The gossiping huntress giggles, her eyes set on a lone male at a round table in the corner of the canteen. Her sister in arms continues to whisper in her ear of the dramatic tale he had caused over his supposed 'encounter' with a serpentine Tobi-Kadachi.

"You see that mark on his back?" She questions, barely hiding her pointing finger to show the other the lightening mark that races across his shoulder and down his back under the leisurely clothing issued to hunters for inbetween their quests.

Skin wasn't so easily marred and bones not so easily broken over the years that people had been battling monsters. To have been tagged by a creature spoke of how fierce it was or how foolish the hunter had been.

And a measly Tobi-Kadachi, it was unheard of. A creature that was naturally passive towards the sight of hunters.

"No way, seriously?" The huntress remarks before snickering behind her hand.

"Oh yeah, and you know what he told everyone? 'It was a different Kadachi, bigger and more snake-like. Gold scales and barbs sticking out of its head like horns!'" The other utters, imiditating a panicked man's voice.

"It wasn't a Viper?"

"There wasn't any poison traces on him or the area where he encountered it." She waves off a haughty smirk on her face. "Just a normal Tobi-Kadachi."

"OH man, that's embarrassing! Isn't he the Admiral's grandson? That's some big shoes to full and he's already made a fool of himself." The woman murmurs, a disbelieving expression adorning her.

A hand grasps at her mug of ale before it gets dumped on both women, giving shrieks of surprise. Their startled and angry eyes meet that of a silver haired male, braided locks pulled away from his face and showing the stark contrast of his red piercing eyes. Two scars fit on his face, one across the bridge of his nose and the other flowing down across his left eye. A deep upsetting rumble leaves his throat while a frown forms against his short scruff of a beard.

The two huntress' scowl in return but given his glare, are quick to vacant their table with swift gaits to change the ruined outfits they wore.

With a satisfied huff, this man joins the ridiculed one, taking a seat by his side without a word.

"Thanks, Shimazu." The male responds, a sigh leaving his body as a hand moves to grasp at the top of his shoulder where memories of the electricity could still be felt. "You have any idea what Myra called us for?" He questions, shaking off the younger hunters' taunts away.

Shimazu gives a soft shake of his head, crossing his arm on top of the reserved table.

Keasubi hums, running a hand through his short snowy middled-parted hair, fingers skimming past the other gift the golden Kadachi gave him, a scar slicing past his left eye that has somewhat affected the hazel-colored orb there. "Perhaps we'll be taking on the mysterious monster that took down that mercenary group last night. I heard the squad captain didn't make it."

Another huff, this time with a concerned scowl.

Shimazu could be hard to follow, taking an extreme with his near silence from his past experiences. With his own grandfather being the Huntsman, there was supposed to be an unspoken rivalry between he and Keasubi, the Admiral's grandson.

Or one would have thought so, had both children not been guided by the Huntsman as the better of the two. A title bestowed by the Admiral. With the two students' closeness and likeness they could be confused as brothers but the term isn't far from their relationship.

Brought even closer when tragedy struck Shimazu's original team right before his eyes. The only reason he wasn't part of the body count that night was his silence during the event.

While the rest of his party was being merry over their successful hunt, the ivory braided man had sought out a piece of quiet to settle his still running nerves.

And like a pack of wolves, the high pitching laughter echoed out as his team was slaughtered by swift shadows of claws and teeth. Keasubi was mocked for his tale of the Tobi-Kadachi, but no one laughed when Shimazu appeared back at Astera, days later, coated in the dried blood of his companions.

His last official words were of the laughing ghosts.

Now more in a stable state of mind, the man imparted very few words and his story fell in line with others that ventured into locales like the Sea of Trees.

There is a comfortable silence between the two as they wait for their companions.

Myra was a woman that was hard to pin down in words. She had leadership in their team but also had the understanding to listen to others. She was open to any quest, no matter the monster, each an experience to hone their skills.

More than that, for the two men, she and the others of the team cared not for the tarnishing rumors attached to their names. Preferring to make judgements while on the field.

When the rest of their teammates arrive, the twin support members sit beside each other, steadily watching the leader with curious eyes. The greetings they exchange are minor and distracted.

Myra takes the last seat available and orders a round of drinks, a smile laced on her lips that gave nothing away to her news.

