AN: Hello, this is the author. This is my first story, and I would like to thank you for taking the time to read it. This chapter used to be pretty bad, but I went ahead and revised it.
I doubt I have to tell you this, but it seems to be tradition to tell the reader I don't own the properties used in this story. Besides the OC's of course.
'Today's the big day,' Dawn took a glance over his shoulder to check on his partner palico, Ace, who was currently trying to stuff every available Palico Gadget into his toolbox. Heaving and groaning in frustration the humanoid cat continued to try and force his new gear into the box. They had gotten lucky and were given access to non-prototype equipment used in the New World for their "Grand Expedition to the Foreign World" as the Guild had come to call it.
Looking down at his own new piece of tech, Dawn could already think of all the incredible things he could do with his MRK 1 Slinger and Clutch Claw. Looking back over again he saw Ace fumbling with a Coral Orchestra set and trying to shove in the ingredients for a Meowlotov Cocktail. They would not be able to bring along any Vapor Wasps or any other kind of bug due to the complications of the expedition.
"Hey, Dawn instead of standing around with your thumb up your ass, mew could be helping me!", The orange felyne whined, an annoyed look on his face.
Sighing Dawn walked over and punted the cat aside, and with one mighty shove forced the last of the supplies into the box. An audible thunk as the latch closed on its own.
"How dare mew I am thee Great Ace Palico! You lowly Hunter should show proper respect to one such as I!", The little bastard huffed.
Sighing one last time Dawn finally spoke," You know one day you're going talk shit to the wrong person, and they're going to bust your ass." His voice coming out quietly, rough from overall lack of use, yet it still carried his aggravation with his felyne friend.
Ace huffed before leaving and returning with his Seregios armor and axe. "Nyah gonna get your gear on or what?" The armor itself consisted of pinecone like scales of a Seregios forming an almost golden helmet and chest piece. Though small and relatively thin it offered more than enough protection for the Palico.
Dawn looked over to his own set of armor; It was a set of Helios Armor made from Ceadeus parts he had the Wycoon trade for him. It was a visually stunning set with white fur and scale offering great protection as well as resistances to elemental ice and water. It has a canine shaped helm with decorative ears sitting atop it with a face plate covered by what looked like the top half of a wolves' snout. What stood out most was the elemental water that seemed to flow through it based on the blue light radiating from every crevasse.
Walking over and beginning to suit up Dawn caught sight of himself in the mirror. His tan skin and blue eyes camouflaged well with his room, though his messy white hair stood out. He never did understand how someone as young as himself at the mere age of 28 could have such clear white hair.
Finishing up he looked over to his favored weapon: A Type 41 Wyvernator. It was a beauty of a Great Sword with the mix of Ancient Metal and Elder Dragon bone it even resonated with elemental water and struck with the power of cannon fire. Though massive and cumbersome, it had been his go to weapon against most if not every Urgent Quest His Immenseness had sent him on. Fondly strapping the blade to his back, he nodded to Ace and they both set off.
Exiting his home, he set his sights on the city of Dundorma. An ancient city said to have been the origin of the Hunter's Guild and civilization as they knew it. Trees and ancient stone architecture lined their path leading them to the stairway to the Elder Hall at the top of the mountain. Hunters and city folk alike, went about their business as usual not paying the hunter and palico any mind. Commotion took to the air as the merchants began their day. Despite it all the hunter and palico made their way to the Elder Hall in relative peace while taking in the atmosphere.
Passing by Sophia the Guildmarm, The Man, and Little Miss Forge he and Ace waved farewell for this would be the last time they would see them in a while. The Wycoon and The Caravaneer stood off to the side talking about some trade deal before waving them off as well.
Tatsuo, the Street Cook Felyne, was actually the only member of their traveling caravan to meet them at the stairs. He was a tad taller than Ace, which irritated the palico to no end, with tan and off-white patterned fur. He wore an eastern styled chef coat and had a pan hanging off his back.
Bowing before them, "Afternoon to you meowster hunter and palico…" He paused thinking of the best way to continue. "I would like to make a proposal.", he finish an anxious air coming over him.
