Author's notes:
Hello, I'm back. Sort of.
I hope you guys enjoyed the previous chapters and I'll try to post more by the month.
Though I still don't have a set schedule, but you can expect every 2 weeks for a new chapter.
Now without further ado,
Here is the chapter enjoy!
Midday, with the sun at its peak and the cool breeze in the air, is the present time where 2B and a company of hunters were trekking through the Whistill forest towards its northern area. They were sent to investigate the area to learn of the cause of the stampede days before and investigate the monster den 9S and his company of felynes found. The commander ordered both investigations to be done today, after 9S reported yesterday when he returned to the village last night, and the guild believes that there may be a connection with the two.
The party 2B was currently with is being led by Anemone, the hunting captain of the village who decided to bring two groups of four members, making a total of an eight-man team. The party is consisted of 6 hunters and two representatives from the guild, one researcher and one handler, to record and survey their surroundings. With each group having three hunters and one guild representative each. This was decided to help spread out and cover more area to investigate and if ever, split up with one group to investigate the monster den and the other to continue further up north.
From her position from the back, 2B could see most of the members of their party. Ahead of them was Anemone, who was determining what path they'll take and guiding them through the forest. Behind her was a female researcher taking notes and making a short survey of the forest as they trek. 2B would describe the researcher as one of the others she would see inside the guild occasionally, not remembering her name since most researchers are too engross with their work to notice or to greet and ask of it, unless spoken to directly. She thinks 9S would have recognize her since he's always running around the research center.
Behind the researcher were three hunters, each with their own armor and weapons. In their company, they have a dual blade user and a sword and shield user. Both fast weapons and light to carry, not burden of carrying a heavy weapon to what could be a long day of investigation. The last one was wielding a heavy bowgun, which 2B believes to be their extra muscle or rather extra fire power just in case their task gets dangerous. With Anemone, that would mean the party has two range options to defend themselves from threats in the forest.
The last person before 2B is her sister A2, who was rolling her shoulders and stretching her arms, surprisingly enjoying their trip inside the Whistill forest. Somehow A2 was able to switch jobs with another hunter from her original job of escorting some woodsmen today. It was a surprise seeing her come to this type of quest request, but when 2B asked her why she chose it she told her that she needed a break from all the noise from the construction in the village or the loud sounds of chopping wood. A2 also added the fact that the area of the forest they were heading into was quiet and peaceful to her liking, which relaxes her a bit despite the potential confrontation with some monsters.
2B feels the same way as well with her sister and could understand the need to be away from their busy village and from cleaning debris for its reconstruction. A sentiment shared by the entire party in 2B's opinion, including the last member of their party, who is also the reason to why 2B placed herself at the back.
"Ooh! This is amazing I can't believe I'm actually headed deep into the forest. Oh look 2B, a flower patch and it seems to be growing near some shrubs of medicinal herbs. And look, some blue mushrooms—" It was 6O, the bubbly girl was assigned as their handler for their task today and 2B spent the majority of her time watching over her best friend, making sure that she was following them and not distracted by everything that she sees.
"6O, you're trailing behind. Stay close, we don't want you to get lost and spend some time looking for you." 2B called to 6O as she could see her friend was some distance away from the party. Seeing this 6O yelps in surprise and begins to rush back to catch up with 2B.
"Sorry 2B… I'm just a bit excited and can't help but look around. I've never been deep in the forest before. Much less, I never thought of even going just outside the village walls with you and 9S. This is kinda my first experience of going out to explore the Whistill forest and doing something like this. Oh! I just want to check every crook of this place and see if the pictures from the books I read match the ones in real life." 6O gestures around her while she walks beside 2B, who nods in understanding.
"You still have to be careful 6O. This area may have been reported to have minimum to no monster activity, but we still need to be aware of potential threats that could have remained before and after the stampede." 2B tells 6O, who gives a sigh and agrees with her friend.
"I know… My instructor told me that as well. I should be aware of my surroundings and take note of anything that show signs of a monster's presence and if it's near or far away so I can plan ahead to avoid it." 6O told 2B while waving her index finger like teacher would do to a student.
"We are task to investigate the northern area and the monster den 9S found, so there is still a chance for you to explore as much as you want later once we reach the area." 2B tells her.
