To Catch a Hunter

Janette scanned the raised paws and hands and took count, with KuliKuli leaning into Felix. The vote was clear, their intent became unanimous. One vote was the above all decision made, their priority had now been set. Janette called for them to drop their hands before a grin began to form.

"Alright, now let's go catch a hunter!"

Syri clapped her paws together with Dimyri squealing in delight, the mated pair semingly fine with hugging each other. It was Dimyri who broke their enthusiasm first, raising another paw to grab their attention.

"Wait, wait. How are we to pull this off, I mean how did you guys find me back then?"

"He had left behind a horse with the owner's signature belonging to it, as well as followed the direction he took. Nearest town was the Kershin Market where he took you." Janette answered. This was not enough to appease her however.

"Okay well then we have a problem because you found something he had left behind then. But now, well aren't we looking at a blank cavas here? That man could be anywhere for all we know."

"He's definitely with Perdilius." Felix mentioned. "No way he would let him go after our little back and forth."

Syri lit up. "That's right! And-And this time he was only targeting me and my sisters!"

"My sisters and I."

"Huh?" She spun around, looking puzzled at her oldest sibling. Dimyri repeated what she said a bit more slowly.

"My sisters and I, not me and my sisters."

"Oh, whatever. Y-You get the point! He's still after us, which means-"

Janette beamed as she began to catch on. "Which means we don't to bait a hunter that's already after us."

"Bingo!" Syri cheered happily. KuliKuli seemed shocked with Felix blinked in surprised.

"Huh, I guess it's rather simple now that you mention it. So now what, set up a trap and wait? But for how long because... well, I have a little bit of a problem."

All the girls began to stare, waiting for him to finish.

"Actually we all have a problem if we end up waiting for a few days or two."

"What's the problem?" Asked Syri innocently.

Felix sighed, scratching his head. "Well, this is the house I was tasked to look after over the season. And well... the owner will be arriving in two days unless I lost count."

"Aw crud." Janette huffed. "Well that is a problem. Okay new plan, we go back."

"What?" Everyone asked.

She shrugged. "It's not smart I know but if we have a time limit then shouldn't we pick up the pace? Or heck, maybe we should go save the Nekomatas first, damn it. Is that guy coming back important to you?"

He nodded. "Very. I'm sorry, I know the girls are much much more important. I wouldn't mind missing it if things hadn't gotten this bad but-"

"But what?" Dimyri asked, a slight confrontational tone in her voice.

Felix raised his hands and exclaimed, "But I figure we all need the money I'll receive when he pays me. To you know, have something to stand on after this."

Dimyri turned her head and sighed, hugged herself. "Sorry, I sound like a jerk now."

"You're fine, really. Just... agh."

Syri reached for the book, staring at its directions before frowning. "No, we're going after him like she said. He was after us by himself before, and we ran away for so long that I couldn't sleep for more than two hours a day."

She turned her head and looked at everyone else, her eyes falling on someone else's. "But when I met you guys, I felt happy. It felt warm to be there, I was able to sleep for a whole night finally. And now that they're back, they think they can just take it away? Well I'm tired, and I don't want to run away anymore. They think they can do nasty things and get away with calling us the Monsters?"

Dimyri held her sister from the side, joining in. "It's not right, living out there all alone and afriad because they tell you that you're the bad guy. We had a family, we have a family, and I'm not going to let that slip away from me again!"

Janette shook her head with a light smirk. "Really cliche but I'll take it. Anyone else wants to practice their speech? No? Alright then, let's come up with a trap. Dimyri, KuliKuli, go bring our friend back inside. Felix, let's get the rest of those boxes opened up! Syri, let's put those claws to use."

They nodded and headed out the door, with KuliKuli nudging her sister.

"That thing about you being scared, what made you change?"

"You. When I saw you fighting back, I knew then that he could lose." She replied, leaving KuliKuli speechless.