Nodding Dawn gestured for him to continue. Though Ace had jumped to his own conclusions, "No I will not be being hiring the likes of mew as my purrsonal chef! I the GREAT ACE PALICO have learned to cook my own food!" Both hunter and chef glared at Ace in annoyance before Tatsuo continued.
"No… I was going to ask if I come on The Grand Expedition to the Foreign World." He finally asked.
"Why?", Dawn asked.
"Simple, it would grant me access to foreign ingredients to which I could use to purrfect my art as a chef…", he paused embarrassed, "That, and you and Ace are my only loyal customers."
"We'll have to talk with His Immenseness about that, though I could probably have it written off as ration upkeep." The hunter thought it over.
"Hey! I just said I could cook for us!", The palico whined.
"You burn everything you touch Ace!" The Street Cook interjected, "Dawn, unless you want to have ashes for breakfast, lunch, and supper you'd better bring me along."
"Sure sure.", The hunter half heartily agreed. He knew Tatsuo to be a workaholic, and decided that he would be better off trying to convince His Immenseness to allow them to take him along. He didn't mind having a personal chef either. Especially one, that was as talented as Tatsuo.
Climbing the stairway to the Elder Hall, Dawn and Ace were given a view of the world few were privileged to receive. In the west they could see snow topped mountains of Cathar, and to the south laid the port town, Val Harbar. Sighting the beginning and ending to their first journey together filled the both of them with an intense nostalgia. Unfortunately, they could not see the mining town of Harth or Cheeko Sands, though the view was breath taking regardless.
At the peak of the mountain laid the Elder Hall, a guild hall used only by the highest-ranking hunters. At the center of it sat His Immenseness in all his ancient glory. The giant wyvernian stood over six meters tall and rested his weary bones upon his equally giant long sword. He wore a massive set of samurai armor minus the helm due to his species' unique characteristics.
"Ah, welcome hunter Dawn, and palico Ace", the giant bellowed.
Hunter and palico bowed in honor of the first hunter and leader of their people. "We are ready to take our leave and venture into the Foreign World your Immenseness", Ace said.
"Though we have received a proposal for admission your Immenseness.", The hunter added.
"Hmm, and what would this addition bring to the expedition?", The giant asked, and leaned down to meet the duo.
"He would take his place as our cook; he would allow us to stay well fed throughout our journey.", Dawn answered.
Finding no reason to deny the request the first hunter nodded in approval and said, "Just make sure to have them bring their things to the waiting area. The guild staff are taking care of your equipment as we speak."
Bowing once more the duo made their way to a newly constructed platform next to the Elder Hall. Having fetched Tatsuo on their way the now trio had their items, ingredients, and other assorted gear hooked up and stored within the wagon. Tatsuo own canteen was hitched to the back of it.
The wagon was being pulled by an aptonoth, a "small" herbivorous monster. The wagon itself consisted of one large bedroom and four hammocks much like Dawn's own room on the caravan's airship. It almost felt like home, the only thing they were missing was a poogy.
"So, when are we leaving?", The chef asked.
"We have to wait about…", the hunter started before looking up into the sky to check the time of day, "about ten or so minutes."
"How do you know that?", The chef asked, now confused.
"We were told that the rifts that would bring us to the Foreign World only occur at very beginning of noon."
"How'd the scientist figure that out?"
"Just good old observation. They figured out where and when the rifts would occur based on how a compass would change to the opposite direction when near."
"Interesting, do mew know anything else about this Foreign World?"
"Other than its hospitable to life and that some weird changes will occur when we enter."
"WHAT CHANGES?!", This time Ace spoke up.
"Palicos that have gone through the rift and reported that they felt taller, while in the Foreign World."
"So, others have gone through these rifts then?", Asked the chef.
"Yes, but only for a short time. The rift only stays open for about a minute."
