, the twins, and their superiors laughed as the brunette groaned again. Five minutes later they were in front of a rather large house-like building at the edge of a rather small village.
“Northwich village.” Hazel said reading the sign.
“C’mon, I am in great need of a shower.” Gabriel said almost groaning again.
Hazel only gave him a closed-eyed smile along with a small laugh that made butterflies flutter in Gabriel’s stomach.
“Come on you two!” Carla called them as she, Eliza, and the twins started walking to the tavern.
“Coming!” The two exclaimed as they ran to their friends.
After about fifteen minutes Gabriel and Hazel finally got rid of the saliva and got a change of clothes.
“Better?” Hazel asked with a teasing smile on.
Gabriel bit back a smile as he rolled his eyes as they entered the Mess Hall.
“Guys, over here!” Rachel called, waving at them.
“Where are Eliza and Carla?” Hazel asked as she and Gabriel joined them.
“Went to get food.” Ace answered.
Hazel looked around for a bit before bringing out the letter from one of her pouches.
“Thought we should read this before Carla and Eliza come back.” Hazel explained as she saw her friends look at him.
“Good idea Hazel.” Gabriel said as he and the twins moved closer to said girl.
‘Interesting.’ The four thought as they read the letter.
To whomever, it may concern
We've been receiving reports of hunters inheriting an odd disease. As of right now, they have all been sent to complete missions on the borders of the west side of Mt. Bedgami.
If you know of anyone that can help please inform them of this immediately.
With regards; The Moonlight Society
“That’s definitely odd.” Ace whispered, “What do we do Hazel?”
“Gabriel when you get the chance call Josh and make sure he gives this to either Chancellor Nevermore, Matthew, James, or Abbey,” Hazel whispered as she gave him the letter.
“On it.” Gabriel said as he hid the folded piece of paper in his vest.
“I’m starving.” Rachel groaned as she patted her stomach as it gave a low growl.
The other three laughed at this before Carla and Eliza came back with the food.
“Finally.” The twins muttered as they grabbed the noodles they asked for.
“How’d you know that I like Chicken Curry?” Gabriel asked after Eliza placed the plate of curry in front of him.
“Hazel told me.” Eliza replied as said girl quickly retrieved the plate of pork chops for her and Phoenix, “And it was pretty obvious.”
Gabriel gave a nervous laugh before they all started eating.