sunfracture

“It was described as coming from ‘nowhere.’” Susette’s answer was soft, unperturbed by Hiko’s lack of what many deemed courtesy. If they did not wish to supply their name, then they did not need to.

“The creature burst from the garbage, so it is likely either dark in coloration, or buries itself within it.”

Either a dark colored creature or one that hides in refuse. Neither description narrowed it down fully, but it was enough to go on for this particular hunt. If it was something Takehiko hadn’t encountered, at least they could record it.

Welcome to follow. Was that an insult? Susette couldn’t fathom it from their demeanor, and so took no offense, joining with light, quiet steps. She had no way to know the experience of this hunter, but most who still existed predated her time in active hunting. She best let them lead.

Even if it might be more dangerous to their health than hers.

“I am Susette.” She offered, quietly. A formality, though it would not truly be necessary for shouted warnings or identification. “What I know is it is a long-bodied creature with too many teeth and too large a mouth, large enough to swallow a human whole.”

Takehiko grunted in the back of their throat to signal understanding, but offered nothing in return. It was one thing to let a Regulator join a hunt, but they had no interest in lingering ties after this interaction. The last thing Takehiko needed was a polite regulator knowing their name.

At their hip was a sheathed sword, long and thin, and they wouldn’t take their hand from it until the sewer was empty.

Susette regarded them a moment, quiet. They hunted a quarry, but were unfamiliar to her. Not another Regulator, not a comrade in arms. A monster hunter, a freelance professional. Her last interaction with one had been short and unfortunate, and with good reason.

She stepped clear of the wall once more, form solidifying as she did so. She let her eyes flare blue again, her dog-like ears perk. Two of a kind, and she had nothing against him.

“I am hunting the creature who ate the sanitation worker,” she said, finally. There was no tone of ownership or resentment, no suspicion one might expect. She knew many other monster-hunting Regulators would bristle at an outsider, even one of their own number, coming to ‘kill steal.’ Susette had no such hangups.

Takehiko regarded the woman in silence, quick to appraise every trait and feature that may be a threat. Small but controlled, tough looking, not an ounce of bothersome, unruly emotions. The ears  — volph? The prickling, uncomfortable sensation  — Regulator.

It was very rare to share a hunt with a Regulator, but Takehiko was new to this city and its workings. One concerned with the hunting of monsters was something new, at least to their knowledge. There was no reason to be ornery to someone who was only interested in making the city safer.

“I believe it was last down this hall,” Takehiko replied, pointing down the stretch of sewer they had been scouting. Even over the sound of rushing water, there was something deeper into the system that pricked Takehiko’s sensitive ears. “I am unsure of the species. You are welcome to follow.”

@delvedreamer​ @canopycalls​ Hello.