Author's notes:
Here is the chapter enjoy!
Jogging through the streets of YoRHa at early morning, 9S heads his way to the guild to report to the commander and Zinnia that he and pod have found a new home for the felynes yesterday. Such luck they found a new and perfect place for the felynes to settle, it baffled 9S that it only took the first day that they decided to stay with Whistill to finish the task.
Then again… it was also the day after he hatched Rogue, who not only continues to grow and mature rapidly, but also the key in finding the hidden valley and chance on a rare sight of a bed of Lunar Tears. Which was a good sign for Whistill to deem the place suitable for his tribe to live in and prosper. Everything seems to be going good for 9S ever since he found Rogue and hopes this streak continues.
Although, he hopes he didn't jinx it because of thinking that and somewhere down the line, he's luck will go terrible and down hill from there.
Shaking his head from that thought, he instead thinks of the plan Whistill told him the other night and what they would doing for the next days. Which is involves moving the tribe and relocate to the valley, specifically the cave they found by the falls. They returned to the camp a bit late last night because they stayed a bit to star gaze and enjoy the beautiful sight. They slept on a later hour as well, due to Whistill deciding to tell the tribe of the news and what their next course of action would be.
After hearing of the valley, to say that the tribe was overjoyed from the news was an understatement. The entire tribe woke up the whole forest with their cheers. They were shouting their joys and saying things, like they didn't need to stay out in the open anymore or risk being hunted down by larger monsters.
And when Whistill told them it was Rogue who found them the new place, the felynes immediately drop any animosity of him and showered him in thanks and welcomed petting. The Deviljho didn't mind, since he did like cuddling the soft felynes …and the well-done steaks he got as a reward.
'That cheeky brute' Whistill thought as he watched Rogue get pampered last night. A thought shared by 9S and Pod.
9S was surprise in the sudden change of attitude towards his monstie and did wonder why, but Pod explained it may be due to the gratitude they felt in finally getting a new home and the fact that Whistill's tribe has been living out in the open for the past few days at risk of monsters.
They were safe for the time being due to most of the monsters leaving and heading south pass YoRHa, technically the whole stampede and all, but the Velocipreys he and Whistill encountered during their trip to the north must have put them on the edge. 9S guess, that the tribe was also relieved that they could finally have a place that is safe for them to live in.
After the cheering and much celebrating was done, what came next was Whistill's plan for the next couple of days on how they would proceed in moving to the place. For today and tomorrow, Whistill will be inspecting the cave thoroughly with a group of felynes and set up a temporary living space for them in the cave.
The rest of the tribe will begin to pack up and prepare for the move and make sure that the camp is dismantled within the two days allotted for them. The moving process would happen the next day after the final inspection and may take the entire day to do so, due to the number of members in Whistill's tribe and with all the amount of items they have gathered from the past days.
After all the felynes have moved, the next step would be settling in their new home and building the settlement to their specification. Whistill stressed that they would focus first in providing living quarters and plus improving the cave to their standards. He said that it may take at least three days or more to accomplish and all hands would be needed to do so.
9S remembers that during those days, he, Pod and Rogue would be assisting them and be the ones in charge of the gathering sessions for the felynes. Or in other words, they'll be doing the gathering sessions for the next days while the felynes build their home. Of course Whistill will allot some of his tribe to assist them but 9S knows that only a handful will come with them. Specifically, those who are available and are not helping in the construction of their new home.
He didn't mind and 9S remembered too that Pod preferred that Whistill should focus all his and the tribes efforts on making their new home, and not worry on other tasks and just leave it to her and 'her meowster' until they finish.
The felyne chief appreciated the suggestion and will be counting on them. As thanks, they'll give them a personal room for the two of them and Rogue, which was much appreciated for 9S and Pod.
The felyne chief then stressed that these next days would be a bit hectic and a bit more labor than usual but after they're done in settling in their new home, the days after would be more easeful and less load bearing. 9S guess that they may be focusing in minor improvements in their home and other projects the felyne chief was planning to do for the future. More less, the tribe would slowly be transitioning to their regular days like before, during their time staying in the northern area of the forest and go on with their daily lives.
With that said, Whistill called in for the night and for everybody else to do so as well, to rest up for the days to come.
But 9S also remembered before he, Pod and Rogue went to their tent to sleep, Whistill told them that in the next days he may need their entire time and assistance for the tribe and told 9S that they may not be able to go to the village for a while. Which also meant 9S would only have the next day to report to the guild about everything before he becomes unavailable for the coming days.
