The next day Hazel and Gabriel woke up to the sound of lively chatter and a crackling fire.
“Morning you two.” Rachel greeted them with a smile as they got out of their tents before adjusting her grip on the small pile of firewood she was carrying.
“Morning Rachel.” The two replied with a smile before Hazel added, “Glad to see you’re not nervous anymore.”
Rachel only giggled before she joined her brother, Phoenix, and the other two girls around the fire cooking what looked like a Pheasant.
Gabriel smiled at the sight before turning to Hazel, “Slept well last night?”
“Yep.” Hazel said giving him a closed-eyed smile.
‘Good.’ Gabriel thought smiling slightly as they walked to the group.
“Morning you two.” Eliza said smiling at the two as Phoenix ran up to Hazel.
“Morning.” The two replied before Hazel started to pet the red fox.
“Morning to you two Phoenix.” Hazel said smiling as Phoenix growled in content.
“Nice work on the Pheasant guys.” Gabriel complimented as he examined the bird that was currently cooking.
“Thanks.” Carla and Eliza said as he and Hazel sat down.
A few hours later they had already eaten and cleaned up.
“Everyone ready?” Hazel asked as the twins put their backpacks on.
“Yep.” Carla said as Eliza and Gabriel nodded to her.
“Alright then.” Hazel said bringing her dagger out and shortly after the map.
“So where to Captain Abernathy?” Rachel asked smiling.
“Captain?” Ace asked confused, “How’d Hazel become a captain all of a sudden?”
“You know how captains usually plot the boat’s course when they sail?” Rachel asked.
“Yeah?” Gabriel said questioningly.
“Hazel’s sort of doing that right now.” Rachel explained giggling a bit.
“Oh.” The other four said.
“Captain Hazel.” Hazel said smiling slightly, “I like that.”
“Oh my gosh.” Gabriel mumbled rolling his eyes and trying to hold back a smile.
“So where to?” Ace asked trying to get back to the previous subject.
“So, there are two options here,” Hazel said putting up two fingers, “either we keep walking and we could be halfway there in six days.”
“And the second?” Gabriel asked.
“Or we could walk to the river which is about ten minutes from here, take a boat, and we could be halfway there in three days.” Hazel replied, “But there is the possibility of water monsters.”
“I’m pretty sure we can handle aquatic monsters.” Gabriel said folding his arms, “Or do I need to remind you guys of the river mission a few months ago?”
The twins and Hazel gave a nervous laugh as they remembered the course of events that unfolded the past months prior.
*Flashback*
“Kade are you sure about this?” Hazel asked with folded arms as she, Gabriel, and the twins along with one of the Monster Hunters that Hazel and Gabriel saved looked at the murky river in front of them.
“To be completely honest no.” Kade said taking out his chakram, “But Cairo just said to suck it up so take that as you will.”
The four blinked at him before they turned to the river as a tail of a Bunyip appeared for a brief moment.
“That guy seriously needs a therapist.” Hazel muttered.
“Agreed.” The other four said with a deadpanned look.
And that was how they spent their afternoon clearing the river of the monsters that were inhabiting the river bed.
*Flashback Ends*
“We’ll be fine.” Hazel said with the twins shortly after.
“Is no one going to explain this to us?” Carla whispered to the girl beside her.
“Most probably not.” Eliza said as they started walking.
“So where are we going to get a boat?” Ace asked.
“I’m pretty sure there’s a small branch of Monster Hunters that are stationed in that area.” Eliza said as Hazel showed her the map, “They specialize in killing aquatic monsters so they should have plenty of boats to spare.”
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“Good to know.” Gabriel said as Hazel put her dagger away, ‘Let’s just hope there aren’t too dangerous monsters.’
“Wonder what the boat will look like.” Rachel thought out loud.
“Why would you say that, Rachel?” Carla asked.
“Sorry.” Rachel said sheepishly as she rubbed the back of her neck, “I was just wondering if normal boats are different from boats that Monster Hunters use.”
“Sometimes they are.” Eliza said.
“Please enlighten us.” Hazel said as her sister peeked her and the boys’ curiosity as well.
“Well, most of the time Monster Hunters use boats that fishermen use since boats are generally hard to carry and pack nonetheless.” Eliza explained, “But some of the time we use boats that are specifically for Monster Hunting.”
“How specifically?” Rachel asked.
“As in they use a very rare wood to make the boat and they enchant the hell out of every single part.” Carla said smiling, “To the smallest plank to all the way to the tallest mast.”
“Woah.” Hazel and the other three awed.
“Wait a minute.” Hazel said furrowing her brows, “Doesn’t your family make Monster Hunting boats or something?”
“Yep.” Carla said smiling proudly, “Second in the league.”
“League?” Gabriel asked confused.
“There are quite a handful of families that are capable of creating equipment for Monster Hunting.” Carla explained, “And we’re very uh… competitive when it comes to the equipment we make.”
Gabriel chuckled a bit as he stuffed his hands in his jeans’ pockets.
“What’s so funny?” Hazel asked turning to him.
“Let’s just say I know a thing or two about family pride.” Gabriel said chuckling with a smile.
‘Cute.’ Hazel thought giving a faint blush.
‘Ship.’ Rachel and Eliza thought smirking at Ace and Carla.
‘Dang it.’ Ace and Carla thought gritting their teeth slightly.
Phoenix looked at the four before giving an amused bark before running to Hazel and Gabriel.
“Hey boy.” Hazel said patting his head, “Call me crazy but you seem chipper than usual.”
“No, I definitely see it.” Gabriel said smiling a bit.