"Then I look forward to it. Oh… is this how 9S feels like whenever you two go out here? I should have applied sooner as a handler." 6O exclaims.
"I'm still surprise that you took the handler training. Much more just after you told of us of it. I wasn't really expecting you to be our handler today. Or is it handler trainee?" 2B said, now remembering the new system the guild was introducing for hunters and quest taking.
"Trainee and I was allowed to go today since the forest is you know… a bit monster free and its good experience for me too. And if I'm being honest here, I was planning to enlist earlier before but I wanted to hear your opinion and the other's too on it. Once I know that all of you like the idea, I signed up and have been officially registered by the guild as a trainee. Best part is that I only have two additional classes to take, which is quest handling and field work." 6O explains to 2B.
"I see… Then that means you would have to train your body a bit since a handler would be accompanying her assigned hunter, even at times at the field outside the base camp? Correct?" 2B asks 6O who immediately slumps.
"That is correct. My instructor told me being handler isn't as easy as it sounds and he said that once the village is fixed up, I would have to enter some physical training courses so I could be fit to survive in the wilderness. Gah! I've seen the courses the field researchers are doing, and they look too strenuous that I don't know if I'll survive!" 6O makes a short whine while bowing her head, not looking forward to some future physical activities.
"Surely you should have expected that. Don't worry 6O, you'll survive. Their course isn't as strenuous as the one for hunters and I think it's good that you get to do some exercise and not spend the rest of the day sitting down filing quest requests all day." 2B consoles 6O making her a bit less dejected.
"I guess? But that also means I could get a nice figure like you and A2." 6O chimes, getting a bit of enthusiasm back.
"Your figure is already nice 6O… I'm actually intrigue on how you maintain it despite not being a hunter." 2B complements her. 6O blushes from it.
"Oh stop 2B. If you keep saying things like that, I might want snatch you away from 9S." 6O teases to 2B, attempting to get a reaction from her. 2B doesn't bite to her bait and continues to walk beside her.
"Careful 6O. If Nines heard that, he might try to use one of his prototypes on you." 2B joked as they began to walk uphill.
"On little old me? No way he would do that… I mean even if he wanted, the guild already confiscated all of his prototypes ...Right?" 6O asked skeptically, while 2B just chuckles at her before they hear A2 call to them.
"Hey 2B, 6O. If you guys are done talking, get yourselves up here! We're here!" 2B sees A2 wave at them to hurry up and she could see as well that the other members of their party are already at the top of the hill. Hearing this, 6O couldn't help but jump in place before moving pass 2B to reach the top. 2B just shakes her head in amusement at her friend's enthusiasm and follows her.
The two girls begin to rush all the way to the top, while A2 turns to look at the view before her.
This area of the Whistill forest has much larger trees that spreads throughout the forest until the base of the mountain ranges that A2 could see at her vision. She can also see the snow-covered mountainous peaks and the telltale signs of the snow and frost at the north edge of the forest, signaling the border where the Whistill forest ends and where the entrance of the cold Darj snowfields begin. A cold wind brushes pass A2 and the party she's with, making their skin tingle and feel a small portion of the cold from the north. Even with armor, the chill in frozen areas and tundra can still be felt and may require for a hunter to drink a hot drink to be able to move and function properly in the cold.
Lucky for A2 and the rest, they're not tasked to head to the northern peaks and only in this area of the Whistill forest to investigate. Which leads to A2 spotting Anemone and the researcher they brought with them, talking and discussing with each other. She could guess that Anemone and the researcher are planning to split up the party up and were discussing of who would go with whom.
As the captain and the researcher were doing this, 2B and 6O have finally arrived at the top and A2 could see 6O immediately gasp at the sight before her. She then proceeds to talk to 2B and point out at random stuff that A2 wouldn't bother to care or listen to of their conversation. She can't help but roll her eyes at 6O's behavior, not understanding what part of the view is worth admiring or interesting at all.
Then again, A2 can't blame her acting like that since she's never been this far out from the village anyway. Maybe she's just a bit irritated since 6O was acting a bit like 9S whenever he found something new and wanted to show and babble about it to them. Sometimes the boy can't stop talking on about things he finds interesting, which annoys her, and sometimes she feels 9S knows and does it to annoy her more.
