Tale of a hunter Ch 2
"One more swing and the ore should be free from the mountain side." I sighed heavy, lifting the heavy pickaxe above my head, preparing to swing once again. I Swing the pickaxe down with all my strength. It clashed against the bright blue ore, breaking it free from the mountain side. The ore fell from where the mountain had been holding it for many years. The ore fell by my feet, and rolled coming to a stop at my foot. I lean the pickaxe against the cliff side, sat down, and picked up the bright blue ore from beside my feet.
"It's hard to believe this ore is a metal, and not a crystal. It looks like a crystal when you put it to the sunlight." I thought aloud, not really thinking much.
"Nya, and that's the last one you require." Nihxen meowed at me, reaching out for the ore so he can put it away in his item pouch.
"So what's next on the list?" I ask Nihxen as I hand him the ore.
"Let's see…." He says putting the ore away in his item pouch, and pulls a paper out from the pouch. "One Rathalos plate then are list is complete master, nya."
"Great the hardest for last…" I sighed heavily, "But Nih I told you many times not to call me 'master'. I know its formalities and all, but you're family to me. So you don't need to use that with me."
"Sorry Senlie…" Nihxen apologised slowly, adjusting his bright green helmet, and his orange vest.
"Still can't believe it's been about two years since that incident." I said looking up at the bright hot sun, closing my eyes and enjoying the hot sun in the Sandy Plains. Taking a deep breath I open my eyes and look at my right leg. I remove my Barroth armor, exposing my badly scared right leg shin. My shin's scars bring back many memories from the day of the incident. These scars are from a Great Jaggi who bit and tore my leg up badly, when I was saving Nihxen when he was a kitten.
I ran my hand along my bumpy and uneven scared skin, which kept bringing the memories back. I barely survived the fight against the Great Jaggi. As I was heading back I was ambushed by an unknown monster. Just thinking of it was making the atmosphere around me thick; my breathing became heavy and quick. The monster was hiding in pitch black cloud, I couldn't see it. It trapped me in the cloud, I couldn't see anything, it tried to squish me to death, and four great hunters died fighting it. The whole scene was traumatising, and I still can picture it perfectly. I began whimpering, hyper ventilating, and curled into a ball, no longer thinking of it, but reliving the trauma. Darkness, pain, blood, everywhere, I can't move nor breathe. The pressure on my chest, growing, was squeezing the life out of me.
"Senlie! Senlie snap out of it!" A familiar voice said, shaking me violently, slowly making me come to.
"Huh, who, what?" I mumbled snapping out of my memory.
"Senlie you ok? You were going in to another panic attack." Nihxen said still shaking me.
"Yeah… I was… Thanks Nihxen." I mumbled slowly, "I'm glad to have you as a partner; you're always there for me. Especially at times like this where I let my mind wonder too far into the past.
"Nya maybe you should take a month off from hunting." Nihxen suggested as he stop shaking me. "This is the third time this week you had a panic attack."
"I'll be fine Nih, besides I just came back from a week off." I reasoned with Nihxen. "And I'm not as bad as I was when I first tried hunting again. I didn't even make it as far as getting to base camp before I had a meltdown."
"That's an invalid argument. You use that story every time I bring this up nya." Nihxen meowed loudly.
"I know…" I sighed as I put my light brown Barroth armor back on my leg. "But you can have to admit I'm getting better in the slightest bit."
"Nya, well compared to your first year-" Nihxen stopped; he quickly ran to the ledge of the cliff and stood high on his hind legs. His ears were moving, twitching up a storm. His nose made clicking noises as he tried smelling around.
"What is it Nihxen?" I said softly, getting up and walking to him.
"Nya I just heard a Barroth's rage cry and I smell human blood." He stated firmly. "There is a hunter in trouble close to here… Down there!"
I quickly look down the cliff to have a look; I spot a Barroth, and a pinky purple humanoid running away. I couldn't make out much more than that, but I knew that hunter was in over their head. I look down at Nihxen just in time to see him starting to blot off to help the hunter. Without a second thought, I started running towards the ledges down from the cliff. Quickly as I could I scaled down the cliff side, glancing every now and then to see how the hunter was doing. Every time I looked back he was in worse situation each time.
"Just hold for a little longer…" I mumbled to myself, as I kept descending the cliff side. I looked over my shoulder one more time. The hunter was sailing through the air, and smashed into a boulder. The hunter limply slid off the boulder, leaving a blood smear down it, and face planted into the dry dusty ground. Changing my focus I look at the Barroth, It was lowering its head, backing up, readying to charge to finish him off.
"Nya, that's not good!" Nihxen hissed, jumping off the remaining cliff side. I look down; it's only a couple feet till the ground.
Following Nihxen I let go of the wall and push myself away into a free fall. Quickly I reach into my bag and pull out a long throwing device, and I pull the pin on it.
