Content warning: reference to monster death and grieving

Chapter 6: Sorrow and Rage

Teresa sighed and stared up at the ceiling of the inn room. It had taken some back-and-forth discussion, but they had finally settled on separate two-room suites. Thanks to all of them splitting the costs, it wasn't that expensive. To keep up appearances, Kurohana and Shirakawa were in one room and Teresa was with Amai in another. This inn had a monster stable attached to it where all of their partners were staying and being fed.

So far things were going well. Locals were curious about them, but were buying the story they had made up. Everyone was talking about that "strange-looking" rathalos some visitors had brought in. Teresa had already heard people talking about "that monster hunter" meaning Amai, and "that stern monster trainer," meaning herself.

Still, they were not professionally trained in undercover work. People may not find out who they really were, but it also wouldn't take much to figure out that they weren't exactly who they seemed to be either. Teresa had little faith that these poachers wouldn't immediately see through their disguise. But what exactly would they find underneath?

They couldn't pop over to their nearest contact and dredge up some information on them. The Guild here had burned all but the most basic correspondence and information they had received on Teresa and the others. They would have the Guild's support if they needed it, but anyone trying to dig into their secrets wouldn't find much.

Pulling this off would also mean working one on one with Akairo. Teresa didn't know if she was emotionally ready for that yet, but she didn't have a choice. Someone's lagiacrus was missing, and she knew how it felt to worry about your monster's safety. There was no way she was going to let her personal issues impede what they had to do.

Groaning, Teresa checked the small mechanical clock ticking away on the nightstand. It was time for her to get up and check on the monsters. They had all agreed to take turns doing so.

Rolling out of bed and she grabbed her normal clothes and went to change out of the rumpled shirt and shorts she was sleeping in.

Once that was done, Teresa quietly checked in on Amai before going to the door. Grabbing her shoes, she put them on and slipped out of the room. She hesitated a moment to make sure the door was locked and that she had the spare key. Satisfied, she headed down to check on the monsters.

Teresa already knew that Kurohana was going to be down here. It only took a moment to spot her sitting a suitable distance away from the aerie, but it was a surprise to see Akairo looming over her shoulder as she polished up the large gold and gem-studded collar that he usually had banded around his neck. It was hanging off her lap and a case full of specialized brushes was sitting on the ground next to Kurohana as she cleaned the collar thoroughly.

"Are all rathalos so nitpicky about their personal treasures?" Kurohana asked, without looking up as Teresa approached.

"Not nit pick. Want clean. Rain got for mmma. Good good gift for her mate. Made mma very happy. One for brother too. Special gift," Akairo objected, sounding offended. Teresa couldn't help the shiver that went up her spine on hearing him talk. Sure she had heard rathian and rathalos imitate human speech before and some even had a handful of phrases they could use as needed. But it never failed to surprise her. Akairo in particular was the most fluent she had ever seen. Even Amai's warning hadn't fully prepared Teresa for hearing him speak so clearly and directly.

Kurohana looked up at Teresa as if to say "you see what I mean?" And Teresa couldn't help but smile at that look. However, it faltered when Akairo turned to look at her as well. She didn't realize she had stopped dead in her tracks until Akairo shifted his wings and took a step back.

"I go. Come back when finished," Akairo said in a voice that was far too gentle for such a powerful creature. Teresa's stomach dropped with guilt. For him to offer to leave behind his neckband like this, he must be very polite or she looked extremely upset right now. And knowing what she did of how possessive the wyverns were about their treasures, Teresa was betting on the latter. Especially with him being a Dreadking and therefore more prone to aggression, not less.

"No! Please don't!" Teresa called out as Akairo began spreading his wings. He stopped and waited, but didn't seem convinced about staying.

It was so desperately, achingly hard to be here. Teresa loved rathian and rathalos more than anything. Huge portions of her life, culture, and history revolved around them. Her family had helped to breed and raise them for generations. Nearly everyone in her extended family was involved with them either as a rider like she was... like she had been, or they cared for them in other ways. Only a marriage or a child produced a stronger bond among her clan than that between a rider and their beast, and sometimes not even then.

