[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190924/544c85ab5c75bc61a4bb5ce40dc0caa6.png[/img]
[color=salmon]Word Count: 1160 (+2 exp)[/color]
[color=salmon][u]Level[/u]: [b]6[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 8/60
[b]Location:[/b] Smash City Alcamoth[/color][/center]
Even if it was just in the interest of saving their young master (who'd already wriggled free of the hunter's grip), the Ace Cadet was grateful the toadies had snatched him out of the air just as the once floating island abruptly dropped. The support afforded to those traveling in a group was truly amazing - not that the Cadet himself ever doubted that. Hunters did their best work as part of a team, after all.

As everyone found their way over to another island - [i]I wonder why these ones float and the one we were on couldn't outside that black bubble?[/i] - Cadet took in the scenery during his free ride. Many more floating islands than the one they were headed to, and a sparkling blue sea enclosed by jagged grass covered cliffs. It was a picturesque landscape that wouldn't be out of place in the Land of Adventure... which they were still in, right? It'd been a pretty far trek, then into a dark portal and now this. The toadies let the Cadet go without warning, and he landed wobbly on his feet. The island they'd made it too reminded him of the Coral Highlands. Surely they were still in the Land of Adventure with such similar scenery, and they hadn't been dumped through another portal like that grimy casino. [i]Then again...[/i] There were some weird looking devices dotted around the island, and after everything already it wouldn't be the most far fetched thing.

Something was shoved into the hunter hands that broke him out of his thoughts. He looked down at the prince pushing a wicked looking thing at him. [color=salmon]"Even two is hardly a collection,"[/color] he laughed, but took the scorpion's tail from the boy. [color=salmon]"Groovios! Thank you. I bet it will make for a cool weapon."[/color]

Cadet followed Jr. over the campfire and sat down, taking the time to rifle once more through his own bag. He didn't have any food to contribute, but that didn't stop him from stuffing his face when it was offered to him. He wrapped the scorpion's tail in the crawler skin he'd snagged the other day and hastily attached it to the dragon's tail, intent not to let either go to waste even if it would weigh him down. Hopefully they could make it back to Lumbridge before going on anymore big hunts. Speaking of big hunts, the target of their latest quest - or at least the person who'd absorbed said target - made his way over. The Courier looked a lot different, more than he'd seen so far from those that had absorbed spirits. The sight of him nearly had the Cadet choking on his food, and though he couldn't disagree with Hat Kid's exclamation of "Cool!", his own thoughts about the transformation were a bit different. 

[color=salmon]"D-d'you feel okay?"[/color] he asked the cowboy after roughly swallowing what was left in his mouth. Almost superstitiously Cadet lowered his voice and continued. [color=salmon]"Older hunters used to spooky newbies with stories about armor made out of pieces of a black dragon. Like, the dragon's grudge was too strong to die with them and it ended up taking over the wearer... not that I really believe that, but you kind of - I mean it's whole spirit is inside you."[/color] 

Those old stories definitely couldn't be true ([i]Right??[/i]), but it would take some time to get used to The Courier's new look, that was for sure. Sectonia's cutesy little insect minions marched over to distract him once they were finished cleaning everyone else. They polished the Cadet's armor until it shined in the sunlight, and he patted some of them on the head before they went looking for their next target. During that time, a trio of people that some in their group seemed to recognize approached and dove right into conversation that easily sailed over the Cadet's head. He sat back and let the words roll over him. Apparently they had a base in the area? Cadet looked out over the star-shaped island's edge at the other floating land masses. There were a few interesting looking ones... and though the "Smashers" talked about visiting the base, Cadet was leaning more towards The Courier's suggestion of heading back to Lumbridge. Of course, getting there was a different story. 

As usual, right on time another group appeared, one that was from Lumbridge even. Cadet narrowed his eyes as the dragon approached, but surprisingly wasn't as quick to brandish his weapons this time - though a hand did move to the handle of his long sword just in case. 

[color=salmon]"Things just get weirder and weirder,"[/color] Cadet chuckled after the school girl introduced herself and the dragon turned into a mostly human woman. Actually, she sort of looked like how the Courier did now. Did she absorb a dragon's spirit too? Regardless, it was good to see Euden again safe and sound. The Cadet hurried over and clapped the boy on the back with a grin. [color=salmon]"Hey, no worries! Glad the felynes got you two back safe and sound anyway."[/color]

Peach spoke up, and what she had to say made sense. Just before the group made their way over to the city, the Cadet made his thoughts known. [color=salmon]"For the record, I'm interested in heading back to Lumbridge too. I want to see the look on the Guildmarm's face when she finds out we did it!"[/color] He smiled, seemed to suddenly think of something, and glanced at the now back to normal Linkle. [color=salmon]"By the way, if we see the cats with - Link, right? If they're there with him, definitely don't call them pets. I don't own them or anything, they're people like you and me. They're called Felynes. Well, I guess they'd be Lynians, but the ones that helped us are Felynes."[/color] Ace Cadet seemed glad to speak about something he was familiar with after overhearing the Smash-related conversation from earlier. [color=salmon]"Oh, but Felynes that work with us hunters are called palicos too!"[/color]
[center]***[/center]Turned out the base was [i]massive[/i]. Truly fit for the name "City." It was like there was a whole village inside the building! It was pretty amazing, and Cadet would have wandered off to explore while the group was handling diplomatic matters if he wasn't worried about missing the proverbial train back to Lumbridge. When things tended to happen to quickly to this group, plus the story of Link being left behind just now, it was a real concern. He stuck with the group, though his interest in the Alcamoth was as plain as the grin on his face. Although the young man was decked out in scaled armor, a fiendish weapon or two, and with the body parts of creatures strapped to his person, he still looked pretty friendly. Or so he hoped as more strangers approached. Compared to the likes of Bowser and Sectonia, the hunter was sure he was fine though.

[color=salmon]"Hi! Newcomers here. Lot of newcomers. Thanks for letting us in."[/color]