Chapter 1
Crisis
Cross slowly opened his eyes as he woke up from another night of pleasant dreams. A good sign that his mentors gift was helping with the nightmares. And Cross at first believed it to be a hoax yet now it was clear it was helping.
His home was small, yet functional enough for an apprentice like himself to live in. His bed lay towards the open back of his house. As he got up he noticed the head of an Epioth poke out from the water.
They were a rarity yet these little guys would sometimes swim under the floating part of Moga and find the areas where fishermen would go to fish. It was a smart idea as they were safer in the waters that lie under Moga then the open ocean. Where all forms of nasties lurked, Fully grown Gobuls, Lagi's, Plesioths, and who knows how many other predators. And this one picked the water right behind his house.
"Nice view and all but I best find Garreth. He probably has some new combining lesson for me. The exam keeps getting closer so I'll need every item I can make." Cross quickly hopped out of his bed and fetched his sword and shield. And shortly after got his leather armor on. Looking in a mirror he made sure he looked presentable, matting his jet black hair down as he got rid of his case of bedhead. He looked closer as he got a better idea of how he was doing muscle wise, he was nowhere near as scrawny but now he was more lean, some muscle showed yet it was not in the normal sense. His arms were still small in comparison to the average hunter, yet this was on purpose, he focused on lighter weaponry. With his mentors advice Cross had trained his body to be more thin and capable of maneuvrability. Lots of running and leg excercise alongside training in basic blocking and dodging. "Training is still going good. May have to increase the blocking excercises a little more, get just a little more muscle to back up the use of a shield."
Cross walked out of his house to be greeted by an average day in Moga. The sun was just rising, and even then a good amount of the villagers were out and about doing there daily tasks. He was happy that he lived here instead of the villages that Garreth had mentioned. He could not see himself living in the likes of Dundorma or Loc Lac. Yet he knew deep down his time here was short. Once he was a hunter he'd be sent to wherever a hunter was needed. And the exam was not even a week away. He quickly managed to reach his mentors house after going through the fisher rush. He quickly knocked on the door. "Garreth I'm here just like you asked... Odd, oi Garreth! You better not have gotten drunk again! We only have 3 days till the exam..." Cross slowly turned around to see his mentor walking up. Cross gulped "Well here I was thinking that I got up before you Garreth. Was there a call to ac-" Cross was quickly silenced by Garreth motioning for Cross to stop talking.
"Cross this is going to sound sudden but... I need your assistance. I know you lack hunting knowledge but the situation is dire at the moment. The elder called for me and revealed that a bunch of kids got out of the village into the desserted island. When there was both an Arzuros and Rathalos sighting reported. At the moment I would not ask the assistance of an Apprentice who has yet to even fight a Great Jaggi, but with the kids the task requires two members. The Elder has even said that if you do an admirable job we could get you to skip the exam. After all an Arzuros is stronger then a Great Jaggi. But I must ask this of you. You see the rathalos you run with all your might. If one of the kids is nearby grab them and run as though a deviljho were chasing you. But if it's the Arzuros and the kids are nearby, Distract it and start your first hunt. It will be an uphill battle for you. Those things have heavier armor in the front then back. Your weapon will likely not even scratch it's arms. And it's hits are slow and hard. If you are in need of assistance remember the flare. I'm sorry I can't ask you to prepare but this is not a situation that can wait! I'll head out now and I damn well expect you to find that Arzuros!" Garreth shouted as he put on his helmet and ran out towards the gate leaving Cross stunned.
"By the Elder Dragons, I have to fight an Arzuros. And help save some kids on top of that... This day has taken a dark turn." the apprentice muttered as he steeled himself for the battle to come rushing forth to the deserted Island. Knowing the battle that was to come.