Mina and Onyx pretty much ignored Melissa's orders from up on the balcony; instead of heading off to the tasks she'd told Retrievers and Hunters to tend to, they followed behind Zeref as he moved to the entrance of the manor.  They weren't the only ones, of course, though; many people wanted to speak to Melissa, for all kinds of good and not-so-good reasons.  There were a good three dozen people waiting at the doorway before Melissa came through.<br/><br/>Her eyes, however, were looking for one person:The Cad.  She saw him immediately, and grinned as she ignored everyone else to head for him.  "Cad!  You're still you, I can see it!"  She greeted, opening her arms wide to embrace him.  The embrace was tight, their nearly-nude bodies very sweaty, and she couldn't fail to feel any reaction from him.  When she pulled back, she looked somewhat breathless, and the flush to her cheeks was really not from embarrassment.  "Hee... great to know you're still the man we all know and love," she managed.  "What's up?  Ah, other than the obvious, of course..." she smirked.<br/><br/>She looked him right in the eyes.  Her smirk faded a bit.<span style="font-style: italic">Something's bothering him</span>, she thought.<span style="font-style: italic">He's hiding something?  He wants to hunt... he wants to hunt real bad...</span>She frowned, wondering why she was getting such a strong feeling off of him, but she shook her head and smiled.  "You want to hunt, don't you."  It wasn't a question; she instinctively knew the answer.  She looked at the stilletto he wore.  "Well, I know you're pretty good with that thing, and I've seen you use a bow..." she tilted her head.  "You can go, certainly.  I know you'll be all right."  She looked behind him, at Mina and Onyx.  "And you've got your Master Hunter and Golden Retriever right here, too."  She smirked again.  "I'm sure these two will make<span style="font-style: italic">sure</span>you're back safe and sound and...<span style="font-style: italic">capable</span>, tonight."<br/><br/>She wanted to say more... wanted, in fact, to drag him into the manor and let him work his magic... but there was so much to do.  Others stood waiting for her, needing or just wanting to speak with her... being the clan leader wasn't always a relaxing position.  She could think of many far more relaxing positions right now... "Be well.  Make sure you have a good group with you, and all the equipment you need," she ordered, before reluctantly turning her attention elsewhere.<br/><br/>"Well.  You heard the chief," Mina said brightly.  "When do we leave?"  She beamed at The Cad expectantly.<br/><br/>"We need to get some people and stuff first," Onyx said with a frown.  "But, yeah... we should head out soon, before the day wastes away."  She looked at Zeref.  "Your call, Master Breeder.  How many of us do you want?"  A smile played at the corner of her lips as she asked.