A2 lets out a breath and shrugs. 9S' annoyingness doesn't matter right now and she shouldn't be bother by 6O's behavior, and perhaps consider being happy for her instead since she seems to be enjoying herself. She proceeds to find a tree and lean on it, to rest a bit like her other hunter companions, while they wait for further instructions from Anemone. She continues to watch 6O and her sister continue to talk and enjoy their sightseeing, slowly not minding their chatter and relax a bit from all the stress from fixing the village in the past two days.
But before A2 could fully relax herself, Anemone immediately calls their Attention.
"Okay, everyone! Here is what we are going to do." Everybody came closer to Anemone and the researcher.
"I've decided that we'll split up to cover more ground, with one group to investigate the monster den found yesterday and another to continue further up north and investigate the disturbance we have been receiving for the past few days. The reason for this is because the monster den is located close to our location. To not waste time, we'll split up with one group going ahead of us and the other would catch up after checking the den." Anemone told the party, with everybody nodding their heads in agreement.
"I've already decided the groups, with the three of you"—Anemone points to the three other hunters with them— "will accompany our researcher here to the northern area, while I will handle the trainees and head to the monster den. We'll send a flare to signal if we're done and once you see it, send out your own so we know where you are and head right over." The researcher and the three hunters respond in agreement, but before they began to leave, Anemone gave them one last reminder.
"If there is something that requires my attention, send one of you to come get me and the rest of us will follow. That said, stay safe and be on guard on anything that could happen, is that clear?"
"Yes captain." All three hunters responded in unison.
"Good. I estimate that we'll regroup in 2 hours tops depending how long we need to investigate. We'll see you then." Anemone gives a nod and gesture the hunters and the researcher to be on their way. As the others who remained watch them leave, 6O gingerly approach Anemone and asked.
"Captain… the monster den that 9S reported. If its near where we are, where is it exactly on the map." Anemone turns and sees 6O's curious expression and she takes a glance at 2B and A2 and sees them curious as well. The captain pulls out her map and gesture 6O to take a look and points to a specific spot.
"Oh, it's right over—"
"Here." Said Anemone pointing at the large cave opening in front of them.
2B, A2 and 6O could only gawk at the size of the entrance before them. The intel they had was right with the den possibly made by a large monster. A large monster that may have not been a resident or even originated from the Whistill forest itself. No monster listed in the guilds records of the forest's locale have a monster big enough to carve the cave in front of them. Sure they had large flying wyverns and pseudo flying wyverns occasionally roaming in the forest like the Raths and Nargacugas, but these monsters would prefer places above ground to nest and none of them would bother to dig a monster den.
"You think it was the Tigrex?" Asked 6O with a bit of trepidation from seeing the entrance.
"Could be possible. But… if I have my own assessment on this den, I would say that its too big for a Tigrex to make." Answered Anemone making all the girls turn to her.
"Too big?" Said A2.
"You're saying that something larger than a Tigrex would have made this den?" It was 2B who asked this time, while she began to cautiously inspect the entrance. She could see the previous signs of a cart entering and exiting the den and guess it was from 9S and the felynes exploration of it from the other day. She could see some small monster tracks, but she couldn't distinguish any of them since they seem to have faded.
"Again, its possible. But whatever made this den is long gone, based from what 9S said of this den being abandoned days ago. Then again, the egg they brought back showed signs of still being developed and could have hatched in couple of weeks. Meaning that some monsters could have made this place their new residence before or after the stampede." Anemone told the group as she too begins to inspect the entrance.
"Then that means they could return to this place and want to claim it back." 6O said carefully while looking around her surroundings, a bit tense and imagining some monsters that would like to ambush them.
"Highly likely based from all of these tracks I could see. Could be a pack." A2 added as she saw the litter of tracks as well at the entrance.
"I do remember that 9S reported that his group have been attacked by a pack of Velociprey." Anemone said, making 2B turn to her in surprise.
"What." 2B's response made Anemone widen her eyes remembering that she hasn't gotten the time to tell Zinnia or the girls about that topic.
"Shit… Sorry. I was supposed to tell you guys with Zinnia… And its not because 9S asked me to but because I told him I'll break the news to you guys." Anemone told the three, seeing that she got their attention. 2B was about to ask more but Anemone spoke before she could.
