How's it going Hunter? An welcome back to Monster (Girl?) Hunter World!

And as you can guess by the tittle, the first monster from the Wildspire will get the transformation treatment, it's one or the other but I'll let you find out which one it is. We're getting close to the first Zorah Magdaros encounter and when that happens things will be different from the game, other than that I hope you guys enjoy the chapter!

Muddy Mayhem

We had mad our way back to camp with our new guest who called himself the Speaker, that's something that has both me and AJ scratching our heads at that choice of name but we aren't going to judge. We all sat round the campfire and told him of the events that had transpired up until this point in time. He was also quite interested in my tale in particular due to me telling him that AJ wasn't the only one of her kind as I mentioned Janet and the Pukei-Pukei girl back at Astera.

"So…my old friends are well. Praise be". He said with relief in his voice as he passed a mug to Nathan as he was boiling some tea over the fire as I took a swig of my canteen. "It sounds like the scholars are incorrigible as ever".

"You can say that again. The eccentric trio are no exception". I added which made the Speaker chuckle with a small smile on his face.

"Might I ask, are you tracking the monster that dropped the slag?" He asked all of us.

"We found a similar one in the ancient forest and it had lead us here. So you can definatly say that we are". I answered and the Speaker nodded before responding.

"I as well. It seems so easy…follow the trail, find the truth…" He trailed off before taking a swig of the mug he was holding before standing up. "Well, it has been a pleasure. Nearby you will find my camp. I trust you it will be of some avail to you and the others". He said as he began gathering his things, we all stood up to see him off. "Please pass a message on to the Commander: that I am safe. But a force compels me on, and I intend to see where it takes me". He then pulled his hood up and was about to walk off. "If you both feel compelled as I have, then our paths will cross again…at the end of all this". He took a few steps before looking at me and AJ. "Know that you have a gift Eric. The ones you have encountered on your journey thus far, have more potential than you think". After that he began to walk by Sarah and the Scholars as they were hauling the large slab to the camp and they looked exhausted just pulling/pushing the cart.

"Was that who I think it was?" Sarah asked us and Nathan just nodded in response to answer her question. Though I just looked at where the Speaker was but he was long gone, it made me wonder what he meant by AJ, Janet and the Pukei-Pukei girl had more potential than we think. I then noticed AJ was lost in her thoughts as well until I brought her back by taping her shoulder and she looked at me.

"You alright?" I asked her and she simply nodded. "The scholars are going to take a break, we should be ready to head back home. C'mon". I said and gestured her to follow and we started to get our gear ready.

We had made it back to Astera and we were ready to be briefed by the Commander.

"Fine work out there. Thanks to the four of you our people are safe and we know more about our target than ever". He congratulated us before continuing. "Since you left we've been charting all the evidence we've collected across the continent. The scholars think they'll be able to pinpoint Zorah Magdaros's location soon. Until then…seems like a scholar has gotten separated from his escort. I need the fifth fleet to guarantee his safety. The scholar was separated while collecting evidence in the Wildspire Waste Head there immediately". We then nodded in response and left the table but…

"Also Eric". The commander called to me. "Your Jagras friend, Janet said that your guest has woken up. It'd be best you head up to the Gathering Hub". He said to me.

"Ok then, thanks for the message Commander". I said as AJ and I made our way towards the Chain lifts to take us to the Gathering hub. When we did reach the top we walked inside and down the stairs to see both Janet and the Pukei-Pukei sitting on opposite beds from each other talking. When Janet saw us the other girl looked at us but more specifically AJ and hid behind Janet.

"Easy, easy. We're not gonna hurt you". I stated as I put my sword on the side of the stairs.

"It's not you I'm scared of". The Girl said in which AJ just sighed, she must've figured this could happen when she woke up.

"Ok, I understand why you're scared of AJ here, but she's not that bad. Granted she's as hard headed as a Diablos but she hasn't tried to kill me or Janet". I stated which made the Anjanath glare at me of my choice of words but didn't try to do anything about it. "Besides you seemed alright to fight her when we fought you".

