Hare of Misfortune

Rachel slowly let it go, a small smile lifting her cheeks. It was nice to know that her mother cared so much about their family. It wasn’t like it was a new realization, but the depth and visceral understanding of it had brought a new light to her stalwart, traditional mom. Whatever the reason, it was for her benefit, and she didn’t have to question that, which was weird for her, but it was her mom.

”Okay. Thank you for being my mother,” she said in Korean. ”Haha. If I could bow, I would because I love and respect you.”

”My little bouncy hare...” A gentle look from her adorable mother melted Rachel’s heart as she opened an arm for them to hug again. ”I should let you rest and recover. You’re exhausted.”

Rachel had a hard time nodding, her eyes wanting to close. ”Could you tell Scarlet to let everyone know when they get out of their quest that I’d like to have a group meeting tonight? Let’s say...around twelve or one, when I can moonbathe?”

”I’ll make sure everyone is in attendance. And you mean everyone, including Selvaria’s mother?”

”Mhm. Well, not necessarily Barbara or the military. But yes, Selvaria’s mom, since she seems fairly connected to her. I have something I need to give everyone to think about over the next two weeks while I recover.”

”Ha-ha... I can...guess where this will be going, and I will fight you tooth and nail to be a part of it.”

”Hehe. I bet you will,” she whispered, receiving a kiss on the forehead from the affectionate woman. ”You have a lot of experience in a lot of local political and educational areas, so we’ll see. My mom’s kind of a workaholic like the rest of our family, be it housework or community.”

”A busy, productive household that can sit down for dinner together is a prosperous one,” her mother chimed. ”I will see you later tonight. Now, rest!”

”Yes, Ma’am,” Rachel snickered, closing her eyes and settling in. ”See you tonight...”

She hardly got the words out before her mind drifted into obscurity, and the next thing that made her ears twitch was a handsome male voice.

”...Didn’t she say midnight?”

”She didn’t drool!” Nia defended. ”I cleaned it up, so it didn’t happen.”

Fiona’s small, charming voice followed. ”I don’t think it works like that, Nia, but way to lighten the mood! How was the quest, Selvaria?”

The monotone sea dragon probably gave a shrug at her voice, but the woman’s cadence was always at the same nonchalant level. ”Mmm. It was fun, but I like Barbara’s better because she’s usually by the ocean. Rivers are okay, too, I guess. Mom, you should have seen my new freeze-breath attack; I sniped a guy trying to fly away with it. His bird was cool.”

”That’s nice, Honey. I hope he was okay. Selvaria? Was he okay?”

”Mmm. No comment... He was a bad guy.”

Scarlet cleared her throat. ”Did he...shatter on impact?”

”Maldita sea esta liebre!” Maria cut in, no doubt cursing. ”When is this long-eared chica gonna wake up? It’s already ten minutes past, huh? I’m beat and want to jump in the shower. Why the hell was I the only one eaten by the fish?”

A short sigh came from the fairy. ”To be fair, she did say twelve or one.”

Anthony followed with a chuckle. ”Plus, you were the one who said you wanted to see how long you could hold your breath underwater, so you went for a swim. I can’t believe you took a bathing suit; not a bad idea, honestly.”

”?De qué diablos estás hablando?” Maria snapped back. ”All I knew about these damn quests was what those military boys told us, and I ain’t goin’ on a ship without somethin’ to wear, ya know?”

”Deep breath, Maria. In...and out...” Fiona soothed. ”I’m glad me and Selvaria found you before the fish got too far—oh, is she waking up?”

Rachel groaned, stretching her neck and ears as she sucked in a breath and hissed it out. ”Mmmgm... Morning. Sorry to keep you waiting, but can we transfer to the roof or outside? Sorry if it’s cold,” she added to her family.

Scarlet jumped forward to comply, seemingly having learned how to operate the bed. ”Yup! I got it. Nia, want to take the left side with me?”

”Mhm! Mhm!” the bun chimed, giving Rachel a wink.

”I was quiet about you waking up, Major!”

Haha. Thanks, Lil’ Bun.

Soft chatter followed them as they went to the elevator. Everyone was in their own little group, which helped her see where each of them found commonality. Anthony was shockingly inside the circle of conversation with her brother, father, and grandfather.