"Alright, enough buttering us up." One half of their support huffs.

"Spill it, Myra." The other states after a long drink from their mug.

Their leader puts down her own mug with a sigh. "I'm disbanding the group."

There's a roar of confusion among the four individuals, the loudest coming from Keasubi as he stands from his seat. The stool topples from the movement.

"Why?" He questions, others feeling the same.

"I'm headed back to the Old World to attend to some personal business." Myra answers simply. Her eyes drift elsewhere in the canteen, expression thoughtfully.

"This team is nothing without you to help guide it!" The glaive user remarks, they hit their fist on the surface of the table. The mugs tremble with the force.

"We're a team. We can wait for you." Keasubi pleads. "O-or even come with you if it's a quest!" Shimazu nods in his agreement, a low huff tumbling out of his throat.

"That's not the issue here!" The leader hisses, slamming her mug down that the liquid spills out in a wave. "I might not return, you think I want all of you to join me with that kid of aspect!?"

Shimazu scowls, crossing his arms over his chest with a shake of his head.

"What he said!" The bowgunner scoffs, pointing at the voiceless man. "We do life or death stuff every quest we take. Hell, the journey here wasn't a guarantee!"

"This is still my decision to make. I'm disbanding the squad and I'm going alone back to the Old World." Myra commands, chugging down the rest of her drink before taking a stand. "I will not have your potential deaths be on my conscience." She sighs lightly and offers her old mates a light smile. "I know you all will do fine without me."

She handles herself with grace as she walks away, a wave thrown over her shoulder, in farewell.

The four members dart their gaze around the table.

"We can form without her." Keasubi murmurs regretfully. Shimazu persk at the mention but nods in agreement. His red eyes narrow at the grain of the table, hurt cast in them.

The twins frown, looking at one another before the glaive support speaks up.

"Sorry Keasubi. It's just not the same without Myra." Their double begins to leave the table.

"I think it's time we take a break anyways. We've been working really hard for the Commission as of late." The other murmurs, unable to look at the mournful and pleading looks the two men give as they too, walk away.

The duo are left at the table, formerly known as their team's meeting place and now, merely a table in the canteen.

"W-well, we can still be a team, Shimazu." Keasubi warbles, looking at his friend with worried hazel eyes. "Right?" A tone of uncertainty was laced in his question, confidence stolen by the string of farewells their acquaintences had gifted them.

Crimson eyes land on him, a wall of hurt and betrayal swims in them, the same as his own. The snow haired silent man hums softly, hand stretching to rest on his shoulder. A firm shake and grip lets Keasubi know that his brother-in-arms would stay.

"Thank you." A breath he held now leaves his lungs in relief. A hand runs through his hair in anxious disarray from his disheveled thoughts.

No team would take them, regardless of their feats on quests. Keasubi especially as he was the sole witness to his tale. Anyone who did grant them a spot were likely to make comments behind their backs, every movement made would be scruntized for irrational behavior.

As it is, being a duo would be difficult with the rumors.

Keasubi isn't left to ponder at his next move for long, however, as a deep meow sounds from the below the table.

Both men glance down to between them. A large palico swipes at Keasubi's mug for himself, drinking down its contents eagerly.

Even if he was struggling to look over the table's edge.

Shimazu lets out an amuzed snort, allowing the old companion to drain his muf as well, moving it closer to his welcoming paws when he wanted it.

Keasubi finally snaps out of his daze before hysterically admonishing the feline. "Warrior!" He whines, pulling the bare cups out of his grip. "What are you doing? That was mine you know!"

The answer he recieves is one he was expecting, a loud, satisfied belch. The old cat does rub his muzzle happily against the man's side.

Happy rumbles echo from his chest that works as it did many other times, with a defeated groan by the thunder scarred man.

"Fine, I give up." He mutters, shoving lightly at Shimazu's shoulder for snickering at his plight. "Why are you here Warrior? I thought the old man had you run an errand."

With another low pitched meow, Warrior beckons the hunters to follow.

Keasubi and Shimazu give a helpless shrug at each other before standing to follow the eager palico. The brawny kitty skittering across the canteen floor like a charging Diablos.

The short haired man takes a moment to look back at the abandoned table. A small sigh worms its way out of his throat but he is quick to follow the swift palico with Shimazu.