"Yea but I was bigger than you three before this happened". She retorted.

"Yea fair point". I muttered. "Look, I understand why you are scared of AJ. But if this had happed to her and Janet, including you. You three aren't going to be the last ones this happens to, no one here will harm you. But we'd be happy for you to join us in our pack". I said to her which made her come out from hiding behind the Jagras.

"Y-You'd have me in your pack?" She asked with a raised brow.

"Yep. Doesn't matter who you are, or what monster you are. We all work together to survive out in the world. The other Hunters might give you the glance since you're part monster, but pay them no mind. Janet and AJ don't". I answered but she seemed adamant.

"It's ok, I was scared at first like you". Janet said getting her attention. "When AJ was in the same situation I was in we fought almost immediately. But Eric shows he's a true Alpha and he stopped the two of us from fighting each other".

"It wouldn't benefit anyone if it continued. They both knew that they wouldn't make it out there on their own. When we find more, and there is a very high probability that it will happen. We need everyone to work together for when there are more coming in". I stated. "I can help you. We, can help you…" I gestured to AJ and Janet. "But only if you let us". I offered my hand to her but, she was hesitant. Though she took a step forward and took it showing that she's willing to trust me. "Glad to see it. C'mon, let's get you all sorted out shall we?" I asked and she nodded in response still weary of what's happening but willing to give it a shot.

"We also need a name for you, it's kinda getting boring calling you just by your species". Janet added.

"What did you have in mind?" The Pukei-Pukei asked. I thought for a moment before speaking up.

"Would Penny perhaps be to your liking?" I asked her and she seemed to think about it.

"Yea, Yea I like it. It's got a ring to it". She smiled genuinely which made me smile in return.

"Glad you like it. Let's get you some proper equipment for you". I said, as we lead her out of the room and we all guided her out of the Gathering hub and lead her down the stairs. We could take the chain lifts but it was best to ease her into the new lifestyle slowly until she's comfortable. As we made it to the second level of Astera the four of us walked into the workshop and both the new girl and Janet felt the heat but AJ was unaffected due to her being already a monster who uses fire.

"Ah, Eric how's yer gear holdin' up?" The Second Fleet master asked me.

"Holding up good, however I'm sure you've already guessed I have another friend who needs some proper protection". I replied as the new addition. "Penny here needs some armour to keep her protected". I said introducing her while taking out my bag. "I got the materials ready to go for you".

"Heh, that you do lad. Tell me, think there are more of them out there?" He asked me gesturing to the girls.

"Well, let's be honest if these three are any indication of anything. I wouldn't put it past me". I answered, I then remembered something. "Also do still have the materials from both AJ's and Janet's old bodies by any chance?"

"Aye, I kept them to the side wondering what you wanted me to do with them. You had something in mind?" He asked me and I nodded before responding.

"AJ and Janet have their weapons of choice, now they just need an upgrade and what better way to upgrade them with parts from their old bodies. That way their weapons are a part of them".

"I actually like that idea". Janet said with a bright smile.

"I agree". AJ added.

"I would too if it isn't too much trouble". Penny said as well.

"What do ya say? Think you can do it?" I asked with a confident smirk which made the Second Fleet master laugh with pride.

"Son. I've been itching to put use those materials to use, you bet I can do it!" He said with a smirk to match before looking at the other blacksmiths. "Lads! We got a big order! Use the materials Eric brought in and we'll get started!" he called to them as the other blacksmiths were always eager to get to work. The fleet master then looked back to us. "It'll be a bit to get everything together help Penny choose weapon that'll suit her and we'll add the materials to it as well. I'll let ya know when we're finished". He explained and I nodded in response as AJ and Janet handed their weapons over to get their upgrades.

