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"For the record, Norway sucks." Mira folded her arms, shivering as she trudged through the snow. Next to her, Zoey practically disappeared inside an oversized parka. Rumi thought it was adorable and she was so distracted by her friends she nearly ran into a tree.
Pretending that that didn't happen, she said, "There's supposed to be some kind of monster in these woods and its probably a demon."
"Since we're already here for the tour, we can do our duty too," Zoey pointed out. "But doesn't the Honmoon feel pretty strong here?"
"You're right…" Rumi ran her fingers along it as she walked, plucking at it like the strings to her guitar. It hummed the notes, resonating and flickering. There was no way the barrier was weak enough to let anything but the strongest demon through. Which meant that either this was a wild goose chase or they were going to get a workout.
"Zoey, I don't suppose you brushed up on your Nordic folklore on the plane?" Rumi smiled in anticipation of an info dump.
"They've got their own version of trolls! Also Draugr. Basically corporeal ghosts, sometimes vampire-like, but we fought them a lot in that one video game," Zoey replied.
"I take it back, Norway rocks."
"If we meet any demons they'll probably take that form." Zoey tilted her head, "There's also the Nøkken, a water horse that likes to drown people, but you can find those kind of spirits the world over. There are the Huldra, beautiful elf-like women who lure men into marriage but we've never seen a really hot demon before."
"That last one doesn't sound so bad," Mira remarked.
Rumi nearly ran into a tree again.
"Until she kills you after marrying you," Zoey retorted.
"I don't know about any of those men but I'm different."
Giggling, Zoey seemed to agree with Mira, which left Rumi reeling somewhat.
Before she could remark on … that … she saw movement out of the corner of her eye, "I saw something." She started running, Zoey and Mira right behind her.
They burst into a clearing, Rumi hitting a patch of ice, sliding along it and catching herself with her sword. Zoey slid up along her right, and Mira her left.
"…That would be a Nøkken," Zoey whispered, wide eyed at the shimmering blue horse that stood before them.
Astride the Nøkken was a woman, pale skinned and with long golden hair, her eyes the color of ice. She couldn't have been older than thirty but she felt ancient, her energy and magic almost tangible.
"If that's a Huldra," Rumi murmured, "Worth it."
"What?" Mira whispered.
The woman slid off of the Nøkken, her boots crunching in the snow as she approached, hands up and palms facing them. There was an air of magic around her and Rumi realized it had started snowing. She stopped a few feet away, and spoke to them in Korean, "I am not a Huldra. And if I am not mistaken, you are hunters."
She sounded incredibly formal and old fashioned. The woman - who did not appear to have elf-like ears - rubbed her cheek, "Let me see if I can remember it, it has been a long time."
"She talks like my great-grandmother," Mira whispered.
"It started with 'We are hunters, voices strong.'"
Zoey answered, "Slaying demons with our song."
"Fix the world and make it right," Mira continued
"When darkness finally meets the light," Rumi finished.
"That's it!"
"How do you know that?" Mira gripped her glaive. She only relaxed when Rumi put her hand on her arm.
"Because you are not the first demon hunters I've met." She offered her hand, "My name is Elsa."
Rumi clasped her hand, and for some reason was surprised at its warmth, "I'm Rumi, this is Mira and Zoey."
"Your Korean is very good," Zoey said. "Ancient sounding, but good."
"I have had a lot of time to learn languages," Elsa replied.
Rumi shook her head. This close, the woman's boots looked modern, but she wasn't even wearing a jacket, "What… other hunters have you met? Can you see demons?"
"I was traveling, I like to do that sometimes, reacquaint myself with the world, learn about new peoples and cultures. I was in Korea when a demon tried to take me. Not knowing what it was, I was not fighting at my best until the hunters came." Elsa glanced down at their hands, and Rumi belatedly let go.
She ignored the almost jealous look Mira and Zoey exchanged, "Celine never mentioned ever meeting someone who could see demons."
Elsa smiled, "This was nearly one hundred years ago."
Zoey gaped, "You're really hot for being over one hundred!"
"Two hundred and six." Elsa's pale skin was incapable of hiding the blush on her cheeks.
"So you learned from one of our predecessors," Rumi said. "But if you're not a demon…"
"My cabin is nearby." Elsa gestured in a direction, "And while the cold does not bother me, I would rather none of you get frost bite. I have tea, hot chocolate, assorted snacks while we talk?"
Rumi looked at Mira, then Zoey, gauging their reactions, then turned back to Elsa, "We would be honored."
Nodding, Elsa turned back to the water-horse, hopping onto its back with practiced ease, "He won't drown you!"
Only a little reassured, Rumi started to follow her, hanging back enough so she could talk to her friends, "What do you really think?"
"That she likes you," Mira said, eyes narrowing and her tone sending not all that unpleasant shivers down Rumi's spine. Mira was beautiful when she was like this.