Understanding the felyne chief, 9S decided to report to the guild the first thing by tomorrow morning. Though, he did inform Whistill that he may be in the village for half of the day and asked if it's alright.
The felyne chief didn't mind and told him to finish all of the things he needs to do before heading back. Whistill also said to keep the Lunar Tears they found and the exact location of their new home a secret. He didn't want any unwanted guest to come and plunder the rare flowers nor the attention it would bring if word got out of the tribe living in a vicinity of Lunar Tears.
9S understood the felynes chief's concern and he knew it would endanger Rogue as well if word got out. If others try to find the flowers, they may end up finding Rogue instead, exposing everything 9S was hiding and his own secret.
He promised with Pod to keep it to themsleves and making it a shared and mutual secret with the felyne chief.
After that, Pod informed 9S that he can take his time and assured him that she'll handle Rogue for the day and his feeding. Rogue gave an accompany bark of compliance and agreeing to what Pod said reassuring him.
Relieve that he wouldn't need to worry about Rogue and the tribe while he's gone, 9S slept peacefully last night and woke up early in the morning to head the village at first day light.
Now with the morning sun much visible, 9S stands in front of the guild doors much earlier than he expected. Then again, not everybody was awake today and no construction was being done this early. 9S expected that they'll resume rebuilding by the time everybody is awake but that would also mean that there weren't much roadblocks or people for him to avoid and maneuver around to reach the guild.
With him this early and most likely the commander or Zinnia aren't here in the guild yet, 9S decided to do the other thing he needed to do while here in YoRHa. At this time 801S should be awake and setting up the item shop near the research center.
Hopefully he won't mind a small visit and a request. And 9S hopes he could control himself and not be tempted to go to the research center.
Shuffling items to be displayed and checking if they have enough potions and honey to combine, 801S was up and early in the item shop near the research center. He was happy that the whole stampede of YoRHa was done and everybody was focus on rebuilding the village.
Everybody but him and the other researchers in the research center.
They just continued to do what they do every day, with only an added task of combining and crafting more items for the hunters to help in their quests to support the village's reconstruction.
Although, 801S did remember yesterday that one of the researchers who went to investigate the northern area of the forest came back spooked with one of 2B and 9S's friends. They looked really distressed about something but he couldn't really tell since they were quick to enter and leave the center once they spoke with Jackass and then headed to the captain's quarters.
It seems that something big is coming up and 801S can't wait, sarcastically hoping that it isn't village destroying but knowing their luck it could be, on whatever disaster would hit them.
With Jackass no less, but at least he could be glad that his boss has something interesting to do, despite whatever danger it entails. Plus, maybe a break from helping in fixing the village roads she was assigned to do.
...And the occasional attempts of trying to sneak back inside the testing room.
801S thinks that Jackass might have gotten a bit of cabin fever for staying in her office for too long or rather specifically, unable to continue to work on the prototype she made with 9S. It's only been two days, but she seems to be ready to claw her way into the testing room with whatever device or substance to make a large explosion with.
They had to relocate her temporary work place to an open stall because of this, just to watch over her, and the commander even added a few measures to prevent her from trying.
Though, he did think adding a pair of guild knights to guard the door to the testing room is too much.
What a relief it was that all of the plans for it and the rest of the bombs were confiscated, and done with a good note too. At least their prototypes are being recommended and to be approved of by the guild. They have a high chance to be integrated into siege types of quests or town defenses.
He remembers hearing from 2B when she came to buy hunting supplies that 9S was happy of hearing the news.
'Good for him' 801S thought and it's nice that one of his ideas wasn't dud or a partial/complete failure. If 801S was being bit more honest, 9S may have inspired him to try to make something too. He may have some spare time to try his own experimenting and has one particular idea to do. But he would need a certain material before he could do anything.
'Maybe he can ask 9S to get it for him… Oh. Speak of the Deviljho, he's here.' 801S sees 9S waving at him and coming closer to the item shop.
Since 9S was banned, unfortunately for him and to a small relief of the other researchers, he thought he wouldn't be able to see him for a while since they're both busy with work. Him being with his daily job in the item shop and studying to be a researcher, and 9S assigned to assist the felyne tribe in the forest.
Nice to know that something came up for the two friends to meet.
9S might have come here because he might need something from the item shop and what a perfect opportunity this is for 801S to request something in exchange. 801S would admit to himself that he might be a bit excited that 9S might ask him to do something interesting instead.
It was… getting a bit boring lately.
