Chapter 1

In the Storm

Travelling through the mountains was never a good idea, especially during a blizzard. Yet, that is exactly what Faed Morrin was doing. As one of the newest initiates into the Hunters Guild, he was sent to the latest Guild outpost in Caledo, a small village across the mountains. There, it will be his duty, not only to serve the Guild, but also to assist and protect the citizens of the village.

Standing an even six feet tall, Faed was in good shape, physically. His thick fur hood covered most of his lean face, including all but the bangs of his dusty brown hair. His green eyes always seemed to take everything at once and shone with both great intelligence and endless resolve.

Armed with only his furs, wits, and the small sword his father gave him, Faed had been travelling for about a week and was running out of food. He should have arrived two days ago, if it wasn't for this blizzard. "The others are probably looking for me by now" he muttered, the sound of his voice barely reaching his own ears because of the wind. "This is going to be a great first impression" he said with sarcasm.

A great shriek pierced the air and Faed froze, afraid. It was not the sound itself that frightened him, but rather the proximity of it, coupled with the thoughts that have been plaguing him since the blizzard began.

He first started hearing the shrieks when the snow began to fall, but it was far off then. They became louder as the storm intensified. From his studies, Faed remembered these to be the signs of the Kushala Daora, an Elder Dragon. At first he kept telling himself it was coincidence, but now, he feared the worst.

The sound was almost directly in front of him, he would reach it in a few minutes. He unsheathed his father's sword, the blade gleaming even in the little light penetrating the thick snowfall. Faed remembered this knife being sharp enough to cut cleanly through machalite ore and hoped it would help him get through the trial that lay ahead, whatever it was. Gathering his furs tighter around him, he set out into the unknown.

After a short while, he rounded a corner, and his fears were realised. The light was dim, but there was no mistake, this was definitely the monster Faed was fearing, a Kushala Daora. Standing roughly twelve feet high at the shoulder, and nearly sixty feet from horned head to deadly tale, by Faeds guess, this beast was all muscle and power. However, it was not the steel-black colours that Faed read about, but more of a rust-like hue.

The beast had not yet noticed him and was hunching down as if to make a mighty leap. Then, with the piercing sound of metal scraping against metal, the back of the dragon split open, and white flesh could be seen.

It's molting! Faed couldn't believe his fortune. It was a very rare opportunity to see this. His fear falling to the back of his mind, he stared in awe as the event unfolded. When the molting was nearly complete, Faed remembered that a Daoras hide is softest immediately after molting, and quickly hardens. This was his best chance to take it down.

Conquering his fears, he leaped forward, running as fast as he could, until the dragon noticed him and turned to meet its attacker. As it turned, Faed plunged his father's sword deep into the dragons neck. The monster reared in pain and anger, ripping the sword out of Faeds hands as it did so. It swiped with its foreleg, sending the young man sprawling against the mountainside. Slightly dazed, his heart fell as he watched, in fear, the dragons scales harden around his weapon. Now that its prey was defenceless, the Kushala Daora slowly stalked towards the human.

Suddenly, Faed heard a bowgun fire and saw a shell hit the beast under the wing, and then explode. Angered by this unknown attacker, the Elder Dragon turned to meet the new threat. Amidst the snowstorm, Faed say a small ball fly through the air. Instinctively covering his eyes as the flash bomb went off, Faed took this chance to run towards his saviours while the dragon was still stunned and blind. He caught up with the other two, who were already running in hopes of escape.

Finding a cave to hide in, the group stopped to catch their breath. Faed finally saw his rescuers, though he couldn't see their faces due to the thick furs they were wearing. A man and a woman, judging by their physiques, the former sporting a long, two handed spear, while the latter carried a light bowgun. Once they had caught their breath, the two quickly built a fire, then began to study him.

"Quite the show there, partner" the man said, pulling off his hood, revealing a familiar face. "If we didn't show when we did, you'd be dragon chow right about now" he finished with a smirk.

"Kaires!" Faed smiled happily at his childhood friend, removing his own hood. Kaires was a well built, well muscled man, about five inches taller than Faed, with a friendly demeanour. His dark hair was short and his brown eyes showed courage and strength. "I never would have thought you would be sent here too. Who is this?" he asked, looking at the woman, with a smile still on his face.

The woman walked up and slapped him. "You idiot!" she scorned him "You realise you not only endangered yourself with that stunt, but us too?"

Faed recognised that voice, that tone too. "Good to see you to Tsairynn." He said to her, rubbing his face where she hit him.

Tsairynn pulled off her hood. "Isn't it always?" She smiled sweetly and hugged him. Another friend from Faeds younger days, Tsairynn had grown to be a pretty woman, but hated it when people commented on it. Her brown hair was slightly darker than Faeds, and her blue eyes seemed to be cold and calculating, yet caring at the same time. She was the same height as Faed. Typically cheerful, she would often become very violent when upset, which wasn't hard to do.

"Where's my hug?" Kaires asked with a fake injured expression.

"Up your-"

"Right here big fella!" Faed interrupted, moving towards the larger man with his arms spread.

"On second thought, I'll pass" Kaires replied, backing away from him. "If you come any closer, so help me, I'll throw you back to that thing out there" He exclaimed when Faed kept advancing.

That comment bringing their predicament back to the forefront of their thoughts, they all fell silent. After a few moments, Kaires cocked his ear towards the cave entrance. "You hear that?" he asked.

"Hear what" Faed replied, confused.

"Exactly, c'mon" Kaires Hurriedly gathered his gear and set off for the cave mouth, Faed followed suit, while Tsairynn paused only to douse the fire.

When they reached the entrance, the blizzard was gone. "This means that it's gone, don't it?" Kaires asked with hope in his voice.

"We'll have to chance it," Tsairynn answered "We can make the village by tomorrow if we leave now."

"I hope it didn't go that way..." Kaires thought aloud.

"Don't even think it" Tsairynn replied.

"We're all thinking it." Faed mumbled.

She punched him in the arm. "I heard that," she stated "Let's go, we have to hurry."

They travelled in silence, stopped for the night in another cave, halfway down the mountain, according to Kaires and Tsairynn. The next day was just as silent, no one wanting to interrupt one another's thoughts, and the men not wanting to incite Tsairynn wrath.

The atmosphere became tense around them as they began to round a corner. Faed guessed they would be able to see the village soon. When the village came into view, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief. The town was not attacked. Their spirits rose instantly.

"Welcome to Caledo," Kaires said, clapping Faed on the back. "Where it is our duty to serve the Guild and protect the people."

"Come on" Tsairynn exclaimed impatiently. "They will want to hear about what happened."

"Yeah..." Faed replied quietly, remembering the loss of his father's sword.

"We better hurry," Kaires chipped in. "My stomach's empty, and I could use a nap."

"Food and sleep, that's all you ever think about." Tsairynn remarked.

"Now that is just not true." He big man answered. "I also think about what kind of critter to put in your hair" He laughed hard and ran as fast as he could for the town, trying to escape the woman's wrath.

"That's not funny!" She yelled and chased after him. "Get back here, you big brute!"

"Just like old times" Faed said under his breath. He smiled and ran after his two friends, not wanting to miss the Inevitable beating.

Disclaimer: I don't own Monster Hunter, etc.