A/N: Guess who replayed MH4U again? Guess who fell in love with all the NPCs again, including the Ace Hunters? This is a fic about the changing relationship between the Commander and the Kindred Hunter - I'm using my hunter's name Selena and a female gender, for those curious. Feel free to insert your own hunter in your mind, if you like. Also... it's been a while since I've written something. I know it's annoying to ask for comments, but I'd love any feedback on whether I'm doing OK... cause I have no idea ahaha (´∀*)
"So, I've been hearing a lot about this new hunter of the Caravan..." Ace Gunner mused, carefully loading pellets into her gun.
The Ace Commander grunted in reply, stern gaze on the horizon and one hand on the railing below him. They had been travelling on the same sandship for the last few days; the monotony of the journey and the boring desert stretch of the scenery coupled with his inability to hunt or be active in any way had put him into a bad mood. The stories about the new hunter for the Capital C Caravan who had defeated a Dah'ren Mohran in their underclothes was not only extremely exaggerated, but very annoying. He was sure the fool, fresh off the boat and greener than a Mega Potion was already getting cocky thanks to the unending (and likely undeserved) praise of the Val Habar merchants. He sighed and crossed his arm, glumly thinking that if he hadn't taken away the Ace Lancer from the Caravan, they wouldn't have to deal with an inexperienced upstart for protection.
No matter; he intended to meet this hunter soon and judge them for himself. And he did NOT intend on pulling any punches.
"What's that face for?" Gunner teased, finishing up the last of her bowgun maintenance and joining him by the ship railing, giving him a smirk.
"This period of doing nothing while the threat is out there is wearing at me" he replied, not untruthfully.
"We've faced bigger threats before and we have the Ace Lancer with us this time. As long as we all stay cautious, we should have nothing to worry about" she assured, eyes scanning the barren desert landscape.
"'Should' isn't the same as what will happen..." he reminded, lip pursed slightly.
"You don't need to remind me that" she joked, though the levity in her tone did not much the way her dark eyes zeroed in on his face, searching for signs of doubt.
He nodded, tense. She knew what ate away at him when preparing for missions like these; all these years and it still haunted him. Frustrated, he ran a few fingers through his long hair, wishing for the stop at Harth to come as quickly as possible.
The Cadet who had nearly slept the whole day away, mumbling and rubbing his eyes, was instantly rejuvenated upon seeing Harth in in the near distance. He bolted off the caravan they had taken from the docks, desperate to get to the nearest item supplier for something or other. The Commander sighed again, shaking his head as he watched the boy move with a force of a small tornado through the central hub of Harth. The Ace Lancer chuckled patiently, hefting his large lance back onto his back and joined the Gunner at the entrance to the city.
The instant the Commander stepped inside, he felt the humidity hit him. Dressed in such thick armor made it instantly uncomfortable and he swear he could already feel his hair being frizzled. Steadying himself, he followed the others further into the city, making their way through the twisted paths when he was taken by surprise at the sight before him.
The Ace Lancer was laughing heartily, clapping at the back of the instantly recognisable form of the Capital C Caravaneer. So they HAD come to Harth! He pushed forward, past Troverians and eyes on the two men south of the main hub. He saw the Ace Lancer point at him and gesture to the Caravaneer; hopefully saying nothing negative about his leadership. The older man's opinion did slightly make him nervous; the Lancer was one to be respected and he hoped he was leaving a somewhat good impression, given his considerably younger age.
Just as he made his way past what looked to be an open air kitchen, he saw a Felyne race down the streets, running straight for the Ace Lancer. Perhaps this was the Palico the Lancer had mentioned before so favourably? He looked past where the Felyne had raced out from, only to find himself freezing.
That uniform was unmistakable. The hunter he had just locked eyes with, clad in red and blue with a signature Capital C seal, was their new hunter.
He stared at them from above, eyebrows raising. She did NOT look like anything special; blonde hair in two high pigtails, a worn looking bowgun strapped to her back and what looked to be little in the way of muscle mass. THIS was the hunter an entire group of people were depending on? To save their lives, to be their defender?
Feeling annoyance growing in his chest at the completely disappointing sight of this new hunter, he instead changed his mind and stalked towards her, making his way down the narrow path to where she was standing. Her eyes widened as he approached; she looked unsure as to why he approached her.
She was going to find out, all right. She was going to find out exactly what he thought of her 'hunter' potential.