Hello and welcome to chapter 2. Now we are going to meet the hunter who saved Cass from the Velociprey.
Before we start, I should tell you about what you'll see a lot. There will be two oc hunters that will be constantly mentioned throughout the story. I based them off the penguins Manfredi and Johnson from Penguins of Madagascar. If you know who the two penguins are, good. If you don't, then let me explain it simply what the two ocs purpose will be: Don't do anything a hunter wouldn't do, or anything dumb in general. Now then lets continue.
Cass and the duo who saved her were at a campsite where they would be safe. She had lots of questions about where she was and who saved her.
"So, who are you? I've never seen you in Wonderworld before."
"I am Zeric, and to answer your question about where you are, you are not in Wonderworld, but in my home world of Wyvernia." Cass was absolutely shocked to hear that. Not in Wonderworld, but a whole new world.
"Now I have a question for you: What are you doing in my world? Balan had the doorway to here a complete secret." Zeric asked in a calm tone.
"Well, I was waiting to get into Wonderworld when I noticed the room with the door to here." Cass answered.
"I see, do you have any more questions for me, uhh what is your name?"
"Cass, and I do. How do you know about Balan?"
"Well, here's how it all started. I had a dream to be a hunter." Zeric answered.
"A hunter? Do you hunt the things like what tried to eat me?"
"Yes I do. You see I always wanted to be one. Seeing those who came before me with all that fearlessness and awesomeness was something I thought would be cool. But I got looked down by all the other kids telling me that I didn't have what it took. I wanted to prove them wrong, but then…. THAT day happened."
"What day?" Cass was feeling a bit of fear just by the tone of his voice.
"A Rathalos, a very nasty wyvern, attacked our village. I saw it look at me dead in the eyes. I never felt so terrified just by looking at it. Everything those kids told me were true. I couldn't be a hunter if I couldn't face what I was against with bravery. After that I got called "The Hunter who couldn't be brave." Zeric was starting to tear up remembering that day.
"That's awful. I know what it's like to be bullied." Cass said with sympathy.
"I chose to take a walk through the forest one day. It was then I saw a Tim. I was curious as to where it was going, so I followed it. Then it led me to Balan, who did what he could to help me."
"That sounds like him." Cass confirmed, knowing all that he has done.
"He showed me some things I never thought any hunter would go through. I saw that many, if not all hunters are scared. Some are scared of heights. Some are scared of the giant bugs we face. Why, there are some who are just plain scared altogether. I saw that it was okay to be afraid, for that is one of the things that drive us to do what we do."
"Which is what Zeric?"
"To protect our home and everyone who lives in it." Zeric said with pride.
"Ameown to that Meowster." The cat companion said aloud.
"Umm. Who and what is he supposed to be?" Cass asked.
"That would be Fluffy, my Palico partner." Zeric answered.
"A what?"
"A Palico. Basically, they are felyne, who are a race of cat people, who help hunters like me."
"And I am purrfect companion for anyone." Cass couldn't help but laugh at the pun.
"Do all of them talk like that?" Cass said not containing the laughter.
"Yes they do." Zeric answered.
"Did you name him that?"
"It was given to me by my meowther."
"Is it okay that I pet you?"
"I wouldn't be so sure about that. Felynes tend to get feisty when their belli-" Zeric cut himself off as he saw Cass rubbing Fluffy's belly without any hassle.
"What? My cat doesn't attack me when I do it."
"Well, I'm just surprised. Most Felynes would just go crazy as the belly is something they find funny to touch. I mean look at what happened to hunters Mark and Phil."
"What happened to them?"
"They tried to rub their Palico's bellies, and it didn't end well. We ended up having to write off their deaths as Felyne scratch fever." Cass was just dumbstruck by the answer.
" Well then I say we better get you back to the Theatre. I'm sure Balan may be worried sick if he can't find you." Cass nearly jumped at Zeric's response. She completely forgot about Balan.
"Oh my stars! You're right! I should hurry back!" Zeric reached out and grabbed her before she could run off.
"Now hold on. You don't know where the doorway is, and those Velociprey are still out there, so it's best you stay with me."