"Before you react anymore, I will tell you that he handled the situation pretty well and was able to drive the pack off by himself with the felynes using dung bombs. And if you're wondering why I ask him to let me be the one to tell you all of this? It's because I was planning to use it as a reason for my proposal with White and Zinnia." Anemone explained, before she turns away from the group and heads to the monster den.
"I'll tell you more while we check this den out like we're suppose too. BUT be on guard… 2B, A2, you two should be on watch on anything that could be hostile or if anything that can happen that would lead us in encountering anything hostile. Be ready to protect 6O when it happens, especially at all times while she surveys and records the area for the guild." 2B was bit annoyed from Anemone dodging her attempts to question her, but decided the captain's words were right, and they need to continue their quest.
A2 just shrugs and begins to follow their captain inside the monster den with 2B and 6O moving to walk beside her. With 6O between the twins, they move closer to Anemone so she can explain her proposal for 9S and her reason for it, as the darkness of the den cover them.
Anemone didn't start talking until they came to the more lit area of the monster den with light from the small holes from the ceiling illuminating their surroundings. She told the three of her interest to continue training 9S despite the village's-imposed break from hunter training and felt that it would be good for 9S and his jobs with the felynes to be armed with a weapon to help defend them.
Anemone also told them that she felt that they've wasted some time for 9S and his hunter training due to White putting him on hold last year and from his late start this year. She also wanted to help him catch up with the rest or temper his enthusiasm. She also added that 9S encountering a pack of Velociprey is a good reason to convince White and Zinnia that 9S should be allowed to take a weapon with him to help defend himself.
"I could tell that if all of you heard it from him you wouldn't have let him go to stay with the felynes. I would have to convince you guys otherwise especially after hearing from you he was doing it for some self-hunter training. Good to know that you two are directing him to be productive with his time." Anemone said as they continue to walk inside the monster den.
"Still, was it necessary to withhold this from us? I don't like it when 9S keeps things like this to himself especially when it's situations that could get him hurt." 2B questioned showing her dislike from what she has heard from the captain.
"He was fine, and he came back without a scratch, right? Besides I wasn't planning on holding it from you and Zinnia… maybe for a bit but I was going to tell you guys while I formulated what to say to you three later after this quest of ours." Anemone responded calmly, though 2B's expression didn't change a bit.
"Yeah… and you were planning to tell us to let 9S, the least experience hunter in our household, to carry a weapon with him in the forest." A2 said with a raised eyebrow to Anemone.
"I mean I get the reason for him to be armed to defend himself but how are you sure he won't cut himself? Even if his weapon is a 6-foot-long stick with a blade at the end of it." A2 asked a bit skeptical to the captain's words and a bit doubtful of her proposal.
"You all know that 9S isn't lacking in experience with dealing with monsters, since he strolls in the forest like it's a daily thing. If anything, combat with a hunting weapon is what he lacks and everything else like item gathering, item crafting and monster behavior is all second nature for him. He'd be the prefect scout or field researcher if he didn't want to be a hunter." Anemone responded pointing out the skills 9S already has. She could also see that both 2B and A2 understood that she listed some of the basic skills a hunter needs, besides combat.
"The captain is right you guys. He may not have the proper training you both had but I think if Nines was able to fight like you two, I wouldn't second guess that he was a trainee at all. And I recall that he has been training for the past half of this year." 6O added her own opinion as well. Also seeing what the Anemone was trying to say.
"Exactly and lucky for you he is a fast learner. Besides, he's only focusing with one weapon right now. He's already got the basics down and could fight with it. I believe in a short amount of time he would be at a decent level and ready to use it in the field after some training with me." Anemone added, while twins continue to be skeptical but much less than before.
"Well… better he could fight off or slay a Velociprey with an insect glaive than constantly relying on dung bombs." A2 said who looked at her sister and was agreeing partially to Anemone until she hears 2B answer. 2B glances to her and silently understands that A2 is okay with it if she is, before turning to Anemone.
"I… I would prefer that as well… but what are you going to do? 9S would be at the felynes settlement for the next days and I doubt he would want to go back to the village to train when he is still looking for a new home for them." 2B addresses Anemone of this complication to which the captain just waves her hand dismissively before answering her.