Once outside of the hospital, her family bundled up for the chilly March DC weather; Maria grunted and hugged herself. ”Brrrr. Can we hurry this up; it’s damn cold here... I’m freezing my ass off. Shit, I want to go back to Miami.”

A little interested that the woman was so vulnerable to the elements in contrast to them, Rachel had to put it on the shelf to get to the point, but she wanted to know more about these quests they’d been on.

”Thanks, Mom, Scarlet,” she said, spotting the pair close in with beaming smiles. In the back, she found her brother, grandfather, and dad.

”Alright. I know you all have things you want to do, and you’re questioning your purpose here, so let me clarify one...”

It was hard to look serious while lying in a hospital bed, wearing seemingly silky pajamas that Nia had changed her into, but she firmed her voice anyway.

”I’m getting support from the President, and there are a lot of enemies and organizations I need to make you aware of when we meet next. However, I want to make you all aware that I am going to set up a private military company, and I’m likely to see support from a four-star general and the President in doing so... There are big things ahead that I need help with.”

She grimaced, looking down at her lap as the others glanced at one another. ”I hate to admit it, but I cannot do this alone. I don’t know any of you all that well, but your character showed through when it mattered, and you stepped up to help people. And don’t think this will be for no pay or that I won’t support you in what you want, so think hard on that because it will be a part of your signing contract.”

Maria was the first to pipe up. ”What kind of di?eiro and work we talkin’ here, Hops? We sendin’ fools ta St. Mary on government dime, huh?”

Rachel laughed at the unicorn’s framing. ”From what I know...think over a hundred thousand civilians inside the US that could be murdered overnight that we’ll be involved in protecting.”

”Wait, really?” Scarlet hissed, now looking nervous.

Maria rubbed the back of her neck and looked at the fairy. ”Damn. That’s heavy shit. She ain’t lying.”

Selvaria broke right through, grinning and making the bed creak as she lightly leaned against the frame. ”What name are you going to call it? Seal Gang Incorporated. I vote for that!”

Rachel snorted. ”Sorry, Selv, but I was thinking more along the lines of...Omen. Thoughts, Anthony? I’m all for finding a cure for your girl. Haven’t I proven useful so far?”

She needed him to join, if anything, for access to his quests, and Barbara was already tied to the military; logically, a legendkin was a necessity for anyone who wanted to level quickly.

The man tilted his head to the side. ”Eh-hah. I mean, yeah, but I’ll need to think about it. If you’re talking about the name... Mmm. Edgy...in a good way, I think. ’They sent Omen to handle the job’ has a decent ring to it.”

”I’m in!” Selvaria automatically stated. ”Member number one.”

”Huh. No!” Scarlet balked. ”I’m member number one, Selv. You can be member number two.”

The leviathan flashed her teeth. ”No, I’ll be member number zero! You can take one.”

The dark-haired reaper opened her mouth, unsure how to respond, as Fiona giggled and said her own piece.

”I’ll have to think about it, Rachel. I want to learn what happened to my family and if they’re okay. If I have to join to get more attention and support for that, then I’ll do it, but I still need to think about it for a bit. Omen sounds cool and scary, too. I can get behind it.”

Her brother walked around Anthony to stand near her bed. ”Why did you call us here for this, Sis?”

Rachel reached over to jab his shoulder. ”Because I need people who know how to run a business. Fiona has her lawyer fox friend whom I plan to call, too. I’m sure I can get a very healthy investment fund and job benefits from a military contract with General Dallas. I wanted you to help me on the organization and structure part, Mr. Master Business Associate.”

She gave everyone else a personal stare as she swept the room. ”If I can fill a job with someone I know, the better...because I have a hard time trusting people right now. Think about it. You have at least two weeks to come to a decision, and we can have one-on-one talks or negotiations. I want all of you. So give me something to give you!”

They all laughed, and Rachel let most of the group leave as Scarlet brought her back upstairs. In the next five minutes, only her family and Scarlet remained, allowing her to have a more personal conversation. Alexa was somewhat unsure what she was supposed to do if she joined, and she sensed some restraint from her brother that hinged on his wife.

She had a lot of bridges to build, but build them she would.