"If she's luring us back to FMK one of us I'd rather it be all of us," Zoey interjected with a possessiveness that had Rumi questioning a lot of things all at once.
She covered her face for a moment, "Lets just play it by ear. I'm really curious about those hunters she met."
And maybe a little bit curious about Elsa too.
"I love your braid," Elsa said, once they'd reached her cabin and she'd let them inside. It was a lot more modern than Rumi had expected. Somehow she'd thought it would feel like stepping back in time, but there was a small laptop on a desk, a relatively modern kitchen with a coffee machine next to a radio. Elsa also appeared to collect both vinyl and CDs. There were books everywhere, some of them practically ancient.
There were pictures and paintings too. A stunning redhead in green, wearing a tiara. A group painting of Elsa, the red-headed woman, a tall blonde man, a reindeer and snowman of all things. Another with another man and woman in deerskin. There was a progression after that - children, grandchildren, no more reindeer, an actual photo of Elsa and an elderly woman and the snowman.
"That was my family," Elsa said. "Anna my sister and best friend. Her husband Kristoff, my other best friend. Sven, and Olaf, who Anna and I created together. We added Honeymaren and Ryder later. And all of Anna's children and grandchildren."
Zoey looked like she was trying to do math, "And Ryder was…?"
"Kristoff's boyfriend."
"And he was still with Anna? That's an option?" Zoey sounded both incredulous and excited, head tilted as gears turned behind her ears.
"She had a very large heart. I have a picture of her girlfriend around here somewhere…" Elsa confirmed. She glanced at Rumi, almost as if peering right into her heart.
Rumi recognized the hunters from the 1920s in one picture, all standing close to Elsa. She rubbed her hand up her arm, feeling as though her patterns were burning. What would they have thought if they knew? What would Mira and Zoey think if they knew? She wanted to tell them so, so badly.
"I was with the hunters for about twelve years. They were my first real friends after Anna passed," Elsa said, coming over. "I only left them to defend my home during the war."
Mira picked up a picture of Elsa with a motley group of armed men and women, "I'll bet you have so many interesting stories about that."
"I'll happily talk about my friends in the Norwegian resistance, but I don't like going into detail about the fighting itself."
"Just one question on that front," Mira asked. "Did you kill Nazis?"
"Many."
"Fuck yeah."
Rumi turned towards her, "Did you ever see the hunters again?"
"I … got to say goodbye eventually." Elsa moved into the kitchen, eyes downcast, "Tea, hot chocolate or coffee?"
Rumi glanced at Zoey and Mira, but didn't ask any further.
Mira chose tea, Zoey the chocolate and Rumi decided she could really use a coffee. She felt like there was something of Elsa that reminded her of herself. And she felt sad for Elsa, which somehow made her feel sad for herself. Zoey squeezed her hand after they sat down at Elsa's table, Mira leaning in and nudging her shoulder.
Smiling knowingly, Elsa brought them their drinks, "Lets trade questions."
"So what are you?" Mira wrapped her hands around the mug, "You can't be a demon, you're too nice. A little annoyingly nice. And humans don't live to be nearly two hundred."
"Yeah," Rumi agreed, looking down at her coffee, heart aching, "Demons aren't nice."
"What if they were?" Zoey asked.
"I'm not a demon," Elsa laughed. "I'm human, and also not. A spirit, a guardian. There are five of us in this forest. You met the Nokk, who is the spirit of water. There's also earth, fire and wind. I've discovered many others across the world. Elemental spirits, spirits of emotion, even an immortal… lets just call her a friend who taught me some things."
Rumi looked curious.
"Its not my story to tell, but maybe some day you'll find her," Elsa said. "How did you all meet? How did you become hunters? What are you called? I'll have to get your music, I'd love to listen to how its evolved."
They talked for hours, telling stories of their hunts and hearing of the places and people Elsa had met. She showed them her magic, and they showed her how they could use the Honmoon to create weapons, or musical instruments.
It must have been years since the last time Elsa had spoken at length to anyone, and it seemed like the more comfortable she got, the less closed off she became. Smiling more, reaching out to pat her arm as if she craved human contact but was too polite to do anything more.
It was nothing overbearing, nothing like the way Zoey would be all over her or even Mira's casual touches, but a noticeable change and warmth. Just once or twice on her arm, another time on the top of her hand.
She'd be lying if she said she didn't find it flattering.
But she couldn't quite figure out what Zoey and Mira were thinking. Whenever Elsa seemed to flirt a little, Zoey looked like she was choking on something and Mira got a look of murderous intent.
Were they so into the woman that they were jealous?
They clearly liked her otherwise but also it was kind of obvious to Rumi that Elsa's type was huntresses. Nothing could ever come of it so long as she had her patterns, but it was nice to think about options. Even if what she really wanted was seated to her right.