"I'm not planning to propose it yet to 9S. Once he reports that he found the felynes a new home and has some time to spare, then I will tell him of my proposal and make a schedule with him to train. Maybe even train him in the forest as well so he can get some in field combat experience." Anemone said before the party stops and sees a fork in the den. Anemone then turns to address the three before they move further.
"Look, 9S has potential to be a good hunter and I want to see that potential grow and prosper the same way it did with the two you. I think he has enough potential to train and be ready to tag along with you guys when all three of you decide to travel out of YoRHa at the end of the year." The three were surprise from Anemone knowing of their plan, as the captain continues to explain.
"I would admit… that he'll still be a trainee, but he would be capable of handling quest by then and he would just need to study a few things he doesn't know yet and finish learning the remaining 13 weapon types"—Anemone pause a bit then began to use one finger to scratch her cheek, showing signs of being embarrass—"…And I think it be nice that the four of you would continue to stick together. I see how close the four of you are and you're a bunch I wouldn't want to see part ways from each other. If I can keep it that way for you guys, then why not?" Hearing this from Anemone surprise the three but gave a warm feeling inside them.
6O got a bit cheery and smiled, 2B's lips inch a bit upward becoming a small smile and A2 just felt a bit irritated at the warm feeling in her chest, not sure if she should be happy or weirded out that their captain wants them to stay together. Though all three appreciated the Captains thoughts and her intentions for them to stay together.
"I wouldn't mind that. You guys don't mind it too, right?" 6O said as she asks the twins.
"I think I would like that as well. Thank you Captain…" 2B told Anemone with a small smile, making the captain return a smile as well.
"If it keeps 9S from sulking and bitchin about being left behind... sure why not." A2 said indifferently but had the same thoughts with the two in the inside.
"Well seeing that you guys are not so against anymore, then its safe to say I can proceed with my proposal. I'll keep you guys informed and you won't need to worry about 9S or anything else since I'll take care of all of it." Anemone said, with the three not denying or giving any disagreements.
"If we're done with this conversation then I say we should continue with our quest. 2B, A2 and 6O you go take this path to the left, while I go to this path at the right. Normally I wouldn't want us to split up, but I know that the both of you are capable of handling yourselves and protecting 6O at the same time. We'll rendezvous back here after an hour but if 6O isn't done with her survey by then, I'll head to your location. Agreed?"
"Yes, captain." 2B and A2 responded with 6O nodding her head in agreement. The group begins to split but Anemone called out to them wanting to add another tidbit.
"Oh, if you must know… White does know of my proposal and to my surprise she agreed to it already." Anemone gives a small smirk to the three, liking the disbelief they showed. Seeing the slight surprise and perplex expression on the twins faces and 6O's jaw dropping expression, before she proceeds to head to her path.
Anemone is happy that she was able to tell the three of her plans and that she was able to convince them. Hopefully Zinnia would accept her proposal as well and if she does then YoRHa would have another promising hunter in their midst. And maybe less shenanigans for the next coming years.
Hopefully the boy isn't getting into trouble right now.
"Interesting Meowster. So Rogue would be growing larger in a few days. How big would he be?" Pod 153 asked while she was reading the pages 9S has read when he went out with Rogue hunting for food.
"The manual didn't say but maybe big enough so I could ride on him. I'm really not sure… the manual did warn that some monsties in that miniature stage would be bigger than others." 9S replied while he was moving some items he has gathered with Rogue. Currently, he was keeping a pouch of nitroshrooms out of Rogue's reach, not wanting to find out what a hyperactive Deviljho would be.
"Guess he would be pretty big huh, Meowster. We may need to double our efforts later to find and look for a place for the felynes and Rogue to stay. Hopefully like this manual said Rogue would stop growing for a while until you and he are… totally in sync or something? Nya, this is still hard to wrap my head in." Pod 153 tells 9S as she flips a page to another.
"True. He may be bigger, and it would be hard to train an adult size Devilj— Hey! No… Rogue not for you, come on… I know your not hungry, why won't you play with your 9S doll. Pod cleaned it for you." 9S said to Rogue in a sing song voice while he held the doll to him.
The Deviljho whined a bit puffing his chest, before he relents and grabs the doll with his jaws and sits beside Pod as she continues to read. He cuddles the doll as he occasionally looks in the manual over Pod's shoulder trying to decipher it before giving up and continues to cuddle and rub the teeth stubbles on his chin on the doll. 9S finds it amusing that Rogue was playing with a doll version of himself with Pod not minding him beside her.