Akairo was easily one of the most glorious of his kind that she had ever laid eyes on and it wasn't fair that one of the creatures she loved most in the world should now hurt so much to be near.

"I just..." Teresa swallowed hard as Akairo folded his wings, still looking at her warily. His scales practically glowed in the moonlight. They shimmered with health while his broad wings showed how powerful he was. Part of Teresa wanted to run her hands lovingly over his glorious scales while the other part was on the verge of tears just looking at him and remembering how she had done just that with Jade when she was still alive.

"I just wish that being around you didn't hurt so much," Teresa finally choked out. Akairo lowered his head and shifted his weight from foot to foot.

"Would you like to touch him?" Kurohana asked, her voice breaking the silence. Teresa shuddered at the question and finally nodded, unable to trust her voice. Kurohana stood up, giving the neckband one last appraisal before nodding in satisfaction. She went over to Akairo who obediently stood still as she put it on and made sure the snaps and locks were all fastened. Then Kurohana motioned for Teresa to come over to her side.

Yes, gods yes. Great Toa Tesukatora, loyal Teostra, mighty Lunastra please grant me strength to do this,

Teresa silently prayed. Being around Akairo hurt, but not being around the monsters she loved so much was even worse. She missed waking up to the morning calls of the wyverns as they called greetings and territorial challenges to one another. She missed the smell of simmering fire and the routine of brushing the scales of a wyvern that needed grooming for the day. It was impossible not to remember the way her arms ached after a day of cleaning chewed bones out of the aerie and burning them. Cleansing them with fire to show respect for the lives taken so that others could feed.

Teresa missed the lowing of the popo and aptonoth as she brought in hay for them to eat or picked one out for a wyvern that needed feeding. She missed the feel of leather oil beneath her hands as she worked to make sure her riding harness was well maintained, along with all the extras. She remembered the tension of checking eggs during nesting season to ensure they were healthy and carefully removing damaged or infertile ones before they could rot.

Most of all, she remembered Jade. Remembered how particular she was about being groomed and how she hated the fur on her shoulders being combed for snags instead of brushed out. Teresa thought about how she had slowed down, her joints and wings stiff for a while after she first woke up. Remembered working warming gel into her scales to help when she knew a cold snap was coming.

Teresa had always been hesitant about combat. She was a passable hunter but not a particularly good one. But with Jade she was transformed. The rathian would call out with specific roars and growls to indicate how close or far away something was, or where a beast was hiding, giving Teresa the information she needed to fire her bow. Teresa remembered the first time Jade hesitated uncertainly during Guild School. Slow to direct Teresa with her blunt training arrows. Jade's aging eyes squinting as Baburu slithered through the trees. She remembered knowing at that exact moment that it was time to let Jade retire. They'd go through their final certification testing together and then Teresa would leave her there at home and take a younger mount as her new partner.

But Jade had never gotten that chance. She had stared death in the face and chosen to attack it head-on rather than run. She had saved Teresa's life without hesitation. If she could do that, then Teresa could stare down the challenge in front of her now. She wouldn't run from the job they had to bring Shurika back and she wouldn't dishonor Jade's memory by shying away from Akairo liked a spooked aptonoth every time he so much as twitched her direction.

Would Teresa have gotten another rathian? A young female who wondered at this human who dared to order her around? Or a young male eager to leave behind the other males of the aerie and prove his might and power?

Akairo lowered himself to the ground, resting his head on the grass in a submissive posture as Teresa hesitantly approached. It made her chest ache to realize he was trying to make himself look smaller so he wouldn't scare her off.

"There you go. Nice and easy," Kurohana murmured. She put an arm around Teresa's waist and she wasn't sure if the woman was talking to her or Akairo. What she did know was that her hands were starting to shake from the stress.

Teresa jumped in surprise when a rumble suddenly started coming from Akairo. No, not a rumble. A soft humming, almost a coo. It was a sound she had heard plenty of times before. The sound of two parents welcoming their hatchlings into the world as they fought their way out of the eggs. It was the greeting two mates gave each other, or that a parent gave to their hatchlings when one of them returned to the nest. It was Jade cooing to her when she woke up disoriented from a nightmare and couldn't see in the dark to tell if there was actual danger nearby or not.

