Ok so this has been done for a while, like planned to post before 2022 ended. However, I got a little lazy, then uncertain about a few minor details. Now I'm posting as it is. That being said, yeah, this episode is a bit of a slower pace, but it aids in the development of the world and gives more insight in the job of a hunter. Hope you all will enjoy!


Glancing up from his book, Nova took notice of dark beech and oak forest before him. A still standing refuge for nature, defiant to the industry that never ceases in the city that neighbors it. A classical location for thieves and miscreants .
“So what am I in for?” Nova asked, closing his booklet and setting it at his feet.
“Details are scant, people robbed of valuables and memories filled with panicked details and fear,” Vandame killed the engines.
“That’s what I already know. Anything else?” Nova checked his revolver.
“That’s all I can tell you,” Vandame held his hand out, “give them to me.”
“What?”
“You are here to mediate, not slay. Give me both guns,”
Nova passed his guns to Vandame, Vandame held out his hand again, “Your reserves.”
Nova sighed and pulled out two spare C96 clips and four speedloaders for his 1892. Vandame set everything except the revolver in a satchel. He took the 1892, swung the cylinder out of the frame and ejected all six rounds into his hand. He dropped five of the rounds into the satchel and loaded a single round into the cylinder and closed it back into the frame. He passed the revolver back, Nova taking it slowly and placing it into the holster.
“One shot. You shouldn’t need it,” Vandame placed the bag at his feet.
“If I shouldn’t need them, then why take everything?”
“That way you will focus on talking through these kinds of encounters,” Vandame stepped out of the car, “This also ensures that you don’t wander into another crazed adventure.”
Nova sighed and stepped out of the car. Greeted with a cool breeze that lacked the stench of industries. Reaching into his pocket, Nova withdrew and flicked on his flashlight, illuminating the trees on each side of the path in yellow light.
“Wish you the best in your diplomacy,” Vandame took out his pipe.
“Any last minute advice?” Nova asked as he approached the path.
“In my experience, identifying what they are will help in diplomacy. Will tell you if being direct, flirtatious, assertive, generous, or deceitful will work.”
Nova looked back hearing ‘deceitful’, however Vandame was looking off at Paris in the distance. Overhead in the sky a red light flashed once. Nova shook his head trudging on. The trail was active with life; scurrying mice in the grass, the chittering of squirrels in the branches, the quiet hoot of an owl unseen. Nova shined his light to his left, a quick jolt of fight or flight, the black eyes of the deer shown in the yellow light. Nova sighed and continued on, the deer remaining motionless.
As he wandered he found himself walking along a quiet lakeside. The moon was in the first quarter phase, glowing behind the slightly clouded sky. Out in the lake there was a soft splash as a fish grabbed a bug off the top of the surface. On the lake shore frogs croaked to the soft lapping of the lake water.
Peaceful.
The tranquility broke when a man came sprinting down the path. He glanced at the hatted and coated figure ahead on the trial and fell back in terror.
“Easy-”
“I ain’t got nothing! I told your friend I’m dead broke! Just let me leave this wretched place!” the man screamed.
“Easy-”
“No! Just let me go!” the man grabbed a rock from the side of the path, “It’ll get messy if you don’t!”
“My friend, where are they? That’s all I want, you tell me and I’ll leave you be,”
“The damn way I came, the path leading right, they’re among the trees!” the man pointed
“Merci,” Nova tipped his hat’s brim to the man.
Nova strode along the path, looking overhead to the snaking tree branches. Nova came to the fork in the trail, and took the right path as the man told him to. As he wandered Nova came upon a thicket, rough terrain all beyond it.
“Welcome to my domain, wandering soul, now… empty your pockets if you want to leave this place with your safety… and sanity…” a voice echoed across the treetops.
“A girl?” Nova thought.
“Well? Let me see the cash!” the voice called out.
“I’m not here to contribute to your petty thievery,”
“Oh?”
“I’m…” Nova paused, “I’m here to mediate…”
“Medi-what?”
“Mediate, I’m a huntsman,”
“Oh, a huntsman, I had no idea, here let me return what I’ve taken!”
A rock flew past Nova’s head.
“That daughter of a-” Nova snarled to himself.
“C’mon, show me you’re training!” A rock was thrown from another direction.
“Enough!” Nova caught the thrown rock and hurled it back into the treetops, a loud wooden clunk echoed from where it struck. “I’m here to talk, understand why you are doing this… and to help…”
“Help?” the voice giggled, “help me by shoving off,”
Nova sighed and thought.
“What is your name?” Nova asked.
“I am your great god Pan!” The voice shouted.
“Thamous Pan ho megas techneke,” Nova said into the woods.
For a brief moment the hoot of an owl was all that could be heard.
“Oh screw you, you know that was misunderstood,” Pan said.
“Then by all means, instill fear in me with your scream,” Nova asked.
A brief pause then a loud cry echoed through the woods, a cry that attempted to be monstrous yet was clearly human-like in origin.
“Perhaps a buffoon who wandered these parks in the late evening would be fearstriken,” Nova glanced at the treetops seeking Pan.
“I am to be fear-,”
“Assuming they were also drunk out of their mind,” Nova taunted.
“I am Pan. I am to be feared. I am the wilderness!” Pan screamed.
“You are an imposter. You are juvenile. You are a thief.”