'Great, I'm starting to sound like Jackass.' 801S thought to himself before praying. 'Please be something interesting.' As 9S reaches the shop and speaks to him.
"HUuuaaahhh."
The yawn that escaped from Zinnia's lips was too loud for her liking, but after the events and discovery from yesterday, she couldn't exactly sleep peacefully last night. She was walking to the guild as the sun begins to rise for the morning and the wyverian was in deep thought due to the events that happened yesterday.
Seeing the signs of the 'Black calamity' again after those years of surviving and rebuilding, really threw her off. And the fact that she has seen the biggest sign or ill omen ever, throughout her explicitly long life, adds fuel to her growing unease.
Seriously, the worst she saw was a rock the size of a cart and that led to two villages being destroyed by the black destroyer monster. Zinnia dreads what the possibilities means for the village or the forest as a whole from the dreadful sight she saw yesterday.
At least they figured out what the disturbance was or what caused all the monsters to flee and stampede into the village. Any sign or presence felt from the Black calamity would immediately send monsters running.
Although, even from the black mist itself is enough to spook some monsters. Either way, the village is in danger from the monster itself or the mysterious black haze that covers it. She highly doubts the former to be the main threat, due to the reasons she explained yesterday.
But the latter instead, since its covering a huge ass tree and a couple of patches of grass in the northern forest, based from the reports of the investigative group yesterday, which compose two of her charges and their energetic friend.
Hopefully they weren't too spooked by it.
"Who am I kidding… 6O was hyperventilating and 2B and A2 are complete spooked from what me and White told them about the black haze and what it meant. Didn't help that we brought some past scars to the mix." Zinnia told herself and gave a short sigh of exhaustion, recalling what transpired when they suddenly been called by 2B and A2 in the middle of the afternoon and rushed to the place where the tree was.
"Never have I seen this on a tree before and this big either…" Zinnia said as she stared at the tree before her.
It was almost the end of the day with the sun beginning to set, but the growing darkness just added to the flare of evil and coldness giving off from the dark and purple tinted tree. Looking at her companion, Zinnia could tell that the commander was thinking of the same thing.
"I never thought I would see this in person nor see this… disgusting haze or mist again."
She was with White and the rest of the hunting party of that day. The party was looking at the two waiting for their instructions or anything that they would know about this black and evil mist infecting the tree.
They were informed of everything that the party was doing for the day and what transpired from Anemone.
The three hunters were able to make a perimeter and marked it on a map showing, with the tree as the epicenter, that a third of the forest shows signs of these black mist. Mostly, they saw on grass and flowers alike. Sadly, both the researcher and 6O couldn't find anything relevant from studying the tree. Except when Anemone made a shot and blew off a branch from the tree, the black mist continued to surround it and showing faint signs of dissipating, before disappearing entirely. Both 6O and the researcher didn't dared to approuch it out of fear.
The discovery surprised the rest of the hunting party, but Zinnia and White were not disturbed by it and even knew this bit of its nature. They went on to explain what they know of this phenomenon to the group, after giving another look at the tree as they both thought what to say.
"I'm sure you've heard from Anemone by now what this haze would mean, is that correct?" White asked, earning nods affirming her statement.
"Then you all got the gist of what this could mean. What this sign could mean for the village." Zinnia said getting another set of confirming nods.
"Does that mean… The Black calamity is coming here?" 6O asked carefully, the question that was going around the minds of the eight membered hunting party. All feared the worst-case scenario from the tree giving off the dark haze.
Zinnia and White looked at each other with shared uncertainty and the others would notice a pained expression etched on their faces as well. The chief and the commander couldn't decide on how to address the question 6O asked without bringing up any old wounds. Though, they have to open a few to explain their situation properly.
Which is why Zinnia decided to address and answer the question first, for the things that she would say next affected White more than it did her.
"No… I doubt the Black calamity is coming anytime soon but I believe there is a possibility of it being the cause of all of this." Her statement raised a few eyebrows and their confusion she could see in their expression as well.
"What do you mean?" The researcher asked, conveying the party's thoughts.
"You see, old accounts and stories told of these signs of infection as omens, signaling danger that would come to the land. In this darkness' wake, a threat to both monster and person would rise, and is mostly herald by a monster gone mad shrouded by a black haze. Spreading it as well to its surroundings." Zinnia answered to the researcher before adding more from her knowledge of the haze to the group.
