Track 2: Sleazy Bed Track

"I know I shouldn't say, but you've been acting strange the last few days"

Everything had been set, after dealing with those jagged yellow beasties. The camp was rather small but protected, they were still a day's walk away from Astera so it seemed right to settle deeper into the woods where they could be safe.

Their ecologist had notes on the jagras that they just hunted but Freesia was concerned only with how they taste. So with a bit of Jagras jerky in her hands she was ordered by Linna to enter her tent, they had plans for making way through a monster infested forrest.

Walking into the candle lit space, Linna barked out a few orders, then noticed her favorite hunter walk in and let the others go to their respective jobs.

"I'm happy that you're here" She then took a big sip from large mug and by the looks of it, it wasn't exactly breakfast related this time. Saika sat next to her arms crossed trying to look expressionless and failing at it.

"Well I figured I'd never hear the end of it if I took too long" She sat across from the princess who started to write in the various letters on the table.

"Well I got a way to message the fifth fleet but they are by and large far from getting our location so here's the basic gist, I want you and whoever you want to bring with you to do a little expedition, get an idea of what lies ahead so that we can launch an SOS flare without getting the rest of the volunteers harmed what say you?" She put forth the written document that she could sign to start the quest.

Without question Freesia took a quill and signed away accepting the quest.

"Fine by me Linna, I want to bring my usual, Tansy and Lilly...oh and Saika" The bodyguard wanted to start her objections but her princess cut her off with a raised hand.

"I concede to these conditions, get yourself ready and I want you started as soon as possible" Freesia nodded before slightly bowing and she smiled at Saika before taking her leave.

"My princess, I know that you don't need my protection at the moment, but there are a few...issues between me and her" She was grasping the chair that Linna sat, grasping the ear of the chair, her hand slightly shook.

Notice her partner's distress, Linna stood from her chair facing her guard and put her hands to her face holding her close.

"I understand that darling but we need every hand on deck and if she needs to truly needs your help even with a tiny mission then can at least try for me? I promise I will pamper you when you get back I promise" A little annoyed the bodyguard wanted to protest but with a quick peck from her princess the words faded away.

"Okay, but I hope we still have that special brew left" She would leave her anxieties behind for just a moment and put a hand through Linna's hair before making her way to her weapon.

"Maybe we do, you'll know when you get back okay and remember to live as we do it must take to my example, Advent, to the top!" Linna pointed upward as Saika found her long sword. She walked out of the tent, kissing her beloved on the cheek before leaving.

Freesia knew they weren't exactly low on supplies or traps but she tried to keep what she took to a minimum, Mostly she just kept to positions and rations, Tansy decided to take some of the traps and bombs. Lily brought some of her nets and some vigor wasp nests. Saika walked fuming on the fact that she was here. So in short they were ready.

They had long since moved away from the outpost and to the first camp that they discovered, it wasn't the first time they made a way through the forest and Tansy discovered a few hours after dealing with the jagras. So there was a space to find their way back.

She found a few things, a map, some gear and a few potions, it was proof at least to the princess that the fifth fleet had already started their trek on their own. Yet getting from the camp to Astera would prove possibly dangerous if they didn't clear a way.

Walking away from the camp Freesia slightly smiled at what they saw ahead of them, it was a clear sunny day and the small marsh they started to walk through made it a easy start. Tansy started to right down what she saw, the aptonoth caught her eye and she noted that at the very least they were just as docile here as they were back home.

Freesia watched as one started to drink from the water around them, she got close to the creature hoping to pet her. As she laid a hand out the gray scaled beast she raised her head to the hunter. There was a small quiet moment before she spit water at Freesia's face.

She looked stunned for a moment before she heard laughter. She turned to watch her handler and her palico enjoying themselves at the hunter's expense, but she would be damned if she didn't figure why as she couldn't help but laugh too.

Saika had the ghost of a smile but the instant the handler turned to her it faded.

