Chapter Text
"Lileas." The Allhearken didn't turn her head, even as the huntress approached her. She'd known she was coming, she always knew.
"You asked to see me? Is something the matter?"
Lileas stopped beside the Wyverian woman, looking at her as she gazed off into the growing mist surrounding her home.
"I'd like for you to be careful."
"Me? Being careful isn't my speciality." Lileas crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her head. "What's brought this on?"
The Allhearken finally turned her head, her gaze gentle, yet somewhat sombre as she looked at Lileas.
"Just, please, try to be more careful. I'm asking on behalf of those who care for you."
Lileas hummed, holding the woman's gaze. She nodded, looking out at the view before them.
"Alright, I'll do my best. I don't plan on dying anytime soon, after all."
The Wyverian simply turned her head to look outwards once more, her voice almost a whisper as she replied.
"Plans often fall apart, don't they?"
It was a calm night. The stars above twinkled, watching over simple lives being lived.
Guests from the Guild moved around calmly. Most were turning in after a long day, some were preparing to head out on hunts, while others were merely going about their business.
It was that night that panic suddenly arose.
Lileas' Seikret ran into the village, spooked, tossing its head around as it cried out, drawing the attention of those who recognised it.
Erik ran out of his tent, confused by the sudden commotion. Recognising the bird wyvern as belonging to his wife, a sense of dread overcame him. Why was it here? Where was Lileas? What happened?
Residents of Suja managed to calm it, before they noticed the Palico sat upon its back, sobbing, terribly battered. The familiar cream-white face of Porridge, Lileas' loyal Palico, caught the eye of those who worked closely with the huntress.
Olivia rushed to Porridge, helping him down from the Seikret's back, trying to talk to him.
"Tell me what happened, where's Lileas?"
He couldn't speak, meowing and shaking, he looked terrified. They couldn't get a single word out of him as he sobbed and wailed, whatever he had witnessed had completely broken him.
Erik felt his heart picking up, where was she? It was just a simple job, she said she'd only be gone for a few hours!
He hurried over to try and see if he could calm the Palico, yet on his way, he paused. Erik's attention was grabbed by a faint reflection of light, causing him to notice something caught on the Seikret's saddle, buried within the pouch that carried her bow. He reached out, carefully removing it, inspecting the item.
A broken necklace, with an all-too-familiar ring barely still on the chain, the green Rathian Ruby staring Erik down like a curse.
It felt like the world slowed down, like everything faded away as he stared at his wife's wedding ring, tears building in his eyes. The memory of that day surfaced in his mind like a cruel vision, her smile, her laughter, her... she was there, and now she wasn't here.
Lileas' promise shattered in the breeze, and Erik felt his legs give out, hearing the surprise of those around as he fell to the ground, breaking down in utter hysterics. Such behaviour was completely unlike him. Yet, it was completely warranted.
After all, his wife had been taken by the mist,
and most hunters who vanished on the job either didn't return,
or returned cold and unmoving.