Digesting the information Ace raised his paw to ask Dawn if he knew anything else, but was interrupted by sound of gushing wind and a bright light. The trio set their gaze upon a green rift floating midair the edges of which seem to almost cut through the wooden platform their wagon was situated. Humming in anticipation, the hunter whipped the reins and the aptonoth began walking through the rift. The wagon and its occupants following soon after.
Ace felt like he had been pushed through a stream of water before being blinded by a sun that had not been there before. Checking himself over he realized that he did in fact feel taller though he also felt a draft run up his body and face. Looking down he saw that his legs had grown longer, and that his paw appeared far more human in proportion. Taking off his helmet he felt the afternoon breeze brush against his face. Looking at his reflection in his helmet he saw a human face with bright orange hair and cat ears atop his head.
Shock filled the Palico's mind as realization overcame him. Looking to his left he saw a stunned Dawn looking between an equally shocked Tatsuo and Ace himself. Tatsuo looked mostly the same though he too had a human face, however his eyes seem just as squinted as they were before. He had tan cat ears that sat atop his of his head like Ace.
"WHAT THE H-HELL," Ace exclaimed, "WHY DO I-I AND TAT-TATSUO LOOk like some weird bastard child of a human and a felyne?"
"Stand up the both of you we need to check you two over."
Both Tatsuo and Ace stood up and began looking themselves over. Ace took off his armor and thanked whatever god was out there that he still had his tail. Though his fur ended at his waist and returned at the top of his head and forearms.
"I didn't think I'd be regretting coming already.", Tatsuo said drearily, while looking himself over.
"Damn… Do you two feel off balanced or anything?", Dawn asked as he surveyed the felynes.
"No, I feel purrfectly fine... just taller than I was before," Ace responded before gasping, "that might be the worst part." Tears began to form while his paws held onto his ears, "I don't want to be an adorable abomination."
Dawn slapped him before turning to the chef, who after seeing what he did to Ace proceeded to steady himself to avoid the same fate, "It doesn't matter. As long as you two have control over yourselves we should be fine."
After composing themselves they began to travel the plains they had found themselves in. In the distance a mountain range made up the eastern horizon, and to the west ran a mile wide river. The three "man" expedition made its way north hoping to find some form of civilization, or at the very least discover some foreign fauna along the shoreline.
Dawn took notice of the occasional movement in the water. Though for the most part it seems to be just some kind of piscine life, but every now and then a larger shape could be seen moving just beneath the surface. He was both excited at the prospect of discovering new life and terrified of being hunted by some foreign monster he had no knowledge of, though he chose to show neither.
Time passed and they had yet to run into any form of endemic life. No giant bugs, or odd amphibians, or even something as mundane as a rodent herbivore. So, the expedition made camp, Tatsuo made supper for the three of them; having to boil the fresh water from the river and using his limited supplies to make modest meals, by hunter's standards. It was no pre-hunt feast, but it would satisfy the three of them for the night.
"So far there isn't much going on in this new world," Ace said before being met with the gazes of a tired hunter and felyne who were giving him a 'are you serious' kind of look, "I mean, besides, turning into adorable abominations."
They finished their meal, stored the canteen away, and head back to the wagon.
Yawning, Tatsuo got into one of the hammocks in the back of the wagon and fell asleep. Dawn was still checking himself making sure nothing was wrong with him as well before falling asleep shortly after on his bed. The last one to fall asleep was Ace thinking of the possibilities this world could offer.
-0-
'That human is pretty tall,' she thought to herself as she watched the wagon go on by, 'and he's traveling with male monsters too?!' She had been following this small caravan since she heard screaming in the distance. She had expected some pour traveler to be straddled by some mamono not a group of young men and some kind of prehistoric beast of burden.
The human, Dawn if she heard correctly, had seen her or at the very least her shadow. She was surprisingly stealthy even for a bunyip, submerging herself whenever she believed he might have looked her way.
As the three males went about their business of cleaning up their canteen, she slowly made her way to shore. As they finished and entered their wagon, she silently slithered her way to the wheel. She waited, her cowardice not allowing her to move, until she could hear the sound of their breathing quiet down. Once she did, she slithered her way into the wagon, her large form taking up the majority of the room. Her bright glowing eyes set upon the human in bed. Instinct took over and she began to curl up and around him, her claws going for any opening in the armor, and once she got her paws on his helmet, another set of hands wrapped around hers.
