Chapter Text
The first think Hunter thinks of as he steps towards the portal to the Human Realm is that he didn't know how him and his friends were going to survive in a completely new realm.
He hated to admit it to himself. He had survived pretty awful conditions over the years, but this was a completely new world. How would people act? What unspoken rules were there? The information his uncle Belos told him about the Human Realm wasn't quite useful.
Hunter's thoughts surprise him as him and the rest of the friends are blasted through the portal door. He watches Luz try to open the portal door back open, but the door only leads to the inside of the old house.
So they really are stuck here now. He thinks to ask Luz what she knows about the Human Realm that could help them, but she's clearly in distress. Gus, who also knows about the Human Realm, is crying. He doesn't want to make things worse, so he decides he'll step in and lead them to safety and get help.
He'd first have to scope out the place. Find safe places with protection from the elements that don't have a lot of people around. Everyone else could stay there while he tried to get resources. He didn't want the others getting hurt if he could help it. Besides, he's done this before.
Hunter thinks it's best not interacting with people until he can understand Human Realm rules and behavior, but he would feel bad getting food from the garbage. So he decides he'll try asking for work in exchange for food, clothes and blankets or whatever else he could get. He won't ask for handouts unless he absolutely has to. Even then, he could handle it. He's done this before.
Hunter decides he'll make sure all his friends are warm, fed, and cared for before he cares for himself. He's the oldest and has the most experience. He's used to making sacrifices like this. He tells himself it'll be okay, that he can work it out.
As he finally gets up alongside his friends, he notices Luz saying something. He can't quite make out the words, but she's gesturing and leading the group somewhere.
Hunter is relived (but still a bit skeptical) about what Luz has in mind. He hopes they won't need to travel far, but it looks like Luz's destination isn't far at all.
Luz is bringing them to a house. Hunter hopes she's absolutely certain this place is safe as she knocks on the door.
A middle aged woman opens the door and gasps when she sees them. Hunter feels himself go even more numb, bracing for whatever she'll say next. He looks at her cautiously but does not make eye contact. Gus holds onto him and Hunter instinctively tries to protect him.
Luz speaks first. "Hey mom… I'm back."
Then her and the woman hug as they both cry.
Hunter watches awkwardly. He expected the woman to interrogate them or yell at them, or even straight up just turn them away. After all, they all look like quite a mess after the fight with Belos and getting drenched in the rain. But Luz hugging her mom seems like a mostly good thing. He can't be too certain though.
He debates if it's worth asking for Ms. Noceda to help the rest of his friends. He knows they'd be a burden, but he can work hard and make sure they earn their keep. He won't take advantage of her resources.
But before he can offer, she invites them all inside. Hunter is hesitant to enter, not wanting to overstep. He thinks for a moment if he could offer to keep guard instead so Ms. Noceda didn't think he was too greedy, but Luz looks at him and gestures for him to come in with the rest of the group.
He thinks it's for the best so he can keep an eye on his friends in case Ms. Noceda tries anything with them. He'll stand up for them. He can handle it.