Not bad at all, Anon, and a very good start. The tense is fine and consistent, although an unusual one to read for an entire story (which is no doubt why you're using it). It's always felt to me like a transitory turn of phrase, and so always leaves me expecting that transition to finish in the present.

I see two issues that interfere with the introduction. The first sentence is awkward; it introduces the 'slave hunt', but doesn't explain what it is, nor why it's in quotes, thus implying a sarcastic, derisive, or negatory tone: "I'm always the 'mature' one." But none of these apply, as presumably this really is, in fact, a slave hunt. Introduce what you describe, and describe what you introduce, or you'll simply confuse the reader.

Secondly, the voice changes a great deal from the first paragraph to the second because the first doesn't use any action verbs: there's is, had been, was, etc. The most intense verb is "Navigated." Introduce tension and drama from the start, in the description if you can: "The two thousand acres of the Abelton ranch had been torn from wilderness and natives with generations of blood and sweat" or, if you prefer, start with the plot action and introduce the setting as it becomes appropriate.