Warrior leads them to the command room, usually onl used for situations that needed to be discussed away from the public until they could formulate a proper plan.

Each hunter marked the door with their first hunt or an exceptionally remarkable one. Most went with the second option as most first hunts were relatively the same types of creatures. Be it fang, claw or scale, every hunter in the New World had placed something there to be seen.

Warrior gives another yowl before pushing the door, having help from Shimazu. The conversation inside stills at their entrance and the forms of three individuals are nestled close to the expansive map of the New World.

Ragnar, Keasubi's grandfather, stands tall beside a new mysterious woman shrouded in the midnight sky, hand pointing to an excessive red marked area and Aldrich, the commander, stands on her other side, looking to be mid-sentence before their arrival.

"You sent for us?" Keasubi murmurs, taking small steps into the room. Shimazu stalks in after him.

"Look who showed up!" The Admiral laughs, once again giving Warrior a hearty pat on his head. "And little Pup too." He grins widely.

Aldrich clears his throat, hand gesturing to the woman who had yet to speak a word to them. Her cowl covers her eyes from the two but they knew they were being watching closely. "Boys, I'm sure you've heard of the Silence. A lineage of exceptional researchers that have helped us draw new conclusions on monsters to both the New and Old worlds?"

"Wasn't the Silence the reason why the New World was discovered decades ago?" Keasubi questions, realization striking in his eyes as he takes in the woman's appearance. Most features were obscured by the starry glitter in the fabric and make it hard to discern.

"Before you ask, no, my father was the one who made the discovery." She states, a hint of an amused smirk gracing painted lips. "I'm not that old I'll have you know."

The young man laughs weakly, hand going to rub the back of his neck in embarrassment as his grandfather chuckles loudly at his regret. "Right."

The Admiral looks brightly at the two men as his claps the woman on her back, the force making her stumble forward just a bit as she braces against the table in front of her. "This here is Whisper. I asked for her to help us with the string of issues we've been having."

Shimazu rolls his wrist in a circular motion, wanting to know the details on their involvement.

"As a researcher, especially one that is new to this land, I can't move around by myself." Whisper continues, a frown set on her face. "And my original choice, was with the dead and injured that was found earlier." The second half is spoken lowly, delicate fingers clenching on the map into frustrated fists.

The snowy haired hunter gapes, many emotions coming to him with that statement. "Y-you want us to take you?" Keasubi concludes, his eyes meet his friend's, seeing the same astonishment.

"Well, it certainly makes it hard to think when this Rajang boasts loudly in my ears about your team." The researcher snorts, pointing the tall male at her side, his expression not one of shame. "Although I'm not opposed since I have no understanding of the other teams stationed here." She waves off.

Shimazu grumbles, red eyes darting off away from the people around him. A tense look rests on his face while the muscles in his arms are flexed across his chest. Like suppressing his emotions.

"What is it little Owl?" Ragnar questions, noticing both the mute man's disposition and his own depressed figure at the mention.

"Myra disbanded our group. It's just Shimazu and I now." He replies with a sigh. "Sorry old man, you'll have to find another group." The tense atmosphere sprouts into a depressing one with his defeated attitude.

Ragnar and Aldrich share a look of surprise, the taller of the two opening his mouth to reply, however the violet-haired woman beats him to it.

"That's fine. I don't require a full squad if you two are capable enough. I don't believe you understand what this quest details, but it's not hunting a monster right away." Whisper comments, a hand sliding to her hip. "Your main concern is protecting me as I do my job. Keep me safe and help me around the terrain, that is all I ask." She walks gracely around to the two hunters at the other side of the table, fabric having its own mesmerizing sway at her movement. Her pale fingers reach out toward Keasubi. "Do we have a deal?"

Hazel eyes look toward the offerring appendage with caution and excitement, mouth drawn into a tight line as he ponders. His gaze glancing to his friend at his side, red eyes gleaming back before a clear nod is given as consent.

His arm extends, hand gripping the smooth surface of Whisper's welcoming own. "Yes." He answers, sure and resounding.

"Good, now we're headed out to the newest site." The researcher presses out with a smile, hand slipping out of the hunter's with ease to shake with Shimazu's briefly. Her form glides past both after all is said and now. "Gear up, we leave when you do."

