Hunt 20: Guardian of the Forest

Xross Blades has finally arrived at Juravante. "We finally got here." Raylin said. "It's different then I thought it was going to be." Link said. (Juravante looks just like the village from Monster Hunter Portable 3rd.) "I was told that the village leader is a wyverian girl in a kimono." Zedept said. "So we just need to look for her then?" Lyra asks. "Pretty much." Zedept said. They walk around the village and they find the village leader.

"Excuse me." Lyra said. The wyverian girl looks at Xross Blades. "Welcome hunters, how may I help you." She said. Zedept hands her a letter from the Garetaten leader. "So you 4 are the famous Xross Blades we've heard about." She said.

"People are talking about us?" Raylin asks surprised by what she just heard. "Yes, about your hunt against a Rathalos and Rathian at the same time, about you being able to calm a Tigrex just by talking to it, your hunt against a Teostra ending successfully and killing a Jhen Moran. I must say that that's impressive." The wyverian girl said. "Wow." Lyra said.

"Word sure is getting around about us." Raylin said. "Can we get back to why we're here?" Zedept asks. "Right, sorry." Link said. "You want our piece so you can hunt Alatreon, correct?" The wyverian girl asks. "Yes." Zedept replied. "I would give it to you but it's in a shrine in the forest and it's protected by a powerful foe." The wyverian girl said. "May you tell us who the guardian is?" Lyra asks. "Yes, it's a Jinouga." The wyverian girl said.

Everyone is shocked. "A Jinouga?" Raylin asks. "Now that is a powerful foe." Lyra said. "What I've learned about them is that they are a thunder type wolf wyvern so my weapon won't be of much use against it." Link said. "But remember that it's weak against ice." Zedept said. "So it's up to me and Raylin then?" Lyra asks. "Mostly but me and Link can deal some damage to it as well." Zedept said.

"I can arrange for a transport to take you to Jinouga's territory." The wyverian girl said. "Thank you, that will help us save some stamina for the hunt." Raylin said. "Then head to the guild." The wyverian girl said as she pointed up and to her back right. "They will take you there." She continued. "Thank you." Zedept said and everyone bowed. They head to the guild and gets taken to Jinouga's territory.

Forest: Jinouga's Territory

Xross Blades are dropped off right outside Jinouga's territory. "Let's go." Zedept said. They nod and start walking. After walking for 10 minutes, they arrive at the shrine. "That must be it." Link said as they see a shrine under a large tree. A large amount of Thunderbugs appear and are glowing. "Wow, there's a lot of them." Lyra said. "So pretty." Raylin said. "A large group of Thunderbugs can only mean." Link said. "Jinouga is near." Zedept said. Everyone draws their weapons. Loud footsteps can be heard heading straight for them. They look and see a Jinouga staring at them.

They all take a few steps back. Jinouga stops walking and stares at them. "I don't think we can hunt it." Link said scared. "I have to agree with you there." Raylin said as her bowgun is shaking. "We can't back down." Lyra said. Zedept steps forward and points his Shikaiza at Jinouga and swings it downwards. "Jinouga, we are going to hunt you and get that piece of the map so we can continue our journey." Zedept says to the Jinouga as he gets ready to hunt it.

Everyone else joins him. Jinouga roars and they charge at it. Jinouga slams its claws onto the ground multiple times and the gang dodges them. Zedept and Lyra goes and slashes Jinouga but their weapons bounce off. "That's some tough fur." Lyra said. Link switches his weapon to sword mode and slashes at Jinouga's back legs. Jinouga roars and sends them back. "What power." Zedept said. A sudden explosion happens at Jinouga's face. "Take that." Raylin said.

Thunderbugs start to surround Jinouga. "Now's our chance!" Zedept yelled and everyone attacked Jinouga while he was gathering Thunderbugs. Link went for the back legs, Lyra went for its right front claw as Zedept went for the left claw and Raylin kept firing ice shots at its face. Jinouga falls over and they kept attacking. Jinouga gets up and roars and sends them backwards again. "It wasn't fazed by that attack!" Lyra said shocked.

