Chapter Text
"What's the big deal, Iggy?" Gladio spoke casually, recoiling from the harsh glare offered in the rearview mirror.
"The 'big deal' is that none of you lot seem to be taking this as seriously as it requires." Ignis huffed, "At this point, I question if any of you even read the details of the hunt at all."
"I did," Gladio pointed. "So did Noct."
"And... uhhhh..." Prompto started enthusiastically before sinking into his seat. "I didn't, but if Gladio and Noct don't think it's that big of a deal..."
"Except it's a very big deal," Ignis turned his glare on the blonde beside him. "Did any of you see the success rate? The description of the bounty?" Ignis glanced back at the duo in the backseat. "Even the bloody title is startlingly ominous, and that's before taking into account that it focuses a ridiculous amount on a 'curse'."
"Uh, yeah, we read all of that, Specs. The monster killed several hunters, curses, typical hunting stuff. How is it any different from our previous hunts?" Noctis frowned as he leaned forward, staring at the man in wait for an answer.
"It's the specifics, Noct. Out of all former groups, only one of each group perished, and supposedly from the very curse the details mention," Ignis clarified. "Nothing about this hunt seems normal by any standard of the word."
"Nothing about any hunt seems normal, Ignis. But it's still putting food on the table, right? I'm sure it's nothing to get worrried about." Noctis spoke, leaning up. "I mean, come one, how many monsters have we fought who can cast horrible spells and curses?"
"Many," Ignis answered. "And might I add that most of the time, it turns out to be true? Which makes a curse nothing to scoff at."
"Yeah, but even so, none of us are dead," Prompto pointed out. "We've gotten poisoned, turned to stone several times..."
"Prompto got turned into a frog," Noctis added.
Prompto pouted in embarrassment, "But the point is that we're all alive and well. We survived those hunts, and kicked major ass. So you really shouldn't be so worried about this one."
His hard grip on the steering wheel loosened as the blonde talked. "I... suppose you're right." Ignis sighed. "It just bothers me, I suppose."
"It shouldn't," Noctis grinned, patting Ignis' shoulder. "You're stressing out over nothing, Specs. We'll go in, kick ass, and we'll all walk out fine. So calm down, okay? All that caffeine might give you a heart attack if you panic too much."
Ignis rolled his eyes. "If you insist, Noct."
Ignis tried his hardest to shake the skepticism. Perhaps he was being too paranoid for his own good; maybe the others had the right idea to treat this hunt as any other.
He pulled the Regalia to the side of the road just a few moments later. He glanced upon the wetlands beyond, trying to quell the feeling of dread forming in his gut.
"This is as close as we'll get by car, I'm afraid," Ignis spoke. "Appears as though we'll be walking through that marsh."
"Aww man," Prompto whined. "I just got these shoes."
"Good chance to break them in. Quit whining and march," Gladio retorted, ignoring the blonde's pout as he stepped out of the custom classic car.
"You know, you could just carry me on your shoulders and we can avoid buying me new shoes when these inevitably get ruined by gross swamp water," Prompto pointed with a grin, nudging against Gladio as he stepped out of the Regalia himself.
"Could, but won't," Gladio shoved Prompto away.
Prompto sighed loudly, slumping at the answer. "Was worth a shot."
"Besides," Noctis chimed with a smirk, "If anyone's getting carried, it's me."
"We already have to carry your massive ego," Ignis shot back with a sly smirk, "That's plenty heavy enough as is."
Ignis chuckled at the way Noctis pouted up at him, as Prompto and Gladiolus howled in laughter.
After checking their weapons and readying their curatives, the four made their trek through the forested swamp. They advanced slowly, keeping close eyes on their surroundings.
They fully expected their bounty to attack at any moment. While they were still considered novice hunters, they'd had enough experience to know what to expect out of hunts.
Though they went through the effort to assauge Ignis' individual fears, it didn't erase the risk all hunts carried regardless. They kept their guard up, cautious as to not allow the enemy to get the jump on them.
Eventually the marsh came to an end, leading the group to a dry forest opening. Their target was still nowhere in sight.
"Uhh... Iggy," Prompto lowered his gun, glancing around. "Are we in the right place?"
"Yes, I'm certain." Ignis frowned, the tone of his whisper harsh. Surely he wasn't wrong; he rarely made mistakes.
Noctis stepped close, tapping Ignis' shoulder with the back of his hand. "Do you have the bounty records on you? Maybe we're here at the wrong time."
"I'll check." Ignis pulled the papers from his jacket pocket, adjusting his glasses as he read quietly. The deceptive beast prefers to prowl the marsh during midday hours, with clear weather conditions.
Ignis frowned, looking up from the papers. Indeed, they'd made no mistakes. So where was it? "We're here at the proper time, Noct."
"So where is it?" Noctis growled irritably as he voiced Ignis' thoughts. "We've been all over the place, and I still haven't seen any sign of the damn thing."
Ignis froze. He couldn't be certain, but he had swore he heard the faint rustling of leaves between words of Noctis' complaints.
"Noct, Iggy, look out!" Prompto shouted suddenly, grabbing Noctis by the jacket and roughly tugging him away while Gladio followed a similar suit with Ignis.
They pulled in opposite directions, tugging the prince and advisor out of the way just in time. Ignis steadied himself as a monster, with fiercely swiping claws, launched from the tree branches above to land in their previously occupied spot. Had they been in the spot, one or both of them would've been undoubtedly injured grievously.
"I-Is that it?" Prompto asked.
Ignis' eyes shot into a glare as the monster turned to face them; it was bizarrely humanoid in appearance, yet demented and mutated in a way that could only belong to a beast.
"A womanly appearance, jagged claws..." Ignis listed, bearing his daggers as he watched the monster size up the group. "It certain fits the bill of the Harpy we're searching for."
"Then come on," Noctis stepped forward, swinging out his arm to summon forth the Engine Blade. "Let's take this thing down!"
"Right," Ignis nodded, tightening his grip on the daggers in his hands. "We'll follow your lead, Noct."
Noct didn't hesitate, quickly warpstriking the winged being with the group not far behind him. He landed a solid three hits before the others had even gotten close; he tensed as the Harpy screeched, the noise piercingly loud enough to stun the four men.
Noctis grunted as a claw caught him, knocking him away from his assault. He landed in the water with a growl.
Ignis slid in front of Noctis, standing defensively in front of his prince. "Noct, are you alright?" Ignis inquired, offering a hand to pull Noctis up.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It got my shirt, mostly." Noctis groaned as he took Ignis' extended hand, forcing himself up to his feet. "Gladio and Prompto have it's attention, attack it while it's off guard!" He commanded, summoning forth his lance.
"Of course," Ignis nodded, dropping his daggers back into the Armiger. He pulled his own lance from the seemingly infinite hammerspace.
Ignis followed Noctis as he charged, advancing valiantly towards the being in front of them.