"There is no true source of how the dark haze came to be, but the stories told about the land or a monster would spontaneously emit this evil presence out of nowhere …or from another source that was prevously affected by the black haze. Which is where either the land itself or a random monster comes in contact with it and gets infected. It's what I and a few other wyverians believe to how the Black calamity came to be, an unknown monster coming in contact with the black haze and becoming its most recent infected." Zinnia explained before Anemone spoke.
"Then the same could be said to the Hermitaurs I found; their bodies were emitting these haze as well, a bit faint since they were dead. But it could mean that these monsters must have been influenced by this dark haze either spontaneously like what the chief said in her stories or something else…" Anemone said glancing at the two village leaders, knowing Zinnia and White's thoughts on the matter, while the captain's statement surprised the rest of the group.
"Then you're saying that this haze came to this forest because it has been brought by another monster similar to the Black calamity?" 2B guessed in regard to Anemone's statement.
Knowing that Anemone was right and agreeing to 2B's guess, Zinnia took a glance at White who understood what she must say next, nods and gives her consent. Making the chief think of her next words carefully.
"Yes… what you say is true 2B. If anything it's pretty close to what me and White believe is the case." Zinnia answered her charge.
"But there is some things we need to explain to all of you. And it may make you... 2B and A2, feel a bit uncomfortable…" Zinnia said earning a few confusing glances, especially from the twins.
"You all know that the Black calamity hasn't been heard from the guild for the past two years, right?" Zinnia asked and earning a few nods and gestures of agreement.
"There's a reason to that"—Zinnia pauses a bit before turning to her charges—"… A2, 2B. Do you remember A4's last mission?" Zinnia asked the twins carefully and hoping that the two wouldn't react too negatively.
The mention of A4 surprised everybody but the captain, the commander and the chief. The first subtle implication that A4 would be related to this didn't pass the party either, with 6O the most worried of how all of this ties to their current predicament and how 2B and A2 would react to this implication.
Which the normally bubbly girl sees.
Hearing A4's name cause the two to recoil slightly in pain and surprise. The late hunter was a sore spot for the two, more so to A2, for she spent more time with her.
A4 was special to the twins, since she was the one who introduce them to the world of hunting and was more of an older sibling than a mentor to the two. Hearing her name after so long all because of this strange and uncertain situation, makes the two a bit uneasy of hearing more of what happened to A4.
"Yes… we recall." 2B said in a stoic manner, trying to quell some deep emotions from rising out of her. two years may have past, but the topic of A4 and anything related was still uncomfortable for her. Even more for A2, who immediately scowled and spoke with a bit of venom in her voice.
"Yeah. The one where she didn't come back and no one knows why or what happened… everybody except for Wh—" She paused to correct herself, giving a small glare at White before facing away.
"…The Commander." She muttered under her breath.
Zinnia felt a bit of reliel that A2 didn't react a bit more violently and lash at White, but everybody knew what she meant.
A4's last mission was also a quest that she requested the commander to accompany her with. No one in the village knows why or what was the reason for it, besides A4 herself and surprisingly the main guild itself. Not even White knew what the true objective was, only under the pretense that it was simply an investigative quest. Even after the tragedy of losing A4, she still didn't get any answers, only a bruised body and an unfortunate encounter with a monster.
Not even the village or the other hunters knew the details of what happened during the quest, even though it was put into investigation with a group coming straight from Gildegaran to handle it.
What's even worst, the quest itself was revealed to be confidential and not for the public to know. Only a few from the higher ups knew the true reason, A4 included, but it's existence would have never reached the ears of YoRHa, or any other village, if it weren't for the hunter's death.
White still didn't get answers from the guild, even after that knowlegde came out, only the information she was given beforehand. She was even told by the guild, strictly, to keep whatever she experienced and the events of the quest to herself and herself only.
No matter how hard the villagers or 2B and A2 could try to get her to spill, she didn't utter a word to what really happened to A4. White only told them that she perished in the quest, to save her life and the village. They also wondered if word got out to A4's family too or if they already knew through the guild.
Regardless, A4's unexpected death would have hit every person the hunter has ever met, hard.
Zinnia understood and knows that was the main reason for A2's hostility to White, and even the cause of the slight distanced formed of the twins to the commander. They may have even blamed White for the lost of their beloved older sibling like figure. The girls were distraught that A4 was gone and are bitter that no one else knows the full story that lead to her death.
It bothers them until this day, which everybody could see from the reactions of the twins and the subsequent silence that came after what A2 said.
Seeing this, White decides... to bend the rules a bit and give them some answers, mainly because they wouldn't be able to proceed without mentioning A4 and at least to offer a small closure to the girls.
