Path of the Hunters [PART 3]

Aurélie hardly managed to bite back the laugh. "That is where Cross and Damien were going, non?"

"With any luck, that's the case," Sol said. "They didn't say where they were going, after all."

"You mean any luck not yours, right?" Nova mused, smirking.

Sol slumped. "Aw, jeez. I sure hope luck is on my side, today..."

"For your sake, it's better be," Mani warned.

Sunny's eyes rolled. "Geez; just ask Katharine where they are."

"Seriously, though," Nova said, scratching his head with a free hand. "All this runnin' around aimlessly, causin' a ruckus-it's too early for this mess!"

Aurélie shook her head. "Then we will ask Katharine where Yue is and get 'er if she is alone. If she is with Cross, she will be fine. Now, I know Crescent will not take long to get ready to leave."

Sunny smirked. "Yeah, Elesis, you're gonna be stuck here with the kids."

"And the problem with that, being?" Elesis asked, grinning. "Next to you two, I'm the powerhouse around here; Of course I'd be chosen to watch over the home front!"

Nova smirked. "Wow, Elesis. Who knew you'd start actin' so mature, for a change?"

"Besides..." She slumped. "As long as I've watching over the kid or kids, I'm not allowed to go out, and do field work, not without leaving their side. Those were the terms of the bet."

Nova laughed, Dart joining in. "Jeez, Elesis! You got it bad, don't ya!? And I thought my gamblin' luck was bad!"

"Arf," was Aurora's soft opinion while Sunny laughed loudly. She was looking around, gazing at the unfamiliar echidna with interest.

Aurélie smiled. "Well, you should get along with them well enough."

"That really doesn't help, at all," Elesis said, seeming to slump further.

"Aw, stop bein' such a baby!" Nova said, walking over to her, and giving her a hard slap on the back, which caused her to almost topple over. "Tell ya what, I'll include more sparrin' sessions at the gym for a week or so. How's that sound?"

"That won't help much, if this bet keeps getting longer."

"Eh? What're you talkin' about?"

"Another week gets tacked on, if I lose my charge, like what just happened."

He just smirked, and shook his head. "Damn, girl! What possessed you to take on such an elaborate bet, knowin' your luck is about as bad as mine?"

"I have no idea."

Sunny snickered. "Good luck keepin' track of four of 'em."

"I won't run off," Trip murmured.

Elesis smiled weakly. "Well, that's good to know."

Just then, Crescent walked by, a sick look on her face. "Salut, everyone..." she said absently, and continued to walk to the mess hall.

Sunny looked over. "What the hell was that about?"

With a slight frown, Aurélie passed Aurora off to Elesis and went after the wolf. "Crescent?"

Crescent groaned. "Désolé. I am not feeling so good, today. I just came out of a fit of nausea. I am 'oping I can 'old down some food."

Nova looked over, raised an eyebrow. "...Aw, hell no..."

"Crescent, either you 'ave a sudden cold or..." Aurélie patted the wolf's belly fondly.

Katherine looked on with a raised eyebrow and an amused expression, "For professional mercs, you people seem to have never heard of condoms or the pill..."

Aurélie rolled her eyes. "I was on it; it just... decided not to work. Crescent... 'Ave you and Briggs...?"

Elesis sent an annoyed look at Katherine. "Uh, maybe some of us wanted it to happen? Besides, how was she supposed to this would all blow up the way it did?"

Crescent's mouth hung open for a moment, then she blushed. "I... It was just one time of... I didn't think anything would come of it..."

Sunny grinned. "Looks like somethin' did."

Katherine chuckled, "What you get for invoking Murhpy's Law."

---

Katherine looked over at Yue, smirking, "Interesting child."

Nova grumbled. "Murphy need to leave us the hell alone."

"Tell me about it," Sol said, still shying away from Mani's piercing gaze.

*

"Yeah," Cross said. "She takes after her dad. Sol always did get into the most amazing places."

Yue giggled. "Papa's cool!"

"Per'aps if you would all stop tempting 'im..." The dog smiled. "If 'e is still on assignment, we will 'ave to..." The smiled faded. "Bof! If 'e 'as already returned 'e will be worried sick."

"Well," Crescent said. "We weren't exactly serious like that."

"Besides," Nova added. "He's not exactly the kind to show he's sweatin'. He will be tearin' through the city, though."

"Yeah, with Starshine and Nova and Aurelie's place looking like a warzone along with Cross's place now a crator, yeah, I'd say worried sick is an understatement..."

---

"Ya' don't say."

"He's probably figured out the state of emergency of the city, by now." Nova shifted Dart in his arms. "He'll probably end up buttin' heads with those hunters."

Crescent gasped. "Mon Dieu! He'll be torn apart!"

"Don't underestimate him. He's seen his fair share; assassins that can phase through metal is nothing new to him."

*

"I'm gonna be just like him, one day!"

Cross chuckled. "Good luck with that."

"Mm..." Aurélie studied the wolf. They'd been serious enough, she mused to herself. "Just the same, someone should call 'im."

"Good luck, all non-SS comunications are jammed here."