They both tumbled as they jumped into the cat's belly. Landing on a soft bed of snow, rolling on his side twice before coming to a stop. Quickly standing up, Marco summoned his sword and poised to fight.
The other person stood up sluggishly, wiping off the snow from their clothes. Bundled in layers of black clothing from head to toe, a scarf and mask of the same color that hid any trace of skin. They reached behind their own neck, fumbling with the scarf. "If I wanted you dead, you would not have made it this far."
Their voice was more relaxed, soothing almost. The void cat looming behind them giving them an eerie presence of control. Stepping a few times towards Marco, their black gloves pulling off the scarf in one motion as well as lifting the mask over their head.
A young woman of pale white skin. Almost a foot taller than himself, the mask hid a stream of pin straight blonde hair. She stepped towards him, giving him a familiar pat on the shoulder before walking past Marco.
He turned around, she stretched her hands out and yawned, "Travel is exhausting." In front of them was a large wooden house with short black windows. He looked around himself, rather than the field, they found themselves on a small island. Standing on the second highest point, he could see down to a cold almost hacienda like compound that covered the majority of the land. The water around them pitch black, waving up and down like the ocean.
"Welcome to mi casa!" The girl turned around and bowed slightly at Marco, she pointed up and down at him. "We need to get you some clothes."
He hesitated for a second, but without much choice and the feline staring him down, they both stepped towards the front door. It swung open quietly, weirdly so for a wooden door that looked as old as this one. The inside was warm, still cold, but at a much more comfortable temperature than the outside.
The girl stepped forward, removing the longsword's scabbard and leaning it against the wall next to the door. It was a small interior, resembling more a shelter for climbers during their treks than somewhere a person would want to actually live in. A small coffee table, a tiny couch that could barely fit one person in it as well as a counter and cupboards. Two doors in opposite corners of the room were closed, leaving the current space as no more than 10 by 10 feet.
She undid her dark coat, letting it hang from her waist without it being fully off. Under that was a black sweater that fit her form comfortably. For the strength she carried and the weight she put on him earlier, the girl was rather skinny.
He walked around the room slowly, trying to find whatever clothes she was talking about, the cupboards were empty, and so were the drawers to the counters. He turned to her, she was kicked back on the couch, her boots off and her feet on the small coffee table. Sighing deeply as she placed her hands on the back of her head. He cleared his throat to get her attention.
"Oh right!" she almost shot up. "In here." She walked to the door on the left corner of the room, opening it up to reveal a small closet. There was a single set of clothing. It did not look too dissimilar from his handler uniform, the main difference being the color. Rather than the bright white it usually was, it was instead a deep black almost crimson color. "Ive never seen one like this." She spoke.
"What do you mean? Replied Marco.
"Theyre usually pitch black, like mine" She pinched her sweater, dark as the sky outside and the water around them. Her frow was burrowed slightly as in in thought.
"Well… excuse me?" He spoke again. She moved out of the way from him and allowed him to step into his clothes. They were slightly tighter than his uniform as well, being more like a tracksuit than the spacesuit he was used to.
He buttoned up his jacket and adjusted his pants. He walked to the girl again and looked around. She leaned her head back to look at him from over her. "Pretty sick." She said.
"So… who are you exactly?" Asked Marco. He wasnt sure whether to be friendly, professional or look up to this person as a form of authority.
"My name is Jupiter. Jupiter of the hunters." There was a moment of silence.
"The hunters?" Marco asked almost reluctantly. He looked around the room for any type of insignia, nothing.
"Yes, the hunters, is that… oh yeah, some guy not too long ago…" she snapped her fingers. "That's not what we are called where you are from. They call you guys handlers." She shook her head slightly.
"Im not following… anyways, I need to go as soon as possible. How do I get out of here?" Marco asked, rushing the conversation along.
"You must wait, there is nothing to do but wait until it is ready." She closed her eyes.
"Until what is ready?" Asked Marco. She vaguely motioned at the window with her hand in circles. "It, El Gato. It will have a test for you, you pass it, you go. You dont pass it? well…" She clicked her tongue once and whistled.
There was a loud scratching at the door, she stood up quickly, putting on her gear again. "That might be the quickest Ive seen, something seems to be favoring you." She grabbed the sword and placed it over herself
"I forgot to add, you are also the one with the least gear for the cold Ive seen." They both stepped outside.
El Gato was purring loudly, standing right in front of the door. It's belly was almost tantalizing.
"I like to think Im petting it." Jupiter stepped into the cat with her hands forward, passing straight through it's stomach. The cold hit Marco's face again, making him sniffle slightly. He put on the gloves given to him, adjusted his moustache, pushed his hair from his face and stepped into the Cat's stomach.