"Flash bomb 12 o'clock!" I yelled at the top of my lungs warning Nihxen to cover his eyes. I threw the bomb hard as I can; it landed right in front of the Barroth's face.
I hit the ground hard, and covered my eyes. The bomb popped open into a blinding bright light. I could hear the Barroth's cry as it got blinded by the bright light. Quickly I uncovered my eyes to see the Barroth shaking its head, in its blindness. I look towards the hunter; he didn't move an inch from where he fell off the boulder.
"Nihxen distract the Barroth, I'm going to get the hunter to safety." I yelled as I started running to the hunter's aid. Nihxen started running to the Barroth on all fours with his little hunting dagger in paw.
Arriving at the hunter I can see the hunter is wearing male fitted Great Jaggi armor. The armor is blood stained and missing a shoulder pad. The hunter is face down on the ground, but breathing. Gently I heave on the hunter flipping him on to his back, Instantly I see a gash on the left side of his for head. He had blood running all over his face and in his blond hair.
Hearing the Barroth's low echoing roar in anger, I glance over my shoulder to see how Nihxen was doing. I see the brown Barroth smashing its rock like head into the ground, creating a dust cloud. Nihxen appears flying out of the dust cloud and landing on the Barroth's ridged back. Nihxen stabs his dagger in between two ridges, making the Barroth flinch in pain. Furiously the Barroth shakes its body trying to rid of Nihxen.
With knowing Nihxen could handle situation I, hastily look back at the hunter. I grab him under his shoulders, heave him upwards, and start dragging him to safety behind the boulder. With one last heave, I sit him up against the side of the boulder. I gave him a shake to see if that would make him come too, but was unsuccessful.
Hearing the Barroth's roar again, I glance around the boulder. Nihxen was still riding the back of the Barroth, but was being tossed around heavily. The Barroth was tossing, turning, spinning, shaking frantically trying to free its self from its rider.
"Nihxen, can't last much longer. " I said to myself, turning back to the hunter and grab his shoulders. "Hey wake up!"
Moaning aggravated, I let go of his shoulders, and clench my fists in anger. I have to wake him up now! Nihxen won't last much longer as a distraction. If I leave him to help Nihxen; he will probably just be a free meal for small monsters nearby. In this heat he probably will be cooked nicely for the monsters. I take off my helmet to let my anger vent and cool down. I look at the hunter, trying to think what to do, but I can't think of anything. Getting frustrated, I wipe the sweat from my head, and pause.
"That's it!" I shout, instantly I reach into my item bag and pull out my bottled water. I unscrew the cap and push his open face Jaggi helmet off. Holding the bottle above his head I turn it over and let the water run out. "Please let this work!"
The water ran out of the bottle at a steadily, splashing, and running down the hunter's face. The water left his face pink, with blood. The hunter gasped and shot forward, breathing heavily, his eyes wide open, it worked.
"Finally you're awake!" I said loudly, relived.
"Who are you? Wh- where is the Barroth?!" He gasped; quickly he stood up and reached to behind his waist to grad something. "Where is my Hunting hammer?!"
"Hey calm down, and listen! You were knocked unconscious, I pulled you to safety while my Felyne distracted the Barroth, and still is! So stay here, regroup, find your weapon, and come help fight!" I shouted at him, looking at him in his yellowy gold eyes. "I'm going to help my Felyne."
"Umm, yay, ok." He replied quietly avoiding eye contact.
I put my helmet back on, stepping backwards. Running at the boulder I jumped and heaved myself on top of it. I glanced down to see the Barroth's tail was near the boulder, and it was looking straight forward, right at Nihxen. Nihxen was looking right at the creature growling and hissing at it. They were in a stare down.
Seeing my opportunity I unsheathed my Iron Long sword I jumped off the boulder. I swung down wards with all my might, aiming for the tail. I felt my blade sever right through most of the skin and bone, spewing blood. Landing on the ground, I swiftly swing my sword overhead, severing the tail the rest of the way, and coving me in monster blood. The small section of the tail landed beside me, blood covered.
The Barroth shrilled in pain, tripping forwards. Quickly I turned to see the Barroth, recovering from its fall; The Barroth turned at me and looked right at me with rage. It exhaled loudly, creating steam from its several blow holes on the top of its rocky head. It scratched its two legs against the ground, bent low and let out an ear ringing roar, making me cover my ears.
Recovering from the roar, I looked up to see the up flat top of the Barroth's head, dust cloud behind, and on either side of it. It was charging right at me, and coming too fast for me to react. The Barroth collides with me and flings its head sending me flying through the air. I was flipping through air, seeing ground, sky, ground, sky, and ground. I skipped and bounced along the dry ground till I came to a stop. Winded I gasped and wheezed trying to regain my breath. Slowly regaining my breath I look up, the Barroth got fresh deep gashes along its stubby arms, must be Nhixen's doing.
