Chapter One - A Hunter's Journey

High Peaks and rugged terrain isn't the most pleasing sight to a weary traveller's eyes. Never the less, those who would venture to the village of Koto would have to endure such a difficult journey. And this is exactly where two new faces are headed. Trekking across the treacherously high and narrow slopes of the Kotonami Mountains surrounding the aforementioned village, a young and exhausted looking man suddenly halts and glances expectantly skyward. His feline companion swiftly dashing to the top of a nearby boulder "He's coming in now Feral, nyaa." The now named man, Feral, had already responded by raising his right arm to the sky. Within a matter of seconds a jet black hawk landed on his outstretched arm, turning to the feline it began to twitter "So Zeal, what's he saying?" After a few more seconds of listening Zeal turned to his master and replied "He said that there's a storm coming in. We're still half a day's journey from Koto and we can't get stuck out in a storm the way we are now. We should find shelter." He finished with a sigh and disheartened look. Feral looked to the direction the hawk had just flown from, he couldn't tell for certain but the skies did seem to be darkening "A storm in this area? At this time of year? Strange…" closing his eyes he began to deliberate their next course of action "Well, as much as it pains me to say it, we better find somewhere to bunk down until the storm blows over." With a sigh to match Zeal's he lifted the falcon to his shoulder "Damn it. I was hoping we'd make it to the village today. Anyway, good work Talon, take a break." With a happy chirp the hawk settled down on his masters pack, in what almost looked like a nest atop it. As the human, feline and hawk trio where about to disembark once again, they heard a deafening clap of thunder. Wide eyed, they each looked straight up, only to find clouds as black as the night sky above them "When did they get there! Nyaaa!" Feral obviously noticing his partners distress spoke "C'mon let's get the hell outta here!" he roared as they took off down the mountain trail.

After a good fifteen minutes of solid rain, thunder, lightning and gale force winds, the group reached a small but welcoming cave. Darting inside, Zeal cursed at the sky "Damn rain! If my fur frizzes because of this, so help me…!" Following close behind, Feral shot in to the cave with a rather unimpressed Talon clinging to his pack "I may have to agree with you there" he grumbled as talon shook his feathers dry all over his masters back "Thank you Talon." He mumbled sarcastically. Setting down his pack and the now slightly drier hawk, Feral began to remove a cloak he had been wearing over his body. The tattered, hole ridded cloak gave way to a set of well kept and sturdy looking armour. For the most part the armour was a deep purple in colouration and seemed to be made up of a hard shell like material. The under cloth of the armour was a deep green and was completed with bright blue straps and waist tie of the same colour. This was undoubtedly the armour created from Yian Garuga material, a sign that Feral was a relatively skilled hunter. Slung across his back, also hidden from view by the cloak, was a large red scaled blade. The blade was massive in proportion, the same height, if not slightly taller than Feral himself. It was adorned with Black claw like spikes around its edges with a strong bone blade at the tip. The whole thing held together by sturdy bolts. This was known as the Red Wing, a great sword fashioned from Rathalos materials that could spill flames on to its enemy upon contact. A blade of this power would have been difficult to acquire, adding yet more prowess to Feral's reputation as a hunter. Zeal also was covered by a small cloak; it seemed to have been made specifically for him as it bore a cat paw symbol on the back of the hood. Quickly slipping out of his drenched confines, it was revealed that he too was clad in a set of armour. The armour itself was reminiscent of an acorn. The body plate appeared to be made of some kind of dark wood and he produced a small green full helm from his own pack and set it down on the ground. This was indeed acorn armour, quite common among feline hunters. His blade however was very peculiar. Attached to his back by its sheath was what appeared to be, a smaller version of the Red Wing? Among the feline hunters of the area in which they had travelled from, Pokke Village far to the north, a feline wielding such a weapon was unheard of. Yet Zeal carried it proudly as if it were part of his very self. This was highly irregular for a Pokke feline.

A quick peek in to the darkness to the back of the cave by Zeal confirmed it was indeed safe and they had set up their camp. After removing their armour Feral had rummaged around his pack for the small stockpile of dry wood they carried with them, for moments such as freak, unexpected storms. A few failed attempts at lighting it later and a hopelessly relived Feral collapsed backwards on to the cold stone ground "Ahhh, warmth, dryness how I've missed you." Smiling cheerily he began to relax. After all they'd had a long day and sleep beckoned to him like a siren of the sea, which was until an un-naturally grow burst from his stomach "Damn! That sounded more like an angry Rathian nyaaaa!" Zeal poked at his obviously hungry friend "Don't worry; we still have more than enough food left master. I made sure nyaaa." Zeal then began to search through his pack until he eventually reached the bottom. With a hungry stare he lunged in to the pack once more, pulling out a wrapped buddle of food and clawing at it viciously. He was clearly quite hungry himself. "Hey! I need some of that to!" swatting Zeal across the head Feral reached down and took his share of the food, scratching the back of his head and grinning Zeal quickly apologized. They ate quickly and put any spare gear in their packs while throwing the last few pieces of wood on the fire. They hoped that it would be enough to last through the night, getting more firewood at a time like this would be nearby impossible. Taking a moment to glance around the cave and making sure everything was in its place and put away Feral pulled a blanket out from his pack and yawned in exhaustion "Sleep. I need to…Yaaaaaaaawn…sleep…Yaaaaaaaawn…Now…" yawning between words made it difficult to understand what someone was saying, but from mutual lack of energy and desire to sleep, Zeal could guess what his master had said "Nyaaaaaaa, agreed…" the feline replied as he curled up under his own blanket. Feral had always found it strange that an animal with fur would need a blanket to sleep, but as the darkness of night fast approached and pushed out the dim light of the storm filled day, he decided that he had better things to think about…Sleep mainly. With one last look around the trio's little shelter he saw Talon already asleep on his pack, his head hidden under a wing. Zeal too had almost immediately passed out when his head hit the blanket he was curled up in. All that was left was Feral, and he two quickly drifted off to a deep sleep under his own blanket.

The storm continued to lash the landscape outside of the cave, and in the middle of the night Feral was awoke by the sound of a vicious and terrifyingly close roar. Was it the wind he wondered? Was he even awake? Was it merely a dream? He thought as the half conscious hunter slipped back in to sleep. However, on the cliff top above the cave, a ghostly blue glow shot in to life as it became surrounded by blinding lightning strikes.