With our gear upgraded and our equipment restocked we had arrived back in the Wildspire Waste to catch up to Nathan, Sarah and Morgan. Penny had gotten her armour outfitted much like her fellow Demi-humans, and her weapon of choice was a Heavy Bowgun due to her being able to attack from a range with both her poisonous saliva she can spit, but she basically has an unlimited supply of poison ammo for her weapon. I gave her this little bit of advice and she seemed to like the idea very much, since when we fought her a while ago she used poisonous scatter nuts against us before. I wouldn't be surprised if she added this little idea as well.

We kept on walking and we eventually reached the river, the Scoutflies from my little cage had flown out and lit up the ground below us, revealing tracks that probably belonged to either Nathan's group or the scholar we're looking for. Either way it's the right track regardless.

"Whose tracks do they belong to?" Janet asked me.

"Doesn't really matter, it'll lead us to where we need to go anyway". I answered. I then noticed AJ at a nearby try near the river. The three of us walked over to her and what she was looking at was several thrones embedded into the tree and it made the Scoutflies glow blue instead of green. "Well this is bad news". I muttered, I then took out a small container and pulled a small throne that wasn't too big and put it in before sealing it up. "C'mon, we'll worry about this later we got a quest to finish". I gestured to the girls as we followed the green Scoutflies to where we need to go.

We followed them down the river and as we kept following them we saw more of those splintered thorns the closer we got. It's not from any monster I recognise in my career. We then arrived in the Wildspire swamp and we saw the Scholar, Nathan and Morgan on a small island in the middle of a lake. Along with a dead Barroth.

Impaled with more of those thorns we've been seeing.

"Nathan!" I called to him and he looked in my direction. "Get over here we'll cover you!" He nodded and helped the scholar up. A second later a Piscine Wyvern burst out of the water and clamped its jaws onto the dead Barroth's tail and began dragging the carcass into the water. While it was doing this Nathan, Morgan and the scholar had made it to shore. "Get him out of here, we'll handle this run back when you can ok?" I said to my friend and he merely nodded in response as he began to get our scholar to safety.

We looked around to see where the Wyvern had swam off to, our eyes looking around the surface of the water.

"There it is!" Penny called pointing in the direction as it came our way. When it was close it had leaped into the air, causing all but me to begin to scatter but I saw a latch bug and fired my slinger at it to pull myself to safety before swinging around and landing back on the shore. The Wyvern had then swam back to where I was as my party regrouped with me. I then poked its head out of the water and made several growls at us. Getting a good look at it, I remember seeing this Piscine Wyvern in my guidebook.

-Jyuratodus-

Adding to the situation is that my Necklace began glowing again.

"Girls! We got another one!" I called to them as they understood what that meant. Another Demi-Human. "Penny hit it from a range on the shore. Janet and AJ get ready I'll lure it in". I ordered.

"Right!" They responded as the Jyuratodus charged at me but blocked it with my Greatsword. While it was focused on me, Penny began firing her Bowgun at the monster with poison rounds causing its health to degrade. AJ and Janet took the opportunity to attack it from both sides and began hacking away at it all the while getting rid of the mud it had on it that was protecting its body.

However the Jyuratodus smacked both girls away and spat some mud burying me before charging again but this time I wasn't able to stop this one so I was knocked into a wall. The Wyvern stayed on the offensive but when it charged a third time I moved out of the way for it to knock itself over onto its side, exposed.

"Penny! Wyvernsnipe!" I called to the Pukei-Pukei who didn't waste time loading her Bowgun before taking a knee and pulling the trigger, the shot connected the Jyuratodus's underbelly before exploding doing a good amount of damage. Penny kept firing as I managed to get back up and get a few swings from my Great sword before it got back up. It roared at the two of us before fleeing up the river. I looked over to see Janet and AJ had recovered but were drenched in water. "Have a nice swim?" I asked them but they weren't amused, Penny however was as she giggled a little. "Sorry, but I couldn't resist. Anyway, the Jyuratodus would stay near water and the only water source nearby is the one upstream, patch yourselves up and check your gear". I ordered as the girls did so, they either drank a potion to heal themselves up, sharpened their blades or in Penny's case doing a shell count of her ammunition.