“Oh very well, you are the huntsman, the trained silver tongue,” Pan’s voice shifted around the treetops, “you know all about the creatures you take advantage of!”
“Being that you say you’re Pan you are a faun or satyr. Which one? The differences are a little hard to understand,”
“As if I would tell you huntsman,”
Nova sniffed the air and spun about, “Alright, perhaps a different topic. Tell me, why are you robbing people?”
“I have no money, and unlike many other beasts, I wasn’t born under the protection of a magical human form. The spellcaster who could give me a human form charges an extreme price for the magic,”
Nova spun around ready to grab his pistol, only at the last second he fought off the gunslinger's urge to draw.
“You and I are alike…” A short girl, just taller than five feet walked out from the treeline.
“Alike?”
“Half-werewolf. Unable to hide behind magic,” Pan approached him. She wore an old leather jacket. Thick brown and black hair covered her hooved goat legs, her bronze skin and brown eyes were accompanied by black hair tied back with twine, running down to the middle of her back. Small cream colored horns protruded from just passed her hair line, grown only a couple inches.
“We aren’t alike,”
“Oh yes we are wolfie, I can’t afford the magic to hide what I am. You literally cannot hide with the magic. Oh how was it put? Too close together-”
“Too in between.”
Pan walked a complete circle around Nova.
“So what will it take to get you to stop your thievery Pan?” Nova asked, continuing to watch her.
“Oh I know you couldn’t afford the magic,”
“Perhaps payment outside of cash?”
“Oh like what? I own only what I can carry, and let me tell you, that load is very light,” Pan leaned against a tree, “pay in a service? Yeah, a mage would have need of many services. Face it. In this modern society, all that is wanted as payment is cash. French Francs, United States Dollar, British Pound.”
“Then work and make the money,”
“Oh yes, because people will hire a beast knowingly. I need the human form to make my way in this world,” Pan glared, “freak.”
“Then why don’t you buy a large dress, a bonnet or something, and some soft bottom sandals to dampen the clop of your hooves? Cover up and find an employer.”
“You want to know why I haven’t done that? It’s because it's a brilliant idea I never considered.” Pan’s glaring eyes became filled with hope, “it could truly work…”
Nova was taken aback, “That was merely a crap joke…”
There was a soft hooting of an owl.
“Would…” Nova took off his hat and scratched his ear, “would you need a hand with getting that dress?”
“I dunno, I can’t hide myself behind a coat and hat I don’t have,” Pan kicked about the thicket pulling out a dirty sack.
Nova sighed, placing his hat back and turned back towards the path. Pan grabbed the string as she tossed the sack over her shoulder. The two walked past the lake and back through the forest. The deer vanished from where it was eating. Passing under the treeline, they both found Vandame waiting.
“Successful,” Vandame tapped the pipe on his car’s side before pocketing it.
“Successful on the condition we can find Pan a dress big enough to disguise her,” Nova said.
“I have some things that might work,” Vandame said, getting back into the car. “Pan…”
“What do I call you old timer?” Pan snarked.
“Gabriel Vandame, ex-huntsman.”
“Retired because you’re too old-”
“Retired to raise a new hunter generation in this changing world.” Vandame started the engine.

~~~

Nova led Pan through the alley, all the while Pan tugged at the old dress she wore. It wasn’t what either thought of when they pictured a dress to disguise her. It was white with a bit of black and gray accents, but it didn’t reach the ground to completely cover Pan’s legs, rather cutting off just past her knees. Nor were Pan’s horns and hooves covered, but it was what Vandame could provide her.
“I look ridiculous,” Pan sniffed the green neckerchief around her neck and gagged, “what is that stench?”
“Mothballs,” Nova took out a key from his pocket.
“Are you certain that I can get a job here? My legs are still for all to see,” Pan complained.
Nova pushed the door open and waved Pan inside. The place smelled like all kinds of liquor and cigarette smoke. There were five tables and several seats at the countertop. Behind it Clarence stood, eyeing Nova up while lighting a fresh cigarette.
“Nova, good to see you,” Clarence clicked his lighter shut, “Who’s the kid?”
“Kid? I’m fifteen!” Pan crossed her arms
“Still a kid,” Clarence let out a puff of smoke.
“Think you can offer something in particular?” Nova sat at the counter.
“Particular huh? Something stronger than your moonshine…”
“No, for Pan,”
Clarence looked at Pan, back to Nova and took another drag with an eyebrow raised.
“Think she could work for you during The Beast’s Hours?”
Clarence gagged and coughed, “work? Wolfie, look around, The Beast’s Hours are quiet as can be.”
Footsteps echoed down the stairs.
“Look, Pan needs the money-”
“I told you this would never work,” Pan turned for the door.
“I think having her work The Beast’s Hours would be a brilliant idea,” Felicia strode across the room and took a seat next to Nova. “We could use a third set of hands with the cleaning and upkeep, as well as giving Clarence a relief from the long hours.”
“She's only fifteen,” Clarence stamped out his cigarette.
“And I was seventeen when I started working for you,” Felicia looked back at him, “and I’m certain that having a beast working here would put other beast’s at ease of coming here. No other bars are inviting to beasts for visiting let alone employment.”
“So it’s settled then?” Nova said.
“She can work here. But I want you to do something,” Felicia said, “Help get word around of The Beast’s Hours. Because it won’t help anyone if we can’t get customers aside from you.”