It wasn't just a sound; it was a feeling meant to vibrate throughout the body and sink deep into your bones. The sound was one of safety and reassurance. A wyvern's promise that nothing bad was going to happen.

And that's what finally broke her.

That this rathalos, who knew nothing about her and had never seen her before yesterday, was actively trying to reassure her that she was safe with him, was just too much.

Teresa choked out a sob as she touched Akairo's neck for the first time, his body heat intensely warm beneath her hands. Now she could feel his humming all throughout her body. As intended, the vibration loosened her muscles and relieved the tension that had been tightening them for weeks. This was their first time truly interacting with each other, and yet Teresa knew exactly what Akairo was telling her as clearly as if he had stared her in the eyes and spoken the words.

I am safe, and you are safe with me.

This time Teresa couldn't hold back the wail of grief that ripped from her heartbroken chest. She sagged to her knees, held tight in Kurohana's arms as she leaned against Akairo's neck, the warmth of his body heating the tears on her cheeks as she sobbed into his scales.

Amai raised an eyebrow as she walked out to the stable and found Akairo sleeping on the ground outside, with his body curled protectively around Kurohana and Teresa. The latter of which had clearly been crying last night. Although she looked a lot more peaceful now, sleeping in Kurohana's arms.

As much as Amai hated to bother them, they needed to get up. The sun would crest the horizon any moment and while it may be okay to set tongues wagging about the noblewoman and her bonded servant falling asleep in each other's arms, they couldn't afford to be late to the first arena battles of the day.

"Ahem," Amai cleared her throat. The way Akairo's eyes opened lazily clearly said that he already knew she was there and was pointedly ignoring her.

"Sorry to disturb your beauty sleep, big guy, but we've got to make it to the arena today and see if we can find out any more information about Shurika," Amai apologized. Akairo still grumbled his discontent, but yawned and shifted his body anyway. Kurohana was next to wake up, sleepily rubbing her eyes. She gently shook Teresa awake next and the woman blearily opened her good eye and groaned as she got up, stretching limbs that seemed to be stiff from sleeping on the ground.

Amai waited and patiently pretended not to notice as Kurohana murmured to Teresa, brushing her hair back and looking worried. Teresa gave her a soft smile in return and nodded as she replied. Whatever happened was clearly emotional, and she didn't want to intrude. To her surprise Teresa also hesitantly reached out to Akairo, putting a hand on his neck and clearly thanking him for something. Akairo for his part gave a soft hum, almost a cooing sound, as he lowered his head and nudged her shoulder gently. That made Teresa look ready to cry all over again, but she visibly fought to get herself back under control. Kurohana kissed her on the cheek and rubbed Teresa's arm before walking over to Amai.

"Is she ok?" Amai whispered in concern.

"No, but I think she'll be a lot better from now on. Both with herself and around Akairo. Last night was... a lot for her, but it really helped to get out the feelings she's been keeping pent up. We spoke for a long time about what she's been feeling lately and she spoke with Akairo about Jade and what she was like," Kurohana summarized. Amai felt a rush of warmth at the way Akairo had acted with Teresa. He had vowed to help, and it made her proud to see him doing just that.

"I'm glad you're here with her now. I mean, I helped as much as I could, and Teresa is still going to have her bad days but," Amai paused as she remembered how Rain had helped Alistair through her bad days and depressive lows. "But you're the one she loves, and Teresa really needed you here with her. She's missed you a lot," she stated. Kurohana turned bright red, and Amai saw her jaw tighten up the way it did when she started getting too anxious to talk.

"Shoot, I'm sorry," Amai immediately apologized. Kurohana vigorously shook her head and reached out to squeeze her hand tightly instead. She seemed happily embarrassed rather than upset. She bowed gratefully to Amai before returning hurriedly to Teresa's side, hooking an arm around hers as Akairo flew off to get his meal. Amai had already arranged it and an aptonoth was being towed out to a clear feeding area around back where the sight wouldn't disturb any tourists walking by.