Behind them, the Admiral shakes his head with a small chortle at her ethusisiam.

"Take care boys." Aldrich murmurs with a wave, sending them out of the room.

With Whisper at the lead, the trio walk the pathway back to the center of the community. A small exchange of their names, with Keasubi filling for his silent friend at his nudge during the small travel. Eyes gravitate to the three easily with their appearances. Murmurs cropping up once more but none allow it to bother them, nor listen in. "I will meet you two back at the dismount at the gate. Be ready." The woman announces, giving no pause in her motions as she walks with purpose.

Keasubi smiles to his friend and the two head back to their own personal quarters to gear up for their upcoming mission. With a few years under their belt already, and life full of training, the process was quick and left no room for error. Their supplies packed with off-handed items and rations that were overkill for other hunters to the quest at hand.

Whisper, true to her word, rests nearby at the gate as the two longsword users meet up with her.

Keasubi wears a mask covering the lower half of his face, inspired by the masks of the engineers, vents in the front and dual hoses planted into the sides that travel to his back. His overcoat was monochrome in color, and crafted by Wugal pelt. Gauntlets and his legs are adorned by various coppers, brass and other metals, sitting comfortably behind his calves as well, like a steamwork pipes. Several golden colored vials are wrapped around his waist. The sword that rests against his back is one with the bright reflective skin of a Tzitzi Ya-Ku.

By his side is Shimazu, while his armor isn't different from other Odogaron sets with the fiery crimson and wide brimmed hat that obscures the face a great deal. Sashes and knots either drenched in more red or white. The fact that he is set to use the full armor of the devil dog is noticably different from other hunters that pair pieces that they like into a full set that identifies them. It's the long sword he wields that garners the most attention. It's simple in nature with a black scabbard, but there's a metal appendage close to where the sword rest in it, that sticks out on the underside like a hold for a bowgun. Its purpose unkown until the moment of battle.

Briefly, the two hunters size each other up and hit each other's fist in comadarie and excitement radiating off them.

"Ready then?" Whisper comments, shutting her journal and allowing it to rest against her hip once more.

A firm nod from Shimazu.

A chirp in agreement from Keasubi, chest puffing out. One that reminds the woman too much of his grandfather.

She turns toward the numerous Wingdrakes roosting with the two hunters by her side, and with a jolt, stands straighter as a person calls her name.

"Whisper!" They yelp in surprise, landing on the port of the gate, Wingdrake returning to its previously vacant spot in the roost.

"Estella?" She returns with just as much astonishment. "I thought you were dead!"

The ebony haired woman scoffs as she comes closer to the researcher. "I'm too tough to be done in by some ugly bitch like that." She says off-handedly, waving Whisper off.

"You've seen it then?" Keasubi remarks.

"I mean, I guess I have. It was pretty dark." Estella states, looking cautiously at the snowy haired hunter's interference. She crosses her arms and squares her shoulders. "What's it to you?"

"Estella." Whisper admonishes. "They are coming with me to investigate what happened." She answers, gaining the woman's attention again. "Why don't you rest and I'll question you later when we return." She pleads, a light pat on the sword and shield user's shoulder.

Purple eyes scan the trio with a frown marring black lips. A huff leaves her throat as she shakes her head. "Nope, if you guys go now then I'm gonna miss out on smacking that thing like it did me." She replies stubbornly. "I'm coming."

Keasubi chokes on air, hazel eyes gazing over at Shimazu then to Whisper. "Only if he agrees. Keasubi and Shimazu took this quest, it is their decision." The researcher murmurs passively, pointing a finger at the fluffy coated man.

He narrows his gaze at the ebony adorned woman in front of him, barrage of black roses around her neck as the coat's neckline and an impressively large sword and shield against her back. Her form is stubborn and is sizing Keasubi up as much as he was her. "I'm okay with it." He answers finally. "The more we have, the more we can defend against."

Estella finally allows a smirk to grace her lips, a snort registering before she swings back towards the Wingdrake roosts. "I'm guessing Whisper didn't want to wait even for a moment, am I right? She's done the same to me." She sighs.

Under her cowl, the violet haired beauty rolls her eyes, getting direction from Shimazu on the area they had to leave for with a sharp gloved fingertip tapping a map in front of her chosen Wingdrake. Coral Highlands, which would be the beginning of their journey.