"Okay. But do you know where to go?"
"I have my ways." Zeric said as the trio left.
"You're telling me that the very door, the one you said was well hidden, was FOUND and OPENED?!"
Lance did not take the news well. Sure he was the embodiment of negative emotions, but he's still a good guy with a good heart as well. But when he gets angry, he gets ANGRY.
"I understand you're angry, but now is not the time to freak out. Cass is out there and now is not the time to shout." Balan said trying not to break under the pressure.
"But if anyone is going after her it's me. I don't need you to leave me so you can go fight Larry again. If that's what you still call him." Balan said trying to regain his composure.
"I still call him that, and we are both going. No questions asked." Lance said in an authoritative tone. Balan could only hold his head in defeat. They arrive to the door, but they stop before the door was opened.
"We know you are all standing there everyone." The two Maestros turned around to see all the inhabitants and several costumes standing behind them.
"We heard the whole thing, and we want to help." Leo being the first to speak.
"Absolutely not. This world she's stuck in is extremely dangerous. Even with the costume's help none of you will survive." Lance stated in a serious tone.
"Please Lance. It would be better if we all went with you two." Emma said trying not to beg.
"I know how much you're worried about her, but you are all inexperienced with the creatures of this world." Balan could only sympathize with them.
"Fine. I didn't want to do this, but you leave me no choice." The two were not sure what Emma meant, but they got an answer seconds later: puppy dog eyes. Balan instantly fell for it. Lance tried hard to resist, but ultimately gave in.
"Fine. You can all come with us." Lance said in defeat. Just as they were about to enter the door started to open.
"Oh no, Larry has come back for round 2!" Lance shouted, knowing what happened last time with his encounter with Larry. Everyone braced for the worst, only to find Cass walk through. She immediately hugged Balan in tears.
"I'm so sorry! I thought it was a way in to Wonderworld!"
"Shhh. It's okay. You're back now. That's all that matters." Balan says comforting her.
"How did you get back?" Fiona questioned.
"I had help." Cass pointed to the door and both Zeric and Fluffy entered.
"Hello there."
Back in the forest the Velociprey were following the scent of the trio. It wasn't until later a larger one, known as a Velocidrome, had come. It ordered the pack to follow the scent, which led them to a door.
"Um, who are you?" Balan questioned the hunter.
"My my Balan, have you forgotten about me?" Zeric said as he removed his helmet. He had brown hair and eyes, and the most noticeable detail was the scar on his left cheek. Both maestros remembered in an instant.
"Zeric? Is it truly you? You have really grown since we last saw you." Balan remembered the first time Zeric came to the theatre.
"Uh, mind telling us who this is?" Haoyu asked as he and everyone else were confused.
"I am Zeric. This here is my hunting partner Fluffy. It is nice to meet you all."
"A hunter? You hunt what exactly?" Emma asked in curiosity.
"Monsters. Small ones to ones as big as a mountain." Everyone who didn't know him were shocked.
"That sounds dangerous." One costume spoke.
"It is, but somebody's got to do it."
"How did you find us. That door is known to open to any place in your world." Lance knew the door was a tricky one.
"Remember that drop you gave me Balan? Well…" Zeric showed a necklace he wore with a red drop on it.
"I turned it into a special compass that can find Wonderworld. Although with being a hunter my job doesn't let me take breaks as long as I want. It's not really a job to mess around with. Look what happened to Mark and Phil: What they thought was a nice trip through the woods actually took them straight into a Nargacuga nest. We found them, but it was the parts we didn't like." Several of them had looks of disgust after hearing that.
"Do you mind staying for a bit? We would love to hear your stories of a hunter." Balan asked wanting to know how he has been these past several years.
"I wish I could stay, but I got Velociprey that need my attention. So if you will excuse me I'll be leaving." Just as Zeric opened the door a Velociprey jumped at him.
Now you know about the hunter, and it seems that the theatre has been attacked. Worse it's left at cliffhanger.
What monster scared you the most during your time as a Monster Hunter player? Mine was Rajang.