"Hey Eric I gotta say, you stink". Janet said with a cheeky smirk on her face and the other girls had a similar expression on their faces.

"Yea I got muddied laugh it up". I responded and laughed they did. But I'm not hurt about it, really.

Once we were ready to go again we raced up stream to catch the Jyuratodus, it didn't take long to do so. However we ran into another problem as it was currently in a Turf War with a Barroth. These two species of monsters usually butted heads with each other quite a bit when it came to territory, you could say they are sworn enemies when it came to who wanted who's turf. What was more interesting was that my necklace glowed twice for the day showing that it was a female Barroth fighting our target. The girls noticed it too.

"Okay now what do we do?" Penny asked aloud as the Turf war was taking place.

"We wait until they've finished their little fight, then we go after the Jyuratodus. We can worry about the Barroth later". I stated. The Jyuratodus dived down into the water making the Brute Wyvern look around, but the Jyuratodus burst from below the Barroth and coiled itself around the Brute wyvern to try and constrict it while chomping down on it. However the Brute wyvern showed why it was a Brute and tossed the giant fish off of it and into a rock wounding it. Though instead of finishing it off the Barroth left without giving us a glance, the Jyuratodus struggled to get itself onto its feet as it looked our way.

I guess it knew we weren't going to leave it be. It then roared at us as it leapt onto the ground and slid across the muddy surface with tremendous speed, giving all of us barely enough time to get out of the way. Penny began firing at the giant fish as AJ swung her weapon in Axe mode and slammed it across the Piscine wyvern's head making it stumble, though Janet begun swinging her bone Kukri at its side and I swung my Sword around and the blade collided with its head. It flopped around once or twice before its body fell limp. We remained on guard for a solid few seconds before we relaxed knowing that we won the fight.

"I prefer it when fish are in water, not walking around and trying to maw us to death y'know?" Janet said aloud as she and the other girls were panting to catch their breath.

"No argument here Janet, but this fish will be walking around with us regardless". I replied as I sheathed my Greatsword and took out my knife and began cutting away the empty stomach of the Jyuratodus. Inside laid the expect Jyuratodus in Demi-human form, her traits had fins on her arms and her the sides of her head which acted like ears and the back of her head. She also had the large fish-like tail on her human-like body. I did the procedure which pretty much became standard at this point by getting what I can to make some temporary clothing and take all the parts I could back to Astera.

Though one problem remained.

"How do we get her back in once piece?" I asked which caught the other girl's attention. "She needs water and right now I doubt the salt water at Astera would work well with a Fresh water creature like her". I pointed out. We heard the sound of footsteps and saw Nathan and his Palico had returned, and by the look on his face he was relieved to see us all ok. "Hey Nathan. I don't think this one will be easy to bring back". I said to him as he walked up to me and saw the Jyuratodus girl in my arms. "She need water to survive, and mud. Is there any place that could at least settle the water problem and out of the way of monsters?" I asked, and he nodded before standing up and we followed suit.

There we have it, Jyuratodus has been added to the list. But don't worry, Barroth will be added sooner than you may think, and it will be before the battle with Zorah. Also I'd like to pint out that not all Monster Girls will be able to go to every environment. So don't expect our newly found Jyuratodus to be in the Elder's Recess or the Hoarfrost Reach. While I still have your attention, not every Monster girl will be in a combat roll like the Hunters so bear that in mind.

I apologise if this hasn't popped up for you this was supposed to be uploaded last cycle but I got no idea why it's done this but hopefully it's fixed now.

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and be sure to leave me your thoughts on the story as a whole. A bit of feedback can go a long way so until then, I'll see ya next time!

Cronus Prime Out!