AN: Just a heads up. I re-wrote last chapter. One of the biggest changes was removing the 'Ares' sword curse' thing so Percy uses a Greatsword and a Gunlance. There are some other changes but that's the biggest one.

AN2: From now on, when I have Percy's POV and one of the natives talk, the words Percy doesn't understand will be done in bold and italics while underlined. Reverse will also be true, that way at least those reading will understand what's going on and writing will go smoother.

AN3: Started playing Rise (not beaten it yet but really loving the game. Considered rewriting this as a Rise story (I like Kamura more than Astera and the people there ACTUALLY HAVE NAMES!) But I think I'll just make a different Kamura centric story.

AN4: Future hunt chapters will be better than this one, but I had to start somewhere. I'll also be doing some time helping Percy get settled in to Astera and improving his grasp on the languages there.

The Persied: A Love Betwixt Morons

Chapter 5

-Percy-

New giant ass fuck-off sword in place on his back, Percy followed after Lilia, Gentor, and Mel as they left the small campsite in the big forest, the salty smell of the nearby sea soothing for him. He'd left his new lance gun thingy back at camp, not wanting to use that one for actual combat until he was a bit more familiar with it…at least he was pretty sure he was going into combat today. Everyone in this place seemed to hunt those big ass monsters and here they apparently don't turn into dust.

"What are we doing out here?" Percy asked, hoping they'd pick up on the confused tone in his voice even if they didn't know what the words meant. He had no idea where he was, didn't fully understand who these people were, but he got the feeling if he didn't work, he wouldn't eat, and he'd need some way to get by until he could find a way home.

Lilia thankfully seemed to get is as she approached him, tugging at the armor they'd made from the big yellow lizard he'd killed, speaking as she did so "Great Jagras." He caught the second word, the name of the big lizard who's neck he'd snapped. Lilia then brought her hands together, indicating smaller or younger "Jagras."

"Heh?" Percy blinked confused, were the big ones a different type of the same creature? Maybe the first word he didn't understand was a descriptor.

Lilia then held up seven fingers "We have to kill seven Jagras." He could figure out what the finger across the throat stood for, and if they were fighting seven of the things, they were likely smaller than the big one. Or his new friends were a lot more skilled once they had weapons and armor and weren't in…very small clothing. He flushed slightly as he remembered seeing her in that revealing set of 'casual' clothes which apparently a lot of the people who fought here wore when they weren't in armor. The room with four other people and four cats were cramped but nowhere near as bad as the Hermes Cabin thankfully.

"We're checking to see if there are any more aggressive Great Jagras in the area." Gentor spoke as Percy gave flat look, Mel and Lilia at least nodding. With that declaration of whatever the other sword user said, Mel waved goodbye to them while Lilia linked her arm with Percy, Gentor leading them off while the book carrying Brunette stayed in the hidden camp.

As they entered an open stretch by the beach, Percy saw a bunch of flies leave the lanterns on their hips, the bugs glowing bright green as they flew over to some footprints "These are scoutflies." Lilia spoke clearly, gesturing to the bugs "Scoutflies."

"Scoutflies." Percy nodded, noting that they stayed by the tracks until he came over to inspect. He could figure out what the name meant well enough.

Giving an eager jump, Lilia took his hand, and brought him over to some dinosaur looking creatures chewing on the grass "These are Kestodon." She didn't get too close, so he guessed they were still mean even if they were herbivores "Kestodon."

"Those are Kestodon." Percy nodded; pretty sure he understood the first couple words in her sentence now that she'd used them a few times. He'd heard immersion was the best way to learn a language, so hopefully that proved true.

"You two can flirt later, we've got work to do!" Gentor shouted at them, Lilia blushing slightly even as she glared at their apparent leader, her expression screaming she'd be getting the man back for something. Given the big talking cats snickering it was likely something embarrassing.

Ignoring the cute albino girl grumbling beside him, Percy readied his sword, resting it on his shoulder as they walked. Sure, it was big, but he'd held up the friggin sky and punched out polyphemus which weighed a lot more. Something like this wasn't going to be much of an issue to carry, it might even help him not break whatever he used to fight. Gentor had a weird expression as Percy did so, Lilia snickering at him now as the other man did so. Was what he was doing so odd? If these people made weapons this big then surely they could use them, right?

"That way." Gentor grumbled, pointing to a path in the trees, leading deeper into the forest and away from the beach. Following them into the forest, noting Lilia happily ripping off most of a beehive for some reason, while he distinctly moved away from any potential angry stinging insects that for some reason didn't seem to care that their home had just been stolen by a giggling girl with a big stick and a bug on her arm. Walking through a tunnel, he saw a bunch of yellow lizards, Jagras, in a clearing. These were about the size of a decent dog rather than the massive thing he'd killed earlier.

