Sorry this chapter took so long, been very busy for months
Naira's training under Jared continues. At first, Jared is explaining to his student about items that are really useful during a hunt like Potions, Herbs, and Whetstones. Naira has chosen to wield the Dual Swords. She now has a pair of Steel Daggers and armor made from the Arzuros that Jared, Aria and Andyr killed. Her Felyne, Dora, is also wearing the same armor, made from the scrap materials that were left from Naira's.
/ Sayuna Guild /
"Jared, may I speak with you for a while?" Master Shinba said to Jared as he passed by.
"Sure, what is it, uncle?" Jared replied as he took off his helmet.
"The guild in Yukumo Village is requesting a hunter to take over for their Training School while the instructor was summoned to The Hunter's Guild in the region of Talahad. I was thinking of sending you." Shinba explained. "What do you say?"
"...I don't know...Naira's been working hard lately. I can't just stop teaching her even for a while..."
"...Hmm...I know, just take her along with you. You are going to a training school, you can teach her there."
"...Yukumo isn't that far...I'll go."
/ The Next Day, Sayuna City Entrance/
" You all set, Naira?" Jared asked his apprentice as they prepare to leave the city.
Naira adjusted her headgear and said; " Ready." The two and their Felynes started walking.
" There are a lot of Monsters near the Misty Peaks and Yukumo Village," Jared explained. " just stay close to us."
Naira and Dora nodded.
As the group journey through the forests of Equanox, Pete is telling a story of one of his and Jared's hunts. They pass through a swamp until they finally reached the Misty Peaks by night. They went to a clearing to camp out. Pete gathered up some firewood but something got their attention.
"Are these fireflies?" Naira asked as glowing insects fly to one direction.
"They don't look like fireflies, meow..." Dora replied, worried.
"Actually they're Thunderbugs, nya." Pete corrected. "...Huh...I haven't seen these many Thunderbugs since..."
"...Our Zinogre hunt!" Jared interrupted. "Naira, Dora, hide!"
"But..."
"Go!" Jared shouted and brought out his longsword, Snowdrop Ice Blade.
Naira hesitated but eventually did as her master said. She and Dora hid among the bushes, looking on as Jared and Pete await the Fanged Wyvern.
A loud howl suddenly echoed through the forest. A large wyvern with brown and blue shell came out to the clearing. Thunderbugs gathered around it's back spikes, giving them a thunderous glow. Eyes glowing and full of electricity, it illuminated the dark of the night.
"Pete, you know what to do..." Jared whispered. The Lynian nodded at him and readied his sword and boomerang
The wyvern let out another howl. Jared charged while the wyvern was vulnerable. He dashed and aimed for the tail, but the wyvern turned to him and punched at the ground only to miss. Pete threw his boomerang with a meow. The weapon slashed through the Zinogre's back, breaking a few spikes off. The wyvern simply ignored it and continued attacking Jared. The hunter rolled to the side of the Thunder Wolf and slashed at it's front limb. The attack was effective but caught Jared off guard. The Zinogre swiped it's tail, knocking down both Jared and Pete.
" Damn, it saw through our plan..." Jared said as the two get up.
"...Dora," Naira whispered. ", what should we do? They're getting pummeled there. They can't do this alone. "
"...I don't know, nya. I haven't hunted anything bigger than a Velocidrome. I guess all we can do is pray that Jared and Pete succeed, meow."
Pete charged forward, catching the Zinogre's attention. The wyvern tried to attack the felyne, but because of his minute size, Pete nimbly dodges the foe's slams. This gave Jared a chance to sever the tail with a powerful slash, making the Zinogre fall forward. During this, Pete placed a Pitfall trap somewhere near the struggling wyvern while Jared injured it more with deadly slashes.
"Meow!" Pete called out as the Pitfall is fully in place. Jared turned to him and stopped attacking.
The Zinogre stood up and shot three clusters of Thunderbugs. The attack knocked the two back down and inflicted Thunderblight. Their bodies spark as their opponent let out another roar that echoed through the mountain stream. The wyvern is now enraged and leaped at Jared only to be interrupted by a Flash Bomb. It was blinded and thrashed the place, not seeing where it's target is. Naira, the one who threw the Flash Bomb, went to and supported Jared up and Dora did the same to Pete.
" ...What're you doing...?" Jared said. " I...told you to stay out of this..."
" I'm helping you. It's like what Lillia said to me on the first day of my training. 'being a hunter means not only hunting, but also aiding people who are in need.' I'm doing what I have to, and that's helping you kill this beast."
The rampaging wyvern, still thrashing steped and fell into the Pitfall. Naira brought out her blades and attacked. Jared then ran forward, his longsword facing the wyvern. He lunged his sword forward, to the Zinogre's throat, putting an end to it.
" Like Zaine always says..." Jared said with a pant, pulling out his sword. "...go for the throat if you get a chance."
"Are you alright?" Naira asked. Jared didn't respond and only fainted through fatigue. She helped him up and brought him near the trees and said, " Don't overdo it next time..."