Amai gave them a few more moments before Kurohana gently tugged on Teresa's arm. Teresa nodded and walked back to where Amai was standing.

"Sorry. Last night was... a lot," Teresa said awkwardly.

"Don't apologize. You look better though," Amai said it more as a question than a statement. Teresa smiled, genuinely smiled in return.

"I feel a lot better. Emotionally anyway," Teresa corrected as she arched her back to a chorus of pops and cracks. "I certainly feel a lot more prepared for today. I'll go take a shower and get cleaned up. Are we meeting for breakfast before we head out? Or are we short on time?" she asked, glancing over at the rising sun.

"We've got plenty of time, but I'd like to scope out the town a bit on the way to the arena. Plus, we don't know what arrangements there are for bringing monsters along. So I don't want to be surprised if we can't bring them in with us," Amai explained.

"I'd feel a lot more conspicuous having a weapon without a monster alongside us. I asked around the inn about local laws last night. It seems they allow for civilians to have hunter grade weapons. City guards have their own blacksmiths and private security may have them only on property they are currently guarding. Civilians having hunter grade weapons seems to be pretty uncommon. Not rare, but enough to make people notice. They aren't easy to carry around which makes people avoid them if they just want to show off. And just decorative or civilian class weapons aren't allowed," Teresa explained.

"So people will take us more seriously if they see us carrying our weapons, but it will also be a clear sign we aren't just ordinary tourists." Amai chewed her bottom lip as she considered the problem.

"I'm not sure how comfortable I feel using my bow alone, either. I depended a lot on Jade to help me with my aim," Teresa confessed. She said Jade's name a lot more easily than before. Hopefully that was a good sign.

"How about we keep the weapons attached to the monsters? No one with any sense will bother them and they won't let anyone else touch our gear without permission. If we have to stable them in order to enter the arena we won't put up a fight, but we will take our gear with us. Does that sound good?" Amai asked them. Both nodded, and Kurohana made a few hand gestures.

"I'll leave telling Shiro to you then. Let's meet up at the inn's restaurant in half an hour and have breakfast before we go," Amai informed them. Teresa and Kurohana nodded in agreement before they split up.

Lady Sanatsu sat at her mirror, carefully applying her makeup for today's events. She had on one of her colorful flowing kimonos, this one the color of the sky with aknosom dancing along the bottom. A touch of gold around the eyes complimented a new golden hair clip that kept her shimmering brown hair up in a bun. River was standing just behind her, reading off the report a courier had just brought back.

"Four individuals. Three women, one man. A brother and sister pair who could be from the larger area or from Fonlon. The agent couldn't tell. All human, although the brother and sister might have some old wyverian blood in their ancestry judging from the slight points of their ears. Look to be in their late 20's by human standards. The brother is engaged to one of the women. A young white-haired hunter about the same age or a bit younger. Her accent is like theirs. The brother and sister seem to be clear benefactors and well versed in sewing and custom clothing. A conversation overheard just this morning seems to confirm that they have complimentary businesses. The woman hunts monsters, the brother and sister turn the materials into sellable clothing and fashion accessories," River read off. Lady Sana hummed with interest as she applied her lipstick.

"The third woman is older. Mid 30's, blonde-brown, hair missing an eye due to a monster attack. Definitely foreign judging from the accent. Seems very close to the sister. Bonded servant with romantic ties to her seems to be the case. All of them have monsters of their own," River noted as he continued reading.

"Indeed? How curious," Lady Sana murmured. She sat back and waited for him to finish.

"The brother has a mizutsune, the sister a malfestio, the hunter a zinogre, and there's a..." River stopped and furrowed his brow. He read the sentence again, then again, then he read a few more lines silently. But there was no mistaking what the report said. "It... it says they have a Dreadking Rathalos with them, but they can't tell if he belongs directly to a member of the group. The servant was seen sleeping next to it last night, along with the sister. Breakfast conversation confirms the foreigner is a monster trainer and they will all be visiting the arena this morning. That's where it ends," he stated.

Lady Sana swiveled around and tapped her lips thoughtfully.