"It seems you have gathered a lot of items with Rogue when you two went out earlier." Pod didn't look away from the book as she continues to talk to 9S.
"Yeah, its thanks to Rogue too. Normally Rogue would just use his sense of smell to find other monsters to prey on but it turns out I can teach him to smell certain items or materials then he can search and find it in an instant. Its really useful and we could have gotten more if we had a wagon or cart with us since some of the items where pretty heavy. I mean Rogue was able to find some mining spots too! Isn't that right buddy?" 9S then hears Rogue give a croon of agreement as the Deviljho continues to nuzzle his doll.
"Maybe we can use that skill in our future gathering sessions with Whistill. Maybe even to look for a new settlement." Pod added as she turns another page.
"Yeah, I know right. We tried to do that earlier, looking for new settlement, but we couldn't find any…" Both 9S and Rogue did try to look for a new place, but most spots that Rogue found were just filled with mushrooms spots and large clusters of herbs.
"Don't worry Meowster, Whistill is planning to look later before the end of the day. I also think that he has a specific area he wants the settlement to stay in." 9S nods his head from what Pod said as he puts the pouch of nitroshrooms inside the item box, finally finding a spot for it.
"Hey, I'm surprise that your taking all of this well. Then again, you've warmed up nicely to Rogue. It's nice really…" 9S said as he continues sort some of the items. Whistill was able to give them a spare item box to keep some items for themselves and Rogue, and keep anything extra from the future gathering sessions they will have with the felynes.
"Being with you for the past two years and having this whole Rider thing thrown on to me unexpectedly, I don't know if I should be surprise at anything else that would be weird or other worldly from you. I rather focus my thoughts in becoming a better support for you. So whatever convoluted situation you get yourself into, I'll be there to help you." Pod explained to him in a slight deadpanned tone. 9S just shakes his head, agreeing to her.
As Pod turns another page, Rogue suddenly spots the content in it and gives a small rumble catching Pod's attention and seeing his curious gaze. Pod then shifts in place and puts the book down so she and Rogue can see it together and calls 9S to ask something.
"Meowster… far did you read in the Rider's manual?" 9S heard Pod's question and luckily, he was done sorting the items they have before closing the item box. He then turns his attention to Pod and see that the manual was laid on the floor with Rogue looking at it as well.
"Well, I read all the general things I should know of Monsties. Then I stopped after finishing on a chapter about Kinship attacks, which I did because the chapter was kinda cool. It was about cool moves a Rider could do with each known monstie, each having a unique and different power from one another to do devastating damage. Really cool if you read it Pod, but it was kinda short about 2 pages or so. I read it while Rogue got a bit hungry again and ate a Mosswine we found for him to eat." 9S told Pod as he approach and sat with them on the floor.
"You didn't see the chapter after that? Or take a peek of it?" asked Pod.
"No, not really… After reading the entire chapter, Rogue was done eating so I decided that we head back here and drop the stuff we gathered." 9S told Pod as he moves to take a look at the manual.
"If you must know, I think kinship attacks are more bizarre than cool Meowster. But with that done we can read this new chapter all together, though I did read some of it already. And I do think you should have read this chapter first too, when you got the chance. Not that I'm saying you being thorough in knowing the general things for a monstie is bad but…" Pod then lifts the book to show 9S the title of the chapter in the manual and the page Pod is currently showing him, with Rogue bouncing on place excited for 9S to see it.
Now seeing and reading the title and page content, 9S had a small urge to slap his head for not thinking to read it first like what Pod said. At least right now he wouldn't have to worry of the manual lacking any information in how to take care of Rogue as he sees a familiar picture on the page and reads the title and contents out loud.
"The 'Monstiepedia' and its different Monsties… subchapter Brute wyverns, page …The Deviljho." Suddenly the flaps of their tent opens with someone coming in.
"Hey NYA! You're both back! I was wondering if we can use Rogue's nose to find us a new… What's wrong?" Whistill asked suddenly seeing 9S with a face palm, while Pod and Rogue turn to him. Both giving him a shrug as a response.
Author's notes:
Okay that's the end of the chapter!
It's nice to be back and Thanks again for reading.
See you guys in the next chapter!