The Barroth swung its head low, and sweeping to the side, Hitting Nihxen sending him skidding along the ground. The Barroth turned and faced Nihxen. Rapidly I acted, getting up and running at the monster with my long sword in hand, even though I didn't recover my breath. The Barroth clashed its head on the ground, making a dust cloud. Nihxen came running out of the dust cloud, his armor scraped and scarred, but he was ok. Swiftly the fur ball Jumped and slashed at the creature's side creating another bloody gash on its bumpy brown hide. Nihxen landed and kept moving. I thrust my sword at the creatures soft under side, but my sword stopped little ways in, I hit a rib. With might I forced my blade to cut horizontally, leaving the creature's body by its stubby arm, making a gory blood splatter.
The Barroth shrieked in pain. Furiously it swung its head sideways, colliding into me, sending me skidding along the ground. I came to a stop looking at the sky wheezing for air again. I roll over and push myself up still recovering my breath. Nihxen was slashing vigorously at the legs of the brute wyvern. The Barroth spun around low smacking Nihxen with its shortened bleeding tail. Nihxen skidded a couple feet recovered, and bounced back slashing at the back of the knee of the creature, making it fall.
Seeing an opportunity I ran at the brute wyvern, and slashed at its back, which was facing me. I gouged it deeply, creating a bloody spew. I readjusted my grip on my sword and furiously slashed in the opposite direction, making more blood arise from the creature. Readjusting my hands again I brought my sword downwards franticly, creating a slash of blood that landed on me. I got down low, I spun around, swung my sword with all my might gouging the creature from its hip to its scruff, making a massive blood splatter.
The Barroth jumped up and landed on its heavily bleeding legs, it got low and spun around hitting Nihxen and I away from it. Once I stopped skidding I opened my eyes to see the Barroth right above me. Realizing what was to come I rolled out of the way, just missing it's head smash. I started to push myself up, when I suddenly hit the ground, and couldn't move. It was getting hard to breath. The Barroth pinned me under its foot. I looked up all I could see was its rock like head coming right at me. I closed my eyes, and heard a bone smashing crash. The weight was relived off me; I open my eyes to see a giant metal spiked club above my head. I look down the club to see the hunter I saved, who now saved me.
"Thanks." I shouted, jumping to my feet, and turning to the injured Brute wyvern, to see a smash mark in its head.
With no words I ran to the creature and unleashed a powerful slash, gouging open its neck, which much blood ran out. The Barroth made a gurgle noise, flinching backwards. It recovered looked at me, lowered its head to charge. It took two steps, and fell to the ground dead. Seeing the monster fall dead I flicked my blood covered sword over my shoulder and into its sheath. With my sword now resting on my back I take my helmet off to try and cool off. Holding my helmet in my hands, I see that it is pale red with blood then rather its golden brown colour. I look at my hands, arms, chest; they are all covered in red blood.
"Great I'm covered in blood, and without a doubt I'm covered in blood under my armor as well." I grumbled looking at myself.
"Umm… here." The hunter said quickly holding out a bottle of water. I looked at him puzzled. "Y-you used your drinking water to wake me, and w-well… I'll give you mine to replace yours."
"Oh that, don't worry about that it was nothing. Just be glad we jumped in when we did." I said refusing his offer.
"Oh… W-well… Th-thanks for saving me, I would have been a goner." He stuttered slowly.
"Just doing what any person should do." I said happily. "But you should be thanking Nihxen, if it weren't for his ears and nose, I would have only found your corpse."
"Oh… umm… thanks f-for saving me, Nihxen… I-I owe you a lot." He stuttered again looking at Nihxen.
"No problem, now let's just get out this place nya." Nihxen meowed point toward the base camp.
"Yeah, after a fight like this I just want to go home and relax for a day or two." I agreed, as I stretched my arms. "Get the carves you need off the Barroth, then we will head and flag an airship to take us home."
"Umm… Ok…" The hunter said nervously walking over to the Barroth, and stared cutting off the dark ridges off its back.
"This is going to take a while." I mumbled under my breath turning away and spotting a few medical herbs growing in the shade of the boulder. "Hey Nih, keep an eye out for money making items around."
I walked over to the herd field, bent down and started picking the best herbs in the bunch. The green medical herbs are used in for making medicines, so you could always sell them for a bit of pocket change, or keep them and make the medicine yourself saving money. I always keep mine though because medicine can get pricy, and some healing medicine isn't sold on the market.