"Okay you silly little rajang lets keep going" Tansy lead the way, she wrote down on her map the small information that she discovered from the other map from the tent. So with the earlier reports and now this map she was able to set a path with the scoutflies to show the fastest way from them to the Astera fifth fleet and clear transport to them.

"Onward!" Tansy walked with amusing amount of purpose putting one foot in front of the other pointing out the way forward. They followed Tansy with Lily at her side. Amused by how she jokingly took charge Freesia knew she was a faster walker and at her side a hand around her handler's shoulder enjoying how Tansy got serious. Saika crossed her arms and trailed a tad behind wondering why they didn't take this seriously.

Taking note of the plants and small birds in their way the group moved deeper into the forest. The large trees,vines and strange plants caught Freesia's eyes, she looked around wondering what she could really take a climb on to or take to be put into meals.

The fun ended as the yellow scaled jagras didn't learn their lesson, nine of them in total some coming out the the bushes, and a few more climbed down the trees.

"Well, well it you guys again, okay then if you want to be the welcoming party then Freesia has arrived" One hand stretched out forward, one to her side and in a flash her hand grasped her weapon.

Not yet unsheathed Saika slammed her weapon down to her side, the hand on the handle.

"Someday you creatures will understand but until that day, I must warn you I am very strong!" She put a hand to her bicep as she pulled her long sword out.

"OK hunters, first to kill gets big bragging rights for the rest of the night, Ready GO!" At her call Freesia made a wild swing with her ax deepening the blade into the face of a Jagras knocking it into another and flying across the field. The monsters left roared, ready to strike at her with a smirk the hunter was ready.

"2!"

She wasn't alone as one of the creatures charged at Saika, with a quick swipe of her blade she cut at the top of one of those beasts watching it fall to the ground, taking the blade to her side she brought it down onto the monster charging at her.

She then with practiced bravado slashed to her left, cutting clean through with barely any resistance, she held out her blade for a moment before tapping the handle. The creatures behind her falling into pieces.

She almost wanted to refuse playing their little game but she couldn't help but get into the rhythm of the fight.

"3!"

"Oh come on!" Refusing to let the swordswoman take the lead so she would take down the next one like it was nothing.

Only the palico refused to be left behind in the proceedings and with a mighty throw of her boomerang she hit one of the jagras in the chin forcing it upward, she jumped past it but not before leaving a present. A little explosive, right on top of the creature's eyes. As it went off the palico only had one thing to say.

"1 Meowster!"

"Oh come on!" She brought her switch ax down to the spine of the next fool who tried to step up but she couldn't pretend not to hear her palico getting smug.

"3!"

Tansy overjoyed sat on a spot on a nearby branch watching with aped attention, she failed to notice something moving through the trees.

Saika hated being tied to Freesia and with a massive swing she cut away at one of the few jagras remaining. Slicing it through its back, Saika turned to the other hunter as she raised her sword and the creature fell to pieces.

"4!"

"Damn it!" Freesia then swiped upward cutting the last jagras through its chest before throwing it back to the ground.

"4! So that means I win!" With a raised eyebrow Saika corrected her.

"I have the same score, that means we're tied" the purple haired huntress turned to the long sword wielder a tad annoyed.

"Wait, so Tansy how are we going to prove that I'm the best" Saika scoffed at that.

"The best? Hardly, if you want her to acknowledge pure fact then Tansy will provide the winner, being me of course" If there was anything that the bodyguard could feel comfortable with it would be her rivalry with Freesia.

Tansy stood at her feet, hand to her chin, thinking on how to break this stalling problem, until something smelt a new kind of prey and leaped out from the trees.

The larger yellow beasty leaped atop the handler attempting to bite away at the new prey. The switch ax user wasted no time striking at the Great Jagras. She had a few choice words as she went back for another swing.

"Listen ya big Stupid! You're trying to eat my handler, I don't much like that!" It swiped at her pushing her away, but that gave the handler the time to throw a small flash bomb that went off at the right time blinding the big creature. She quickly back away and got back to her feet, making some distance and readying herself for what's next.