"What the hell?"
-0-
Pushing the strangely feminine monster off of him, and then pinning her beneath him with her arms behind her back was no issue at all. The strange, more than likely based off the monster's characteristics, woman was blushing up a storm. He was about to interrogate her when he found himself constricted as a long, furry snake tail that protruded from the monster's lower half had wrapped around his waist and right leg.
She was trying to reverse the pin, but found herself unable to. 'How? What?! HUH… Is this human stronger than me?' She felt her restraints on her arms move to her tail. Twisting her body to look up at the human properly he seemed just as awkward and confused as she was. Noticing the change, the human looked down at her.
"Who are you and what the hell are you doing?", He whisper yelled.
She blushed again and uncoiled herself from him. 'Oh, my instincts took over me. Mama always told me to not let them take over.'
The noise woke up the two, what she believed to be, male werecats in the back.
"Eh, Daaaaaaaawn whats with racket?" The orange one spoke with a definitely male voice.
"Just go back to sleep you two."
And like that the two groggy cats, uncaring or unaware she didn't know, fell back to sleep.
Turning to her the hunter recomposed himself before asking, "How about you tell me who you, are and what you're doing here?"
Nodding the bunyip slithered outside and waited for the human to come out as well.
She began to explain herself, her paws gesturing frantically all the while, "I'm so so-sorry I was watching from afar since this afternoon, and I wanted to talk to you, but couldn't bring up the courage, and I was scared you'd try to hit me with your big sword, and I thought those two male werecats were some kind of trick of the mind, and…"
"Stop." The hunter said with both hands raised trying to wrap his mind around every little thing she was trying to tell him.
"Now. Please explain to me who you are, what you were doing, and what you are." He said rubbing his temples in exhaustion.
Calming down the bunyip went over what she would say as to not worsen the situation.
"My name is Shizuka Shai," She paused picking her words carefully, "I wanted to get a better look at you, but my instincts took over, and… I'm a mamono called Bunyip."
Appraising her for the first time in the moonlight the hunter began to scrutinize her as she explained herself. She was tall, about a foot taller or more if you counted the rest of her tail, than himself but had the proportions of a newborn Najaralla excluding her top half. She had claws like that of felyne and silky, soft white fur along the entirety of her body with black scales going along the ground facing side of her tail, the only parts of her that were bare were her well-endowed breast, face, and abdomen. Her skin was soft based on what he felt back in the wagon, and far darker than his own, almost black. Her face was beautiful and her hair, or fur possibly, had two long furry ears sticking out the top of it.
"Ok… How about you tell me what you meant by 'instincts taking over', and what a mamono is?"
"You don't know?", She tilted her head.
"…"
"H-How about I tell you more in the morning?", She half asked, half pleaded.
Sighing the hunter looked her in her golden eyes, and could tell straight away that she was just as exhausted as he was.
"Fine… Do you want a blanket or something?", He said turning his back to her and began walking back to the wagon.
She followed after him, "I-I-I I can sleep outside. It's not a problem." She was blushing again for a reason he could not discern.
"It's too cold out here to get proper sleep," he looked into the wagon for a space for her, "you can take the bed. I'll sleep in one of the hammocks."
She was as red as a Rathalos now, "Y-Y-You can't mean to let me sle-slee-sleep in your bed, do you?"
"You're a guest… And the first person I've come across since coming here." He said leaving no room for argument.
Her shoulders slumped as she made her way to the bed. Her monster senses could pick us his scent from the sheets alone. Her instinct told her to take him now! To NEVER LET HIM GO! She quelled them and laid herself down on the bed her tail coiling around herself for warmth. She looked to the human, Dawn, smiling when she saw that he had already passed out with his legs dangling off the side of the hammock. She fell asleep not long after. Her dreams exploring every lewd fantasy that came to mind.