Giving a whoop, Lilia leapt forward, bouncing through the air with her spear, Gentor drawing his own weapon and swinging it much slower than Percy. Shrugging, and figured he should do something, Percy let out a grunt as he gave a big slash with his buster sword wannabe, sending a couple of the Jagras flying up into the air. Gentor was mainly keeping them from escaping it seemed while Lilia was bouncing around like a squirrel on caffeine, giggling and letting out whoops as she moved through the air easily. Feeling the rush of combat, now that he didn't have the end of the world on the line like he usually did back home, Percy found himself letting out an eager laugh of his own as he struck down the hissing lizards.

"And that's seven." Gentor grunted, approaching them as Lilia started carving them up, showing Percy how to do so "Good work you two. Now we just have to check the nest for signs of-" Whatever else Gentor had been about to say was cut off as an angry and much larger lizard started forcing its way into the clearing, noting the dead bodies of all the tiny Jagras that they were carving up.

Lilia didn't even wait for Gentor to give an order, swinging her lance as a pellet shot out to hit the angry bigger Jagras, her bug zooming over to start harassing the lizard. Lilia herself shot skyward striking at the beast from above while it hissed, trying to look up and see her. What Percy didn't expect was for Lilia to use one of her hits from above to make an opening to mount the monster, stabbing it with a small knife as she seemed to be trying to whittle it down for something.

Seeing it thrashing and trying to hit his new friend, Percy charged, swinging his sword up, severing several of the tentacle like dreadlocks on the Monster's head as it flinched back, hissing out an enraged roar before crashing down, Lilia's spear coming out to strike its head hard. The sudden drop threw the albino girl off as she fell from above. Moving quickly, Percy put his sword flat out, catching her feet before pushing her hard, sending her flying back at the monster, her spear extended and meeting the monster in the throat. The big Lizard let out a gurgle, its throat punctured by the weapon that Percy had helped boost with the push, a swing of the sword helping put the monster out of its misery.

"The fuck kind of move was that?!" Gentor gaped, approaching them even as Lilia bounced over.

"That was awesome Perseus!" Lilia gave him a sudden hug before bouncing back over to the big lizard to carve off parts that would apparently be used to make weapons and armor. Just before she started, he saw her look over her shoulder, winking at him and blowing a kiss. It was really cute and…oh…oh dear…he was crushing, wasn't he?

AN: The following Omake is a snarky thought that I had while talking with my wife. It's set during the time period in the Iceborne DLC where we don't have our usual Handler but have the 'Serious Handler' instead. We both can't stand regular Handler, which is why I'll be working to greatly improve upon her character to make her enjoyable for this story. In this Omake though she's how she was in canon, enjoy!

-Omake-

-Lilia-

"Alright, good work you two." Simone smiled at them as they finished another quest in the newly discovered 'Hoarfrost Reach' "I can see why the Commander relies on you both."

"Thanks Simone." Percy gave their new Handler a new grin, the both of them having felt this destressed since they started going on hunts given how often they had to keep their 'official' Handler from getting her ass eaten by every Monster in the area since the braindead girl refused to stay in camp where it was safe, or get actual combat training to make going out like she did safer.

"I got a report from the higher ups while you were gone." Simone smiled as they all sat by the campsite's fire, eating a bit of food to unwind after their last job, "Mel should be back and ready to return to your group in the next couple days."

"NO!" she and Percy cried out together, neither wanting to return to the stressful days of having to babysit her so she didn't run out into another Odogeron or Deviljho nest.

"We want to keep you, please!" Percy got on his knees to beg, Lilia not blaming him in the slightest.

"You guys knew this was only temporary." Simone shook her head at them as Lilia shared a look with Percy, the two having mastered silent communication with each other over countless hunts.

"Time to convince you." Lilia grabbed one arm while Percy took the other, leading the confused handler into their tent.

"What are you- eep!" Simone began before letting out a startled squeak as the sound of ripped clothing was heard from outside the tent. Moaning wasn't short to follow.

-Astera-

"…You're applying to have Simone here permanently be the handler for you both as well as Cheval?" the Commander gave them a flat stare as Percy and Lilia nodded, wide shit eating grins in place while Cheval just went along with it confused. Simone was still a little bow legged, but her dazed smile showed she was very much on board with this idea.

"Yes sir." Percy nodded with a grin.

"And your Handler?" the older man pressed.

"She can still go exploring with her new mentor." Lilia assured before snorting, "Maybe she can teach her not to try charging monsters without armor, weapons or trying."

"I don't get paid enough for this shit." The Commander sighed, stamping the approval form while Percy and Lilia drug off their new friend to their quarters at the top of Astera. Had to keep their handler happy after all.