"Curious, very curious. The hunter likely raised the zinogre herself as they rarely respond well to being handed over to another person. I'd bet the foreigner is possibly a former hunter herself, now a trainer after losing her eye. She could be in the process of training the Dreadking to help curb its most violent impulses before they fully give him over to someone else. That would explain why it doesn't seem bonded to anyone yet," she mused aloud.

"Mizutsune, however, mmm. Those are uncommon in these parts. They like their solitude and are amazing escape artists. Excellent as show pieces in an enclosure, but for one to willingly follow a master around town it would have to be a domesticated breed. Either it was raised by the family as a pet or it came from a breeder. Likely has certified papers a mile long on its heritage somewhere," Lady Sana snorted and grabbed her purse. Supposedly it was covered in feathers from a rare overseas monster known as forokururu. It was certainly vibrant.

Lady Sana stood up and checked herself over in a full-length mirror. Satisfied, she turned back to River and continued her line of thought.

"The malfestio though... those are very rare nocturnal birds. There are local legends that say you can find some deeper in the most primal forests. Most of what I hear blends truth with superstition. That it can not only put its foes to sleep and confuse them but also hypnotize and control their actions as well. You'd be surprised at just how superstitions some of the rich can be. Which makes me even more curious as to how this sister got and kept one," Lady San straightened up, the picture of beauty and poise. She tilted her head and adjusted the collar of his dress shirt slightly. It was a black and gold to compliment his reddish fur.

"Come my child. Let us go find our seats and ensure that when our guests arrive they are properly welcomed," Lady Sana told him with a wicked smile.

"Yes, mother," River said he followed her out towards the arena.

Something was going to happen today. Shurika could feel it in the air. All the two legs were running around with purpose, taking care of different jobs and repeatedly checking on her. Another monster had been placed nearby as well. She could sense it, feel its life pulse along her electric organs.

There was also the sound of crowds drifting in over the water, and tiny vibrations from hundreds of feet that tickled her senses through the pool.

Something important was happening, and the thieves wanted her to be ready. Ready for what? They hadn't starved her, but the food they had given her hadn't filled her belly either. Shurika rose until just the top of her head was above water. She could hear them running above her. Humans, felyne's, and the claw footed ones. Their energy tingling with anticipation, their smell spiking with fear whenever they looked down at her.

As they should.

"All right! Let her out!"

Shurika perked up at that and turned to see the great doors that kept her penned in here were opening. There was a large grate at the bottom of her pool as well where water flowed up, but it was embedded into the rock. She had poked at it a few times before ignoring it. But this? It couldn't be an escape. So where did it lead to?

The sound of the crowds intensified, and a large splash caught her attention. Just as a smell started to drift through the mixing water towards her.

Blood. Epioth blood.

If Shurika could drool she would have. How long had it been since she had tasted one? Too long. Far too long. Still, her hunger was not enough to overcome her caution. Slowly she inched forward, peering out from her pool. The epioth had a slight cut on its tail and was searching desperately for an exit. It spotted her and started bleating even more desperately.

Still she hesitated, breaking the water to see high walls of the pool were surrounded by people all cheering as they saw her emerge. A healthy, but bleeding epioth, an area ringed by people, Shurika was starting to suspect what was happening and a buzz of energy confirmed it.

Sinking back below the water, she spotted a strange light winking at the bottom of the pool. Its light waving slowly and beckoning the epioth closer, and closer it swam bit by bit as it searched for an exit.

A gobul.

Shurika well remembered her first encounter with one as well as how it felt to have Rain pick its spikes out of her tender mouth after she mistakenly tried to eat one. She had gotten a mouthful of pain and eyes blinded by its flashing lure for her trouble. It reminded her of a fisher's lure. Glinting and wiggling to attract fish only to hook them with sharp metal when they fell for it. It was also more than capable of eating that epioth whole.

Now Shurika fully understood her purpose here. Entertainment. A show for the two legged's. She would fight the gobul or she wouldn't eat. Or they'd feed her just enough to keep her going, but not enough to stop the pinch of hunger in her belly.

Well, if they wanted a fight, then a fight they would get. Shurika was more than willing to show them just how dangerous an angry lagiacrus could be.