Snowfall

That's No Ordinary Hunter

"How far could they have possibly gone? Especially since we can't hear them..." Sparrow wondered aloud. Angel kept her focus on the path ahead.

"There's no telling. This Hunter is obviously unlike the previous ones as it did not leave an obvious trail of destruction to the sewer. I believe it was also waiting," Angel replied. Sparrow looked at Angel with confusion.

"Waiting? Like, for Ace? Hunters don't wait; they go hunt and kill what they want then move on to hunt something else. They don't wait for anything," Sparrow stated. Angel glanced back.

"Perhaps we need to reconsider what Hunters are capable of," she suggested. The thought sent chills down Sparrow's spine. Hunters were already incredibly strong and dangerous. If they were becoming intelligent too... She shivered. Hunters smart as humans would make cities a hunting ground with all-you-can-eat prey. Normal law enforcement has great difficulty slowing down Hunters, and even Mettalion and Project Hope have a hard time dealing with them. That was without them being intelligent monsters.

"I don't think I like the thought of them getting smarter..." Sparrow whispered.

"If that is what is happening, we cannot prevent it short of killing them all off," Angel stated.

"That's not only difficult but harsh in my book. They used to be people too," Sparrow said softly.

"I am not saying we should take that course of action, it is merely a statement of my thoughts," Angel respectfully retorted. "I believe we are getting close. Can you hear that?" Sparrow craned her neck and listened. She could faintly hear more struggling.

"He's still alive!" She exclaimed, passing Angel and rushing down the narrow path, following the sound or checking the ground to be sure, when she remembered to check in her haste. Angel sighed and quickly followed. As Sparrow grew closer to the source of the sounds they suddenly stopped, and the sewers regained their ominous silence. She slowed to a stop. "... Ace...?" Her anxious voice echoed down the tunnel.

"That could be the Hunter, not Ace," Angel warned, catching up and taking position in front again. "Let me lead." Sparrow said nothing, staying behind Angel as her expression changed to one of both hope and worry. They took a slower pace, Angel keeping her weapon ready, Sparrow keeping her light dim and low to reduce the attention it would bring. Something stirred and its movements echoed down the tunnel. Angel and Sparrow shared a final glance. This could be their best chance to get the Hunter. They quietly advanced, prepared to fight, when they heard someone coughing violently.

"Ace?! That you?" Sparrow called, breaking her focus. Angel held her back from running forward, staring at her incredulously.

"S-Sparrow... yeah, it's me..." Ace responded before coughing more. Angel finally let Sparrow go full speed and stopped blocking her way. Angel was right behind Sparrow as she rushed to Ace, who was on his hands and knees. Next to him was a large body with skin mostly grey. The body and Ace had blood all over, but Ace was covered in large claw marks and bites.

"You killed the Hunter? A-Are you okay..." Sparrow trailed off. Obviously he wasn't okay. He looked terrible. Angel re-folded and hid her weapon.

"Sir, can you walk? Otherwise I will carry you," Angel asked. Ace coughed more and shook from it.

"I-I can walk, I think," he replied hoarsely. Angel nodded. She draped his left arm over her shoulder while Sparrow did the same for his other. They carefully began to help him walk back the way they came.

"How'd you kill it?" Sparrow asked, impressed.

"Like I killed the others. Crushed its throat," Ace replied simply. Sparrow gawked for a second. Hunters were strong and resilient. Normal humans can't just perform feats like that as if it were normal. Ace really was something else.