Jinouga jumps up and is about to land on Lyra before she dodges it and Jinouga slams onto the ground on its back. Jinouga quickly gathers more Thunderbugs and its fur and spikes stand up. Jinouga slams its tail and 3 thunder balls comes right at them. They go to dodge but they curve and head straight for Lyra, Raylin and Link. Lyra dodges it, Raylin's shield blocks it and Zedept blocks the one heading for Link. "Thanks." Link said. "Just be more alert." Zedept tells him. "Ok." Link said. Jinouga slams its claws onto the ground again but this time, electricity comes out. They avoid the slams. "I've got a plan." Zedept tells everyone his plan.

"Good idea." Lyra said. "Will it work?" Link asks. "Of course it will." Raylin said. Jinouga's rage calms down some but it gathers Thunderbugs again. "Now!" Zedept said. Zedept thrusts his greatsword into Jinouga's left claw and it goes through into the ground. Link does the same thing but on its right claw and Lyra does it on its tail, making it unable to move. "Raylin!" Zedept yelled. Raylin fires paralyze shots and paralyzes Jinouga. She change shots and runs up to its face and fires 4 back-to-back wyvern fires and Jinouga falls to the ground as the Thunderbugs disappear. They pull out their weapons.

"Is it dead?" Link asks. Zedept stabs his greatsword through its throat. "Just to be safe." Zedept said. Zedept pulls out his greatsword and they all return their weapons onto their backs. They walk over to the shrine. "Here it is." Lyra said. They go and open the shrine's box and there is the 3rd piece. "Now we have 3 pieces." Zedept said. "1 more to go." Lyra said. They started to walk back when Link fell to his knees. "That hunt wiped me out." Link said panting. "We all are exhausted from the hunt." Zedept said.

"Zedept, you and Lyra stay here with Link while I go and get the transport to take the dead body and everyone else back to Juravante." Raylin said. "Are you sure?" Lyra asks. "Yeah, I'm not really exhausted like you 3 so I'll be fine." Raylin said. "Ok, be careful." Zedept said. "You got it, be back shortly." Raylin said and left. Raylin returned 30 minutes later with a cart for Jinouga and a cart for them. They ride back to Juravante with Jinouga in tow.

Juravante

They arrive back at the guild where the wyverian girl is waiting. "Congratulations on a successful hunt." She said. "Thank you and here is the piece." Zedept said and shows her the piece. "Yeah, that's the piece my ancestors was trusted to protect." The wyverian girl said. "We even brought back the Jinouga as well." Raylin said. "Yes, I see and I can have the blacksmith make new armor for one of you." The wyverian girl said.

"I'm good with my Tigrex armor and Links' Jhen armor is still pretty new so it's one of the girls who will get it." Zedept said. "Raylin, if it's alright with you, may I have the Jinouga armor?" Lyra asks Raylin. "Sure, I'm happy with my Rathian armor for now." Raylin said. "Thank you." Lyra said. "Then I will have it ready for you tomorrow but for tonight, please rest here and enjoy our spa." The wyverian girl said. "Thank you, we will." Link said. They rested up for the rest of the day and enjoyed the night spa.

The Next Day

Zedept, Raylin and Link are waiting in the guild's main hall waiting for Lyra to appear in her new Jinouga armor. Lyra walks out of the changing room. "So, how do I look?" Lyra asks. They look at Lyra. "Nice armor." Raylin said. "It suits you well." Link said. "And what about you Zedept?" Lyra asks since his opinion mattered the most. "You look good in it." Zedept said. "Thank you." Lyra said with a smile.

Raylin poofs up her face like she's pouting. Link is looking at Lyra and Raylin back and forth. "Am I missing something?" Link asks himself in his head. "Members of Xross Blades." The wyverian girl said. "Yes?" Zedept asks. "The 4th and final piece is in Icajuinawe." She said. "Isn't that the Northern Continent's farthest northern city?" Link asks. "Yes and the guardian of that piece is an Elder Dragon." The wyverian girl said. They are surprised by what they just heard. "Wasn't Teostra an Elder Dragon as well?" Raylin asks. "Yes, but since this is a guardian, it's going to be harder to hunt." Zedept said.

"We have to hunt it and get that last piece." Lyra said. "Of course we have to." Raylin said. "Let's hunt down this Elder Dragon." Link said. "Then you would want to head to the port city of Haxuyer, they have boats that will take you as close as possible." The wyverian girl said. "Thank you for the advice." Zedept said and bowed. "I wish you luck on your journey." The wyverian girl said. "Thank you." Lyra said. "Xross Blades, we're heading out." Zedept said. "Yeah." The rest of them said and they leave Juravante and heads towards Haxuyer.