"So, Tafu views you as her parent?" Miia summed up.

"I guess in some ways, yes." To be honest, I really don't know.

She knows I'm not an aptonoth by a long shot, but whether she does see me like a father figure? I really wish I knew the answer.

The sun had long set by now, leaving the sky coated in and vast sea of red and orange clouds. Reminds me of the views hunters recall from Moga Village, whenever they don't have a Ceadeus breaching in the middle of their view, or causing another earthquake.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Mero finally asked, silently joining me in my admiration of the sunset.

"Defiantly, but nowhere near some of the places I've been to." Although to be honest, a sunset like that would look amazing in the Misty Peaks or Arctic Ridge.

"Oh, if I may be bold to ask. What kind of places have you been to?" Mero questioned, her voice coated in curiosity.

If I'm being honest, not that many. I mean, the Jurassic Frontier is more or less my main hunting ground. But I have hunted among the Dunes, a few times in the Misty Peaks and Arctic Ridge (God, I wish I could live in Yukumo Village), and once close to a Volcano, which I'd rather not go to EVER again. But that's round about it, I haven't even had the chance to hunt on the Deserted Island or any of the Towers.

"Well, Jurassic Frontier is where I go to the most." If my story about Tafu didn't already give her the hint. "Misty Peaks is without a doubt my favorite place, once close to a Volcano and-"

"A Volcano?" Hubby repeated understandably rather shocked. "Why were you at a Volcano?"

...

"Ores." Yep, ores. "Volcanoes are the gold mine for finding rare orces. That, and to hunt certain monsters."

"Hold on a minute." Rachnee stopped, listening in from her perch on the caravan roof. "You mean to tell me, there are actually monsters that live in a Volcano?"

"Yeah, quite a lot actually." And many of them notoriously lethal. "Some of them actually swi- WOAH!"

Before I could even react, Tafu had let out a large bellow, her tail even slamming down sending dust into the air. Enough to catch me off guard.

"Papi! Suu! Taiden told you two to give Tafu some space." Centorea reminded, instantly jumping to her own conclusion. "The least you two can-"

"We haven't done anything!" Papi pointed out.

And to her credit, she was right. Both Papi and Suu were at the table waiting for their food, so then why is Tafu playing up?

"But if you two are there, then what's making Tafu act nervous?" Miia wondered, even now, Tafu was still bellowing louder and louder. "Unless she doesn't like Fireflies."

Fireflies?

True to Miia's word, a small amount of fireflies had started to gather around us. Although, as one came close to me, it didn't actually look like a firefly. It seemed to spark with... red lightning.

"Hold on, red lightning."... Dracophage bugs. "Everybody get inside, now!"

Straight away, Tafu's bellow began to make sense. She's not nervous about the bugs, she's nervous about what these bugs follow.

"Hold on, what's wrong?" Hubby wondered, confusion written within his blank eyes. "They're just bugs."

"It's not the bugs that I'm concerned about." I snapped, already trying to find my charge blade. "All these bugs are known to follow a monster. So if they're here..."

Judging from the suddenly concerned look washing over Hubby's face, he finally began to realize what all this means.

"So then, what kind of monster do these bugs follow?" Centorea wondered, already helping Mero back inside.

"A dangerous one." Actually, come to think of it. Any monster would be dangerous if you tick 'em off. "Get all the girls inside, I'll try to lure it away..."

"Shh! Listen..."

Rachnee snapped, her eyes staring off into space as she tried to listen for something. It wasn't until all of us stopped what we were doing, that we finally heard what Rachnee had.

A continuous howl, rumbling as it grew louder, then stopping, all over again.

"Taiden, You might want to come up here." Rachnee admitted.

She's probably seen the main source of all these Dracophage bugs. But when I joined her up on the caravan roof, it wasn't quite what I had expected.

Not far from the house, a mid-sized wolf shape dragged itself beside a larger one, lying on the floor. Stygian Zinogre, no doubt. The black and grey scales, and the dracophage bugs are a Stygian trademark. But, something doesn't look right.

The one lying down isn't moving at all, not even the slow rise and fall you see when one sleeps. The one still moving, looks more like its dragging it's legs rather than prowling like any Zinogre is infamous for.

"You recognize that monster?" Rachnee asked, bringing up the important question.

"Easily, Stygian Zinogre." I answered, pulling out Die Walkure. "It's hard to tell from here, but it looks like an adolescent and mother."

"Wait, are you going closer to it?" Hubby wondered, making way as I got off the caravan.

"I need to get a closer look, something doesn't feel right." And from the sounds of the standing Stygian, it sounds more like... grieving.

"So what are we supposed to do? Wait here?" Miia questioned, which in her defense, we are a few meters away from a wild monster, possibly two.

"You guys go inside the house, don't come out until I say so." With that suggestion, most of the girls instant made their way into the house. Leaving only Hubby, Centorea and Rachnee left with me. "Maybe you guys should go with them."