The realization that she wanted her best friends hit her like a truck. She sipped at her coffee, forcing herself to exude calm perfection. Rumi didn't dare pursue that line of thought.
"May I talk to you alone?" Elsa asked. Flushing, Rumi nodded and Elsa took her elbow to guide her away. Rumi heard Mira grumbling behind her and Zoey growled. Then she could hear them whispering animatedly but couldn't make out the words. She caught, briefly, reflected in a window, Mira holding Zoey back as Zoey brandished her knives and flailed her arms. Rumi pinched the bridge of her nose as they turned a corner and went out of sight.
"They are adorable," Elsa said.
"I don't know what's gotten into them," Rumi said. She'd never thought they'd have issues if she got interested in someone, but then again she'd never thought she'd be interested in someone. Wait, was she interested in Elsa?
Elsa laughed, "They're very protective of you. And they clearly love you a great deal."
"The feeling is mutual." Maybe not the same kind of love. Rumi couldn't believe that they'd love her the same way she loved them. Though tonight was opening a few windows in her mind; if they turned the Honmoon gold, she could be free and if she was free… She could maybe chase that earlier thought.
"That's wonderful, the family you've found and built." Elsa touched her arm, "But I have been wanting to ask you something."
"Listen, Elsa. You're gorgeous and if I was anyone else I would-"
"I am not asking you out!"
"…oh." Rumi wanted to sink into the Honmoon. Maybe her interest was less romantic and more craving human contact. Maybe Rumi was just seeing something she wanted to see.
"At least not just you by yourself," Elsa amended, as if it was obvious that Huntr/x was a package deal. "They would probably kill me."
Rumi tried to wrap her mind around that implication as Elsa continued, "When I was a child, I thought I was a monster. I thought my powers were a curse. When I see you, it is like looking in a mirror at the young woman I was before I learned how to accept myself. We are so far apart by culture and by time, but the reflection is so clear."
Skin ashes, back stiff, Rumi whispered, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"All I am saying is I understand what it is like to lock a piece of yourself away from the world. Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know was my mantra. But there is power and healing in showing, in letting them in. You don't have to be alone. They love you, let them."
Elsa wasn't marked, scarred with the actual proof of the monster she'd thought she was. Rumi was actually a monster and despite her best efforts the words spilled out, "This is something that needs to be locked away. They can't see it, ever. I can't lose them, Elsa. And I would. I can't lose them!"
She was saying too much and the secret she'd buried inside her was threatening to come out-
"Take a deep breath," Elsa whispered, squeezing her shoulders. "And let it out. Then do it again."
Rumi breathed deeply. Annoyingly, it worked.
"I am sorry. I was out of line, but if you ever need to talk, you can find me."
"It's okay," Rumi relaxed. "I think your heart is in the right place, but I… might some day."
She rubbed the back of her neck, decided that Elsa probably already had guessed a few things and asked, "But can I ask about… it can work? With three people?"
"As long as you are all open and honest with each other. Just like any other relationship, but even more important. Two, three, four, it does not matter, though it can be a little trickier the more people are involved."
Yeah. Open and honest, the two things Rumi was best at.
❄️
Elsa sensed them coming well before she heard them. There was a joy to the music of the Honmoon, strumming and reverberating and harmonizing throughout the forest.
It was laughter that heralded the arrival of the hunters, and the first thing Elsa noticed was the happiness on all three of their faces. It made her heart sing.
Months ago, when she'd first met them, she had seen the way Rumi had placed herself apart from Mira and Zoey, achingly heartbreaking in its familiarity. Now, she could see Rumi had unlocked her doors and let her friends in.
More than friends, she was certain. Their jealousy had been kind of hilarious and she may have deliberately provoked them a few times, but mostly because she'd hoped Rumi would have figured out what was obvious - that her feelings were mutual.
They were so similar and yet so different from the hunters she'd known generations ago; a romantic part of her had thought that maybe they'd found each other again in this life. Now she was positive.
The patterns on Rumi's skin shone under the spring sun as they got closer. They were beautiful and Elsa felt so happy for her. She couldn't wait to hear that story.
"You look good," Elsa said as she stepped out of her cabin.
"I feel good," Rumi said. "I feel free."
"Come in," Elsa waved them inside, "I found some more pictures of my hunters, and I'd love to hear what happened. The Honmoon looked like it went through something both terrible and beautiful."
"Your hunters?" Mira asked, tilting her head and slipping her arms around Rumi and Zoey's shoulders.
Zoey got an expression on her face that reminded Elsa of the times Anna had been three seconds from teasing her mercilessly.
Rumi folded her arms and raised her eyebrows, "I knew it."
"No wonder you kept hitting on her," Mira declared.
Zoey giggled, "Can she hit on me?" Rumi elbowed her.
Elsa felt heat on her cheeks as she held her hands up in surrender. Oh, they were going to be trouble.