[attr="class","technoscroll"]
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Dagos. Maia’s first impression was of the city was that it reeked and that it was blinding. From the lights to the overabundance of people who seemed to be nothing but gaudy, she sure had come a long way from her lavender fields in Ikigai. This country was confusing, with its vast ecological systems just six hours away. It really was odd, the disparity between the cool climate of Felici and the desert of Dagos. With the city itself overcrowded Maia would lend her hand down to pat the head of the cat that she had acquired from the guild.
That had been interesting. Kalidas insisting it was time for a familiar to choose her. Either way, there was another force in the house with her and the sperm donor, so it made her a little happier. Even If the cat did wake her up in the morning by licking her face. You try getting a panther off your face when it wants to be fed.
The thought made her smile though, namely because she was allowed to keep the animal at school. It followed her around and napped in the sun when she went to the archery practice. Overall, the large cat was a good fit for Maia. It didn’t bother her too much, and she didn’t bother it too much. They existed amicably in the same space. That was enough for the girl.
When the guild had been contacted by the private investigator Maia had been surprised that Sensei Kalidas had vouched for her to go on this mission. Normally students weren’t allowed to take missions, but the principal of the school had called her and her father in to explain the situation. It seemed that Sensei Kalidas was higher ranked than Maia had thought. It was honestly surprising to the girl, she excelled at archery yes, but had little to no skill in close quarters combat. Apparently, as Kalidas had said later, she wanted her there in order to calm the children down when they were found. Plus, it appeared that some of the guild’s own offspring had been taken, and the guild wasn’t very happy about it.
Either way, Maia had to endure the six-hour train ride from Felici to Dagos with her father. It wasn’t very fun, but apparently, the guild had upgraded their seat because of her familiar. Her familiar whom insisted on bothering her father for most of the trip. It was the little things that made Maia smile. The tail flipping in front of his face as he would try to read the newspaper, the batting of the paws towards the bug that flew in Oliver’s direction. The infamous playing with shoelaces when it was inevitably told to get down and Maia would receive the stare from her father. It would be met with a smirk as she would nod towards her panther buddy who would obediently get down.
What could she say, there was a reason that the two got along and the panther had chosen her.
Probably the most exciting part of this trip so far had been the ability for Maia to raid the guild’s weaponry room and in particular, the ammo section. She had all sorts of goodies packed for the mission. She had plenty to choose from with most being nonlethal, as the children were the priority for the teenager. She had grabbed plenty of nets, glue, and shock ammo. In case of emergency, she had grabbed a few smoke screen and flash ammo, she didn’t want to be caught unaware, and these would ensure her a quick getaway if needed. Her explosive arrows were the least amount of the ones provided that she had obtained. Her father had assured her that he had downer ammo in case of the culprit of the kidnappings being a magi. As such, she had a couple of vials of the coating for her arrows if the need arose. Maia could only hope the culprit wasn’t a magi, things would not work out well in their favor. She was there for support. Besides, Sensei Kalidas had said that her sperm donor could handle a gun. If things went well, she wouldn’t have to worry about inflicting damage, more reducing the mobility of the target, and taking him out as swiftly as possible, and ensuring the children’s safety.
Before they had gotten to the meeting Maia would have taken the time in the hotel they were staying at to give her prayers to the god of the hunt.
"God of the hunt, Kalidas, may my arrows hit true. May your blessings give me the ability to protect the innocent and draw the blood of the guilty in your name. I offer my bow and my skill in order to further your cause. The guilty are to be punished and the innocent protected. I let loose my arrow to catch your prey, to hunt not for sport, but for what you decree." The words would flow in Ikigaian as Maia would pray over her bow, her chant being normal before competitions. The difference was that this time she had people to save.
" I have hunted for sport, now I hunt for blood. I hunt this prey in your name and for your honor. " After finishing her prayers, and Oliver had gotten out of the shower (he had complained about cat hairs) Maia would ready herself, and follow her father as he led the way towards where the meeting was to be held. As they approached Maia would observe the main in the suit, and the other who was with him as well. What was interesting however was that there was a third at the meeting with the private investigator? Maia would eye him up and down, wondering what sort of individual had been recruited to this cause if they weren’t with the Hunter’s Guild. After all the guild had a personal stake in this mission, she wondered the motivation of the individual.
Listening carefully, she would look at her father after the investigator left, wondering which he would think to choose. Carefully feeling out the Ethean words (Kalidas had her working on the language) Maia would let a hand rest on her familiar before addressing Oliver;
“Apartment building would be high, even in slums… more area to cover.” Her brow would furrow before she tilted her head,
“But, children are familiar with schools… feel safer there?” She wasn’t sure where to go, as both presented a possibility for children to be hidden. There were too many rooms, and crooks and tiny spaces that kids could hide. She wished she had something of the children’s. Maybe then her familiar could keep the scent? She wasn’t sure.
Holding close to her bow, she would turn towards the two adult men, awaiting their decision. She wasn’t the officer in charge here, and there were children’s lives at stake. If anything Maia cared about the kids. Hopefully, they wouldn’t be too late. Her eyes would be trained on her father, watching his microexpressions and how he would think this through. It was interesting this gift Kalidas had given her, being able to see how people thought, and enhancing her sight. She liked to see what was coming at her, at least to be able to get out of the way. If the other man spoke, her gaze would move to him to watch him speak.
Either way, her one hand would stay rested on her familiar the other clung to her bow, with her ammo at her waist, for the ready.
“Children are a priority.” That much would come clear in her voice as the chaos of the slums surrounding them.
