~Chapter 1~

A Failed Bounty

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"GAH FLIPPIN' DAMMIT!"

Many beasts in the land were alerted by the shout that echoed across the Rolling Hills, some wandering closer feeling that it could be a fresh fight to engage in, while wiser ones took leave knowing they would be out-matched. One beast in particular, a large red Rhinosaur, stumbled in a daze, passing out for a few seconds as it was out of energy, while a large Ruftian charged at it.

*POW!*

A blade shot through the air just then, piercing the beast in its side before it could reach its injured opponent, making the creature roar in pain before falling on its side. In a flash of light, the Ruftian was gone, transported to another region after finally losing its luster after a long fight. The Rhinosaur was close to fading himself, until a hand held out an ice-cream cone. It gobbled it up quick- treats always helped familiars get refreshed after taking so much damage.

"Sorry, boy, I should have stepped in sooner,"

The Rhinosaur looked up as the hand stroked his head, staring up at the face of a girl of nineteen, with long black hair tied back by a torn piece of brown cloth, with a red band around her head pressing down her short bangs cut in a straight line. Said girl wore a black tunic with baggy brown pants, leather sandals, black leather bands around her wrists with yellow gems circling around it, and ruby earrings pierced her ears. Her eyes were a golden-hazel color, and her skin, though naturally fair, tanned in the sun that she had been wandering under for the past several days now. In her hand was an odd type of revolver- instead of bullets, it shot blades.

Her familiar gave a snort, lightly tapping her hand with its horn, leaving her to sigh. "Right, I shouldn't feel too bad. We both gave a good fight." She stood up straight, tucking her blade-gun into a holster that hung off her left side. "Can't believe we let that Gruffian get away- lousy timing one of its un-metamorphisized kin tried to take us on just when we managed to sneak up on it."

The Rhinosaur shook its body, relaxing its muscles.

The girl smiled. "Alright bud, you rest up. You gained enough experience for today."

Suddenly the Rhinosaur shrank down to size, a glowing orb shining around it as it shrank, until it was a small light, which receded into the girl's chest, as all familiars do after a battle.

The girl sighed once more, then turned towards the direction of the Deep Dark Wood. Perhaps the Gruffian ran off that way.

She had heard talk of the beast roaming around, causing trouble for travellers, and so decided to hunt it for its bounty. It's something she had been doing for a while now, ever since she was nine. And if she hadn't tamed the Rhinosaur before then, she wouldn't have gotten too far at that age.

Picking up a large pack that she left on the ground, she walked across the field, keeping her senses sharp in case any other beast wanted to pick a fight. Of course, with all the experience she gained over the years and the increase of her strength, any creature would be foolish to try to engage her. The longest battle she had that year lasted only five minutes.

She reached the edge of the wood. By this time, the sun was beginning to sink into the horizon. Better set up camp quick. she thought. She set up a small tent and unrolled a sleeping bag- both camouflaging against the land, thanks to a special fabric made via alchemy, which she bought from a friendly merchant three years ago. It was a hassle before then, as she couldn't shut her eyes for a minute while sleeping in the wilderness without some beast sneaking up on her, and it took a while to earn enough guilders to sleep at the Cat's Cradle for more than a couple nights.

Yes, her 'camou-camp' gave her more leisure. She could blend in on the inside, hidden 'within the scenery' as if she were invisible, while the inside of the tent automatically gave a view of a starry night which she could rest under.

Sitting inside her tent, she pulled out a small lantern from her pack- a tiny thing no bigger than her hand but still bright enough to pierce the dark- and set it beside her. She then pulled out her journal- a dark-green book with an emblem on it: a heart with a cross in the middle, and in the middle of the cross was another heart, with another cross (the pattern seemed to go on until it was just a tiny speck). She took out her pen and ink, and began to write.

'Day 28 of Fall

Edge of the Deep Dark Wood

It was another day wasted. I've been hunting after this Gruffian for the last three days, but haven't so much as even engaged it in battle. Today, I had the advantage of sneaking up on it from behind, yet my position was blown when a Ruftian ambushed me from the side, alerting my bounty and it took off while I was forced to fight its 'lesser cousin'. I find it confusing how a more evolved species was wise enough to try to avoid a stronger opponent, while a weaker opponent decided to charge at me.

Ah well... no one ever said wild beasts had the exact same senses. Sometimes I believe they're like humans- no matter their strength, they'll pick a fight with anyone in hopes of growing strong, so that they may be the intimidating ones, and only the wise ones know when to back down.

Sometimes I believe the wilderness is the only permanent home I'll ever have."

Sighing, she set the journal aside, putting the ink and pen away while she waited for her passage to dry. Afterwards, she shut the small book and set it inside her pack, then lied on her back looking up at the stars above her head, looking for constellations until she drifted to sleep.

Hopefully her adventure would have a better turn-out tomorrow.

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A/N: And this is my first attempt at my own Ni No Kuni fic. I haven't played the game yet, but I watched a few walkthroughs online- and immediately I was sucked into the story, fell in love with the characters, and before you know it I get an idea for a fanfiction.

I'm asking for constructive criticism on this. If I get anything wrong, misspell something, get anyone OOC, or anything along those lines, please let me know, but hold back on the flames please (Like I said, I'm new at this category).

Hope you like it so far. I promise it will get more interesting later on!