Saika sliced at its side as it turned to her. The creature took no time worrying about the pain as it snapped its jaws at her forcing her to move back away for the gnashing teeth. Lily threw her boomerang letting it hit the side of the monster's head getting its attention.

With its head turned the long sword user brought her blade to the same neck wound stabbing deeper, the monster roared and bracing through the pain it charge through Saika pushing her away from it. The Great Jagras tried to run but that was when Freesia made her reappearance.

Jumping from the branches above she brought her weapon down on to its back. Mounting on its back she brought her knife out and dug into the monster's spine trying to open it up at best as she could. Saika caught up to the creature and slashed at the tail forcing it to misstep. Lily jumped on Saika's head and using her as a platform she jumped again to get high into the air and threw a small bomb far ahead to where the creature was forcing it to stop.

That was when Tansy ran past Saika with a barrel, not letting the other where she got it or where she kept it she rolled it to land beneath the stopped monster. Freesia transformed her weapon into a powerful sword and stabbed into the cut she made. Charging the attack she went for the discharge and as the creature tried its weak attempt to shrug her off the blast went off. The blade stabbed into the barrel and the explosion forced Freesia back along with the great jagras' back half, while Lily finally touched down to the earth with its front half landing next to it.

Freesia landing on the ground used her switch ax to slow her blow back. She stayed there, kneeling on the ground catching her breath.

"5...Freesia wins, who wins?" The question was directed to Saika who would have none of it.

"Sia it was a team effort!" Not thinking and merely yelling Saika wanted to fight against that win, yet Tansy smiled knowing that Saika slipped into an old habit.

"Actually Freesia got the last hit, she wins" The grin on the switch ax user couldn't grin any wider as she excitingly ran to her Palico and raised her up to the air.

"Who wins?"

"Just because she's your girlfriend doesn't mean she got the last hit!" She fought her futility to keep up her argument. Freesia put Lily down and ran to her beautiful girl kissing her on her freckled cheeks.

"Who wins?" Saika gritted her teeth she wanted to uphold her pride but she couldn't help but feel the infectiousness of Freesia's excitement, her laughter echoing through the forest.

"...Freesia wins" Overjoyed she wrapped her arms around the bodyguard who stiffened at the contact and tried not to smile as she was picked up and spun around a bit.

"I win, Freesia wins!"

Finally getting the answer she wanted she put the bodyguard down. Tansy chuckled as Saika tried to act aloof but it didn't match her eyes. Looking to the mangled remains of the now slayed Great Jagras Freesia only had one thing to say.

"Alright, lets get to carving!"

It was later in the night, the meat and bone of the various jagras were collected and letters were sent via Mernos. The four stopped at the camp they discovered before. After fighting it and latter lugging the corpse, it left them tired out and despite Saika's reluctance Tansy was able to get the to rest for the night to bring up the good news in the morning.

Saika had finished setting up camp, the bed inside had room for one and that wasn't a problem for the other three but no matter how much they would mind she had some issues with getting close to them ever since...

She got caught up in her thoughts that she almost didn't notice the purple haired ax user grab a blanket and take it with her. Curious at this, she was surprised they still did this.

Laying it on the ground, Freesia got herself comfortable as she put her hands to the back of her head, resting on the blanket and looking up at the night sky, Tansy joined her putting her head on her girlfriend's arm and looked what most took for granted every night.

Watching the stars above, Freesia reminded herself why she choose to do this, to protect Linna would always be first and foremost, but she remembered when she had to worry about what would happen to her one day and if she could survive the next. Yet now, right now she could just take a moment, this single moment, and realize that had time to really see things beyond city streets and what is right around the corner.

That even this lowly drifter could be a part of something much grander then herself.

Lily moved past Saika who didn't realize how close she got to the two. Lily rested herself on Freesia's stomach stargazing as well.

"Hey Sa, come over, you won't believe the constellations out there, I think I see the sapphire star" She shouldn't, yet she couldn't bring herself not to, not with a relaxed Freesia waving her over.

She would just lay down with them just a moment, just to see what they saw, the joy in the stars.

"All you gotta do is baby kick off your shoes and lay down"