"Are you forgetting our little tango last night?" Rachnee brought up, reminding me of the Great Macco from yesterday.

"And as real as the danger may be, Taiden-sama. I do wish to gain experience from this rare encounter." Centorea defended, that kind of attitude will probably get her seriously hurt.

That left just one generic guy. Hubby.

"I guess I just... want to see what a monster looks like." Hubby admitted.

He could at least do with a weapon.

"Give me a sec." was all I could mutter before pulling out the War Basher from my caravan. "You know how to use a hammer, right?"

"I can take a good guess." Hubby stuttered, shocked by the size of it.

"If that monster gets too close to you, just hit it." I advised, as plain as I can possibly get. "All of you, stay close, and don't even try to get close to the monster."

Easy enough for them to follow. Now we can get back onto investigating our howling guest. Although as we got closer, I was actually glade the rest of the girls didn't see this.

The Stygian lying down is dead, blood already staining it's black and grey fur among it's scales. That would mean the one still alive and howling, must be grieving. The only question is, what actually killed it's companion?

"Okay then, two big wolves right outside my home." Hubby summed up, clenching War Basher.

"One, actually." Rachnee corrected. "That one lying down looks dead. So maybe this one here is it's mate or offspring."

"Judging from it's size, offspring seems more likely." I agreed, that and it still has fur covering much of it's body. Once it gets older, they loose much of that fur.

"Wait, listen..." Centorea ceased our guesses.

And once we went silent, it was then we became aware of a deep rumble, resonating inside us like a whale calling. Looking back at the living Stygian Zinogre, it had now held it's head low below it's muscled front legs...

Hold on-

"WHAT IN THE GODS NAME?!"

"Oh my- I think I'm gonna throw up!" Hubby

Half of it's face is gone! Across it's left eye to where a horn should spear the air with the right horn, all you could see was red, bloodstained bone. Something must have taken a bite of its face, bites are worse than getting clawed at.

Question is, just what could do that?

"That's just disturbing even for me." Rachnee shudder.

Just then, the Stygian Zinogre fell to it's knees. Even giving off a weak growl, couldn't muster any strength as it dropped it's head to the floor. God, I mean. I have always wanted to see any Zinogre, but not like this...

With my Charge Blade out, I tenderly placed my footing forward until I was five meters from the still breathing Stygian. It's only this close that I could see how much it's blood stained fur covered most of it's body, that would make this wounded wolf a young adolescent. But when I expected a deep growl coming from the Stygian, all I got was a weak whimper.

God, this hurts just watching...

"Defiantly an adolescent." I called over to the others. "Furs covering most of it's body, they lose most of it when they get older."

Even as the others came up, the Stygian tired to lift it's head up, maybe trying to scare us off. But whatever strength it had left, wasn't enough to even do the basic things.

"So, if this one is basically a teenager." Hubby said turning his attention to the dead Stygian. "Wouldn't that make the dead one it's mother?"

"Most likely." Centorea admitted. "Wolves are pack animals after all, so to find one alone is very unusual."

"Actually, all Zinogres and their subspecies are solitary." I explained, making my over to Hubby. "Behavior wise, they're more like tigers... And just as rare."

"Wait a minute, this is an endangered species?" Rachnee asked, sounding almost shocked.

"Sadly, yes." I admitted. "Zinogres and their variants are all very popular, among the hunting community. Both in terms of armor and weapons, and the thrill when hunting one. Man, the first and only time I got the hunt one... I can't even describe how amazing it felt."

"So, these monster are like Superstars?" Hubby summed up.

"More like Rock stars." I agreed. "But that's also the issue, they're just too popular. So many hunter want their materials, or just the chance to hunt one. That the Zinogre population has fallen dramatically. Heck, the only time I got to hunt one, was part of capture hunt for a breeding program."

God, I know I'm a hunter that clashes with creatures out of myths, but...

Just looking into the Stygian Zinogres lifeless eyes, the blood cascading down from it's mountain of wounds... It feels off putting, to say the least.

"Taiden-san!" Rachnee called, looking intently at the dead monsters back legs "I think I found something interesting."

Making my way over to Rachnee, I could see just what had caught her interest. Out of the blood stained scales and fur, an odd metal shine seemed to come from out of the hips.

"No, no, this better not be what I think it is." I muttered grabbing the metal firmly.

Pulling back with what force I could muster, a sickening slice echoed as the metal revealed to be a part of handle, with two bone covered blades dripping with blood.

This wasn't an accident at all...

"Sons of bitches, SONS OF FUCKING BITCHES!" my sudden burst of anger caused Rachnee to raise an eyebrow.

"Any reason for the language?" she finally asked.

"This is a Hip Slicer." I explained holding it out. "They illegal throughout the Hunting community. They're forced into a monsters hip joint. So every time the monster moves it's legs, these blades will be slicing through it every-time."

"But, isn't that how you hunt a monster?" Hubby pointed out. "By killing it."