She awoke to stick in her nose.
"Aha, I told you it would fit!", Orange shouted to Gray, a twig in paw and a face of delight.
"Would you two knock it off!", The gruff voice of Dawn woke her fully.
She sat up knocking the werecats off of her, and took in the day light of the sun rise. 'It's practically dawn. How are they all wide awake, and so refreshed?' The orange cat was laughing, and the gray cat looked annoyed.
"Why are all of you up so early?", She asked.
"Why are you sleeping in? Is the better question.", The orange cat said a smug grin across his face.
She blinked in confusion before exiting the wagon to see Dawn setting up the cooking station she saw yesterday.
"Hello Dawn, I…", whatever else she would have said was cut off as a loud clang came from the mess of metal and supplies.
"Hey.", He waved.
"So, who are ya, and why did Dawn let you sleep in his bed?", She looked behind herself again to see Orange making his way over.
"My name is Shizuka Shai, and he said it was because I was his guest.", She answered, 'They must have been half asleep when they woke up last night.'
"Shizuka, you'll be explaining everything during breakfast, okay?", Dawn said.
She nodded and sat back as she watched the only human finish setting up the canteen. To which the gray cat took his place and began making breakfast. It was an amazing process, the werecat sprung back and forth from station to station, turning a BBQ spit there and boiling a broth here and cutting vegetables over there. She could hardly keep track of how fast the felyne moved. By the time she realized what happened breakfast was served.
She slithered to the table and sat down to the left of Dawn who sat in the middle. Orange sat to his right, and Gray had come down from the canteen with the food. It was a glorious line up of food that left her mouthwatering, 'Do these three always eat like kings?'
Dawn took off his helmet for the first time in front of her. She could feel her heart beat faster as she took in his face. 'Calm yourself. No no no. You need to talk! Not attack!'
"Sho Shizooka, meow about we introduce ourselves," Gulping down his food, "My name is Ace, Ace Palico… THE GREAT... and he's Tatsuo."
The grey werecat nodded towards her as he began to eat his food as well. Though polite he was just as ravenous as Ace and Dawn were. The three of them ate like they haven't had food in days.
"So how about you explain what a meowmono is hmm?"
"Oh… Well, to put it simply mamono are monsters." They collective stared at her in confusion. "Well, monsters became mamono after the current Demon Lord was appointed over one thousand years ago."
"First, what is a Demon Lord, and second what do you mean monsters became mamono. Didn't you just say mamono are monsters?" Tatsuo asked.
"You don't look much like a monster.", Ace added.
"I am a monster."
"Please, you look like a lady and a monster were 'magically' merged together at best," Ace shot back, "You're not even bigger than the wagon!"
"But I-I am." She was starting to shake from embarrassment.
"Hold off you two," Dawn interjected, "I think we have a different definition of monster than she does."
'Have these three been living under a rock. Not knowing what a mamono is, saying she doesn't look like a monster, MALE mamono! Gods, did I hit my head and get stuck in some kind of fantasy land?'
"Shizuka," Dawn began, placing his hand on her shoulder, "Do you know of the Hunters Guild?"
She felt herself melt at the touch, but answered him regardless, "I-I-I d-don't." The werecats looked at her strangely.
"Then we have a lot to explain too. Ace go ahead."
"Alright little not-little lady. We're gonna introduce you to a world of monsters and hunters! One of which you have never seen before!", Ace said getting up and on to the table making sure not to touch the food as he did so.
"Ok."
"First off," he pointed at Dawn, "he is a monster hunter. Second," he pointed to himself and Tatsuo, "we are Felyne Lynians." He suddenly deflated, "Though we kind of had a change in form after coming here."
Blinking she asked, "So you are not werecats?"
"Werecats? I have no idea what you're talking about.", He shrugged.
"Third," He began again, "we are representatives of the Hunter's Guild. On a Grand Expedition to the Foreign World… Which is here."
"World? Do you mean you're from another world entirely?"
"Yes, I the GREAT ACE PALCIO," he pointed into the air, "believe we are on another world entirely."