Path of the Hunters [PART 2]

Aurélie let out a quiet laugh. "Oui. You do not."

"I dunno, maybe if I cleaned up a little, I could look more the part..." He shook his head on a chuckle. "Nah, it just doesn't feel right."

She smiled. "If you wanted to go undercover for anything, that is all you would 'ave to do."

"That's true. Maybe I'll throw in my real name too, but just my first."

"That would be interesting."

"Well, tonight's a perfect time to test it out."

"Oui." She smiled, studying him again. This was going to be an interesting night.

"We're here." They pulled into a parking spot in front of a small diner.

She got out, smiling. "It is... quaint."

"One of the best spots to relax in the city." He got out, held the door open for her.

She slipped out, smiling at him. "Merci."

He smiled back at her. "Come on. Food's on me, Miss Billionaire."

"One thing is certain, Nova, I will never be challenging my fortune to you." She patted his cheek. "You may actually beat me."

He laughed, opening the door to the diner. "That's some compliment. Sorry to say you wouldn't get much out of it if you win, at least relative to what you own."

Smiling, she sailed inside. "That may change."

"Maybe." He stepped inside, and was greeted by the hostess, an innocent-looking beagle.

"Hey, Nova!" she said cheerily. "Nice to see you after so long."

"Oh, come on, Chris. It's only been a month. That isn't long."

"Long enough. Anyway, the usual spot?"

"You know it. Plus-" Something caught his eye: somebody sitting in one of the booths alone.

Aurélie lifted a brow. "What is it?"

[Insert dramatic music here]

"Over there." He nodded towards the booth with the person.

"You know her?" Chris asked, looking in the same direction. "She came in
about an hour ago. Almost mistook her for you. She ordered some french
toast, but I don't think she touched it. She's just been reading that
book of hers, with the occasional glance out the window."

"Almost mistook her for me, huh? You know what, I'll take a rain check. We're gonna carpool today."

"You sure? She looks like she wants to be alone."

"She won't mind us. Come on." He started to move towards the girl's booth.

"Wait." Nova turned back to the hostess. "You might need these." She handed him a pair of menus.

"Thanks." With that, he moved toward the girl's booth.

Aurélie slid into the booth across from the wolf, smiling. "Salut, Amile."

The wolf girl looked up from her book with a little surprise. "Oh! Salut, Aurélie. What brings you to this quiet area?"

"That's my line," Nova said, sliding in next to Aurélie. "This place is a long way from the Marriott at the airport."

"One of the staff there pointed me to this place. Seemed like a good idea at the time."

The dog smiled. "Bonne."

"Oh, and by the way, it's Crescent, now."

Nova raised an eyebrow? "Crescent?"

"My alias. I want to start over, live my life as a real bounty hunter, not a soldier parading around as one."

The dog nodded. "That is an interesting choice."

"What about the Baudoins?" Nova asked. "Aren't they gonna come looking for you?"

"I asked your friend, Cross, to forge a letter saying that you, as Emile of course, was killed, but so was I in the process. Besides, even if they thought I was alive, I can not go back. It would only be a matter of time before they found out about my origins."

"True. You would be dead before you landed."

Amile, now Crescent, nodded. "I 'ave no choice but to remain 'ere."