Offering tribute and earning favor.

John was quite happy with himself, as he had found out he could equip the weapons on a secondary build set which meant that they, A, did not take up any space in his inventory, and B, he could switch to them on a whim.

He was puffing slightly as he got handed a bottle of water from Cynthia. “For a first day in the Abyss, you are doing quite well, John. I look forward to working with you,” she said happily.

John gratefully took the bottle, taking a sip as he ran a hand through his hair. “Thanks, though… I think it’s about time for me to go home, it’s what, four? Five o’clock?” he asked as he looked at the sun moving further across the sky.

Cynthia looked at her watch, nodding as she said, “It’s half to five. Lucky though for you… You can get a ride from us. Dad owns a humvee, goes shopping now and then; we do after all need basic necessities around the camp.”

John smiled, downing the rest of the water as he straightened his back. “I think… I’ll increase my endurance a bit; I mean, if I get this tired when I am just training… “

Cynthia nodded. “Give it a bit of thought; if what you said is true, you will either have to work hard for your points or do random shit till you drop,” she winked at the last part. “So invest those points wisely.”

John walked over to the target he had turned into somewhat of a porcupine by now. Small scorch marks of his mana arrows evident on the target as he gathered the arrows into his quiver. Luckily, none broke. His experience with bow mastery had only gone up by three percent after shooting the target for half an hour, but he hoped that it would increase faster if he hit live targets.

“Well, I guess we should go and find mom and dad now, I guess.” Cynthia said as she placed her bow over her shoulder. Starting to guide John through the camp. She introduced John to a few curious people along the way. John smiled politely at them, but his social awkwardness made him a bit shy.

After a few minutes of socially awkward interactions, John saw the familiar figures of Arnold and Miranda appearing in front of them, closing a tent up behind them. John made a note of the tent, trying to figure out who lived where as all the bloody tents looked the same!

As John and Cynthia approached, the two of them were giggling together, holding hands like a couple of teenagers. Just as John wondered what they had been up to he, ehm, saw a drop of something goopy run down Miranda’s chin.

“Mom, missed a drop,” Cynthia reminded her as she looked how deeply John blushed. Her hand on his shoulder as she whispered into his ear sultrily. “Yes, John, my mom has cum on her cheek... How…”

“Cynthia, stop bullying the new recruit!” Miranda said sternly as she scooped the drop from her chin and sucked it into her mouth.

“You see, John, us Hunters are quite open about intercourse and love. Though we would not say we go as far as the Wild Hunt who tend to just fuck whenever they feel like it. We love one another, me and Arnold, so we have our fun,” she spoke seriously.

John nodded quietly, not sure what to say to that. “So, ehm, let's not talk about it, okay?” he asked in a slightly embarrassed tone.

“It’s natural, John; animals do it, why should we be ashamed of it?” Arnold asked seriously.

“I get it, just please… I, ehm, don’t feel comfortable discussing this with people I met half a day ago, okay!?” he finally yelled out which made the two older people smile.

“You got it, John; we’ll stop teasing you now. Though before we take you home, there is something you need to do. And that is to offer tribute to Artemis. You still have the tusks, right?”

John nodded. “I do, why?”

“If you offer them our Lady, you will be a full fledged member of the Hunters. Offer something to a god or goddess, and they will notice your existence, bestowing their grace upon you. See it as… finalizing the membership fees for a sport club,” Arnold ham-handedly explained.

“Well, if you say so, sure! How do I offer the tusks to Artemis?” John asked as he pulled the tusks out of his inventory.

“It’s quite simple: you toss them into a fire while speaking out the god or goddess’ name you want to offer to,“ Miranda explained, taking out what seemed to be the claw of one of the monsters that had chased John earlier that day from her bag.

Miranda led the way to an open brazier in front of the temple. She bowed in front of the fire then threw the claw into it. “Goddess Artemis, please accept my trophy. In your name, I shall hunt till my last breath.” As she spoke her oath, the flames flickered, the shadow of an arrow appearing in them before going still again.

“Now you try it,” Cynthia urged John, who quickly stepped forward.

John tossed the small tusks into them as he spoke out loud and clear, “Lady Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Please accept my first trophy.” He tried to sound as solemn as he could. A small flicker shook the flames before a pin flew out of the flames and fell in front of his feet. It was shaped like the ones keeping all the other Hunters’ cloaks together.

“Lady Artemis has accepted your offering and has bestowed you with the sign of the Hunters. John Newman, welcome officially to the Hunters of Artemis. We are glad to have you,” Miranda said with a smile, hugging John tightly as she pinned the arrow onto his jacket.

John stood petrified as the milf hugged him, her scent tickling his nose as some appendage grew rapidly, rubbing on her thigh before she pulled back.

Miranda pretended not to notice anything as she said: “Well then, I guess it’s time we take you home now, John. Your parents will get worried if you stayed any longer.”