Looking at the herbs I collected, they are all nice deep green in the middle and lighten in colour towards the edges. The leaves are spaced out, but fairly large, showing that it's a healthy and strong healing component in the plant. Putting the couple I picked in my item pouch I keep eyeing through the remaining ones to see if any good plants remaining. The remaining plants either have bugs on them or not ready to be harvested. Seeing that I picked all the good ones I push myself to my feet, and turn around to find Nihxen. I felt something bump into my leg. I look down to see Nihxen on the ground, with many blue mushrooms scattered around.
"Oh, sorry Nih…" I apologies softly, looking at the mess I just made.
Quickly I bent down and started picking up the mushrooms that he dropped. Nihxen jumped up on his back two legs and started picking up the mushrooms also. Nihxen slipped one after the other back into his item bag. Once there were no more mushrooms on the ground he turned to me, and held out both his paws. I handed him the mushrooms I had cradled in my arms, once again he put every one of them back into his item bag.
Blue mushrooms are very useful; they have many nutrients and are used in the making of many medicines. The only catch is they aren't edible as is; many people tried to eat them as is but got severe stomach aches and had to be hospitalized back to health. By combining it with other things like herbs, they naturally react to each other and the blue mushroom works with the herb becoming edible. But to get the most out of it would have to be mashed together to create a green liquid, known as a healing potion, and which I'll do when I get back home tonight.
Once Nihxen finished putting the blue mushrooms back in his item pouch, I stood up and looked at him. He has gotten quite bigger since I took him in as a kitten. When he was a kitten standing on all fours he was barely taller than my ankle, and so adorable. Now he is a quarter way up my shin on all fours and up to my knee when he stands up on his hind legs. He is still cute, but strong and reliable also.
"Nya, what is it?" Nihxen meowed questioning, me for staring at him blankly. "Am I missing a whisker, nya?"
"Oh, sorry no you are fine, I was just staring onto space." I apologies quickly, as I bend down and scratch him under his chin, making him purr. "Ok, shall we get going?"
I stand up and look at the hunter; he was finally done carving parts off the dead Barroth's carcase. His arms were full of blood covered scales, and ridges from the Barroth.
"You good to leave yet?" I shouted to him.
"Yeah, I'm ready to go." He replied waking towards Nihxen and I.
"Nya, let's get going then." Nihxen purred happily, flopping down to all fours and started heading towards base camp, up a steep hill covered in dry dead grass.
"So what's your name?" I asked the hunter as I walked alongside him up the steep hill.
"Mac…. Inile…" Mac replied softly. "A-and you are?"
"Senlie Uden, and the fearless fur ball leading us is Nihxen." I replied proudly.
"Nya, I heard that!" Nihxen hissed loudly, as he came to the top of the hill.
"Oh take a cool drink Nih, I'm only joking around." I laughed loudly, approaching the top of the hill.
"Nice to meet you two…" Mac trailed off, reaching the top of the hill. "So, umm… S-Senlie what hunter rank are you?"
"You really want to know that? Ok, I'm hunter rank 30, what of it?" I questioned Mac.
"Oh, umm… just curious, trying to make talk." He answered sensitively. "Umm… It's probably none of my business, but you trying to hit high rank?"
"Nope, don't plan on it, don't want to, and never going to happen." I replied sharply. "Why you asking?"
"Oh, well I kinda want to… hit high rank, but I-I can't really… do much by myself, I need allies." Mac answered back, as he kept walking.
"Ah, well tough luck here, I have no plans to go any farther in my hunting career." I stated firmly.
"Umm… why… do you plan to stay in low rank?" Mac probed silently.
"High rank is insanely dangerous; I'm fine in low rank. I'm making enough money to pay taxes and keep food on the table for my family. So why would I risk my life even more than I am to do the precisely the same thing I'm doing right now?" I said stated loudly in anger.
"I-I'm… Ssor- sorry, I d-didn't mean to…" Mac trailed off like a ghost.
"It's fine." I vented heavily letting my anger go, as we walked into the base camp. "I'll start a smoke signal. Then we wait for a nearby Airship to see the signal and take us back to Lac Loc."
"Ok." Nihxen and Mac replied.
"So don't wonder far." I said firmly.
I walked over to the blue supply box and opened it taking out three items, a torch, couple pieces of wood, and a green fist size block. With the supplies I close the box and walk to the fire pit. I threw the fire wood down in the pit, and smacked the torch against a stone creating sparks, lighting the flammable wick. Using the torch I light the wood on fire, no longer needing the torch I grab a hand full of sand and throw on it on the torch flames smothering it. Now with the wood burning I set the Green block on the fire. Instantly the block caught fire, creating a heavy dark green smoke. The smoke towered high in the air.
"There now any Airships nearby should see the smoke and come get us." I muttered to myself, standing up, walking into the shade, and sat down. "I'll be home before you get home from school, Karlen."
I plucked my helmet off, put it on the ground and I lied down. Looking at the sky eagerly awaiting to go home.