Without a second thought, I snapped the blades off the Hip Slicer. And even when I tossed them aside, I made sure to snap the blades another time.

"No. THIS is how you a torture a monster." I made clear pointing to the corpse. "Someone intentionally made this mother suffer and made her pup an orphan."

"I found another Hip Slicer." Centorea called, before smashing it under her hoof with equal disgust. "The pup must have gotten it out while it could still stand."

Looking back at the shallow panting coming from wounded pup. I finally made up my mind on what to do next.

"Hubby, go inside my caravan." I asked Hubby. "If you look inside, you should find a box full of bags of herbal medicines and tranquilizer powder. I need you to bring two of each out."

"Alright." Hubby agreed, wasting no time to heading back to the caravan.

"Rachnee, get as much silk out as you can." I turned to Rachnee, who seemed rather suspicious of what I had planned.

"Wait, herbal medicines, tranquilizer powder and silk." Rachnee listed. "What do you plan on doing with those?"

"Alright, here the thing." I explained. "The longer that Stygian's wounds stays open, the worst it's gonna get."

"You're intending on helping it?" Centorea summed up quickly.

"Defiantly." I'm not gonna let this monster suffer like his mother did. "So I need silk to help hold him down so I can apply the tranquilizer, then start treating his wounds."

"Got em!" Hubby called, his arms full of life powders and tranq bombs.

"Great, Rachnee?"

"Give me a minute." Rachnee agreed already readily her silk.

X Few minutes later...

Even in it's weakened state, the Stygian Zinogre still had it in him to growl at my cautious approach. However, as long it keep it's eyes stays on me. It won't try going for Hubby, Rachnee and Centorea creepy close to its slides, all holding ropes of silk for when they get a hold on it.

Taking her chance, Rachnee was the first to throw her silk on it, forcing the Stygian's head down, while being careful not to touch the gaping hole on it's face. Soon, Hubby and Centorea both launched themselves on too.

"NOW!" Rachnee yelled, just over the scared roar of the Stygian.

Making the most while I could, I smashed the tranq bomb inches from the Stygian's face. Far enough that it wouldn't break on it's wound, but close enough for the tranq to do it's work. Worryingly, it only took one tranq bomb for the Stygian to cease it's movement, before falling asleep. If it only took one, then it must be on death's doorsteps.

"Hubby, take the life-powder. And spread it into wound on it's hips." I instructed, passing a life-powder over to Hubby.

"Is it, monster-aid medicine then?" Hubby asked, spreading the life-powder onto the Stygian's hips.

"No. But it's best we can do to help ease the pain right now." I admitted. God, why didn't I pay more attention at Wycademy?

"With all due respect, what are actually supposed to do with Hades?" Centorea asked-

Wait, Hades? Where did she come up with that?

"You've named it, Hades?" I brought up.

"Stygian is a word relating to the River Styx." Centorea explained. "The very river that flows between Earth and Underworld, the realm that Hades ruled over."

That... is a good reason.

"Maybe you shouldn't name it right now." Rachnee brought up. "We don't know if this guys gonna make it or not."

"And we're not really equipped to properly help him." Hubby added.

Wait, Smith.

If she has contact with the Hunting Guild, then she can contact them to bring in Researchers.

"You have Smith's number, right?" I asked Hubby. "Call her explain-

Oddly though, Hubby didn't seem to focus at all on what I was saying. Instead, his blank eyes focused back on the corpse-

Oh come on, the very same Great Macco me and Rachnee sent packing the other night was now burying it's head into the Stygian corpse, before pulling it's head back out, it's mouth filled with rotten flesh.

"Ugh, that's just nasty." Rachnee muttered, looking away in disgust.

"Taiden, should we-"

"Don't worry, I got this." I assured Hubby. "It's literally like taking care of a rat."

"A big, scaly, feathery rat." Hubby pointed out.

It wasn't until the Great Macco shock off the blood on it's head, that it finally caught sight of me walking up. My Charge Blade scraping the earth as the Great Macco stalked forward, as if challenging me.

"Ha, you're so funny." I laughed. "Have you already forgotten-"

CRASH!

Without warning, a large object crashed onto the Great Macco. Slamming it all over the ground, forcing dust into the air. Within seconds, I couldn't see anything around me.

"TAIDEN!" I could just hear Centorea's voice over the sound of something snapping.

"I'm fine! Stay out of the dust!" I don't want anyone else running into whatever attacked the Great Macco.

However, as the dust settled. The outline of the Great Macco began visiable, it's body hanging lifelessly seemingly on it's on. But as dust fully settled, A ravenous jaw became visible, holding the body up.

Then the whole thing came into view. Two tree muscled legs, attached to a long spiked body. Two pathetic little arms, seemingly hidden under the head of dripping goliath.

"GOJIRA!"

"No, it's even worse."

As the monster tossed the body aside, an exploding roar shattered the air around it.

"A Deviljho..."