Phoenix barked before happily running around them as the two brown-haired hunters laughed gleefully.
“You have to admit though,” Rachel said smiling as she folded her arms, “they look adorable together.”
“Now THAT I will gladly admit.” Ace said before the two laughed.
“They act so much like them.” Eliza murmured seeing the twins, Gabriel, and her younger sister laughing.
Carla looked at the girl beside her softly before pecking her cheek.
“What was that for?” Eliza asked placing a hand on the cheek Carla kissed, “Not that I’m complaining.”
“You’re so silly.” Carla said giggling a bit.
Eliza smiled slightly before chuckling and intertwining their hands together making the blonde girl blush.
‘Ship.’ Hazel and Rachel thought as their attention and the boys’ were turned to their superiors.
“Eli the others are watching.” Carla whispered blushing a deeper red.
Eliza glanced at her sister and her friends before smirking and whispered in her ear, “Let them watch then.”
The younger hunters blinked at the scene in front of them before turning around in silence.
“Well, THAT was something I didn’t expect to see.” Ace said before looking at Hazel, “You never told us that your sister and Carla were dating.”
“I just found out.” Hazel replied.
“Well?” Gabriel asked eyes widening a bit and gesturing for her to continue, “Last week? The other day? Last month!?”
“Right now.” Hazel said her eyes widening a bit, “Literally just the same time you did.”
“Seriously!?” Gabriel and the twins half-whispered.
“Yeah.” Hazel replied slightly nodding, “She’s never told me about it until now.”
“Why not though?” Gabriel asked brows furrowing, “Why wouldn’t she tell you about this?”
“I don’t know.” Hazel said shrugging.
Gabriel chuckled as he patted her back with a joking smile before she laughed quietly.
A few minutes later they were standing in front of a house beside a wide river.
“So, this is it?” Rachel asked tilting her head a bit, “It’s plainer than what I expected.”
“That’s what I said the first time Mom brought me here.” Eliza said before knocking on the door.
“Oh, when the two of you were planning a surprise family river cruise for Dad’s birthday?” Hazel asked before Eliza turned to them.
“Yep.” Eliza said before the door creaked open.
She smiled before turning around, “Hey Kimberly.”
They heard a chuckle before Eliza stepped to the side only to reveal a girl only two years older than her with olive skin, short blonde hair that reached to her shoulders, green eyes, and wore a light blue tank top, white shorts, brown hiking boots, and a bayonet strapped to her back. She smiled at the other hunters before folding her arms.
“Guys,” Eliza said putting a hand on Kimberly’s shoulder, “This is Kimberly Cassidy she’s the current leader of this branch.”
“Pleasure to meet you all.” Kimberly said smiling before she saw Hazel, “Hey there Little Robin.”
Hazel blinked before tilting her head, “Little Robin?”
Kimberly chuckled before she put her hands on her hips, “Well you were only six the last time I saw you.”
“Oh sorry.” Hazel said sheepishly.
“It’s quite alright Little Robin.” Kimberly said smiling reassuringly before gesturing for them to come inside with her, “Come inside I was just about to make lunch.”
The twins and Carla smiled at the mention of food before they all went inside.
“It's not much compared to The Hideout but it works.” Kimberly said as they entered and saw what looked like a rustic restaurant filled with chairs, tables, a bar, and stairs leading to a second floor.
“It’s beautiful.” Hazel commented as she, Gabriel, and the twins sat down in one of the booths, “Thanks for having us too.”
Kimberly chuckled before patting her head, “I’m always happy to help the Abernathys.”
Eliza chuckled before she and Carla followed Kimberly to the kitchen behind the bar after leaving their bags with Hazel and the others.
“So, what do you need help with El?” Kimberly asked as the three girls put aprons on, “Family stuff or,” Kimberly glanced at Carla before nodding her head to the blue-eyed girl.
“Just the first one Kim.” Eliza said blushing a bit leaving Carla to tilt her head in confusion.
“Okay then.” Kimberly said before getting a cutting board from one of the drawers, “Where do you need to go?”
“Cloud Mountain.” Eliza replied as Kimberly grabbed some garlic and onions after getting a large knife, “Think your boat can take us there?”
“Of course, it can.” Kimberly said smiling before turning to Carla, “Can you get the tomatoes from the fridge please.”
“Here you go.” Carla said giving the tomatoes to Kimberly before sitting on the kitchen island, “So how did you two meet?”
“Through our dads.” Eliza replied.
While the three girls were talking the younger Monster Hunters were having their own conversation.
“Kimberly seems nice.” Hazel said as they walked around as Phoenix laid down near their booth’s table leg.
“Yep.” Rachel said smiling as she looked at the pictures on the wall, “Pretty too.”
“What happened to you liking shy girls?” Ace asked smiling a bit before he turned to the other two, “Not that I’m complaining but why aren’t you guys asking questions?”
“Rachel already told me last night.” Hazel said smiling.
“It was kind of obvious.” Gabriel said shrugging, “I support her though so don’t worry about it.”
“Thanks, Gab.” Ace said nudging him, “It means a lot to the both of us.”
Gabriel smiled before something underneath one of the tables caught his eye.
‘What’s this?’ Gabriel thought picking up what looked like a picture.
Gabriel looked at the picture of what looked like Kimberly when she was younger hugging a younger girl with brown hair and –
‘Purple eyes?’ Gabriel thought before he read the handwriting on the back, ‘Me and my Little Robin.’
Gabriel’s eyes widened a bit before he took a deep breath to calm his nerves before he placed the picture underneath the table again.
‘As long as she’s happy.’ Gabriel thought sadly as he joined Hazel in a game of chess against the twins.