She may get some flak from the guild for revealing some information, but the fact remains that whatever is happening to the forest may come to the public really soon, the guild may have to reveal some information or bend the truth through a fabricated story to explain. Either to the hunters or the entire public with a few choice words.
With that in mind, White gives a short cough clearing her voice to get their attention before speaking about, of which she considers, one of her greatest failures.
"My last quest with… A4 is related to the disappearance of the Black Calamity from the guild's observation and monitoring. And could shed some light to our current situation. But know that what I will say next is confidential, so I can only give you some sparse details. Though whatever I say next must be kept to yourselves and not spread to the public, until further notice by the guild." White said sternly, which most of them agree to, for they were eager to know of this particular case.
But White glance at A2 and saw that she was still a bit defiant and uncooperative yet showing signs of interest. It could be because she was about to reveal some part of the truth about A4 after so long, when in the past the commander has refused to reveal and denied speaking about it to her before.
"Please…" She asked sincerely, aiming it at A2. Her sincerity a shock to the young hunter, making her eyes widen a bit from White being slightly out of character.
With huff A2 relents and give a short nod to White's direction telling her to go on and continue. With everybody on board, White decides to get straight to the point and does so after a short moment to breathe some air.
"The quest we took was to investigate a disturbance somewhere here near this section of the forest. A4 requested it one day, took me along and we both tracked the disturbance to a monster den. You all know what happened next, of the rumors that we encountered a monster that… ended the quest tragically." Everybody winced from hearing White, the commander herself showed signs of painful regret before continuing.
"And I believe you can guess correctly that the monster we encountered was unfortunately the Black calamity itself." White reveals, shocking the hunter party. They knew that the commander and A4 encountered a powerful monster, but they didn't know it was the dreaded monster that tormented the world for nearly 13 years.
Much less, how close it was to the village than before and how YoRHa was highly risked to encounter it unprepared.
Seeing their expressions, White decided that revealing this info is enough and to not reveal the quest details that was given to her by A4. Leaving her suspicions of its true nature to herself.
She doubts the others would believe her anyway and only Zinnia, Anemone and Jackass knew what she would be talking about. They were talking about it just after the whole stampede in YoRHa after all.
"The aftermath, to put it simply, the guild has marked the Black Calamity to have been presumedly slayed by A4… at the cost of her own life." White spoke again, dropping another bombshell to the entire investigative party, with the twins, 60, the researcher and the three hunters utterly looking at the commander with disbelief.
But before anybody of them could ask questions like:
Why did the guild keep this revelation?
Or why wasn't A4 being recognize as the slayer of the Black calamity?
More so, why didn't the guild tell the world that the monster that ravage them 15 years ago, has finally been vanquish?
White immediately cuts in and explains.
"Please remember I said presumed. The guild couldn't find the body, meaning that we couldn't completely say that the Black Calamity is dead or deny that it could have somehow survived the encounter with us and hasn't emerge from whatever hole it was hiding in the past two years. The Guild believes, revealing this to the public would create a false sense of security, increasing the chances of ourselves in lowering our guard and be taken advantage of by the Black Calamity should it ever returns." White told the group, which made them pause in their inquiry and understanding a bit of what the guild meant in not revealing this information.
Bringing the body back of monster is a clear sign and indication that it was slain. If there isn't a body to show, it would mean no proof of its demise or concrete evidence of its death.
"Despite what the guild believes it to be, myself and the other heads of YoRHa think otherwise of the likelihood of the Black Calamity returning." White said, making A2 raise her eyebrows.
"What do you mean? And you haven't told us about A4. We already know she fought and died but how? What happened to her?!" A2 asked in a manner not with the same amount of anger she would normally project to the commander, but sounding more desperate in finding out what happened to A4 and her encounter with the dreaded monster.
"We—I believe… that A4 slayed the Black Calamity because I saw her take it down with her." White said with finality and clear belief in what she saw.
"…How?" It was 2B who asked, also curious to what happened to her old mentor.
Hearing 2B, White furrowed her eyebrows, unsure how to proceed and considered telling everybody the full truth. Some parts of it others wouldn't believe, heck she couldn't believe it herself.
What she saw or what A4 was doing during the end of the fight. What she was telling her, before they encountered the Black calamity, about the quest and what they were doing.
But she can tell them at least of how A4 finished the battle and knows what she saw at the end was true, even if she couldn't discern the entirety of what she saw.
"The Black calamity was too powerful for us to handle and knowing that if it gets out from the den, it would head straight to YoRHa. A4 decided to collapse the cave and trap it. Her plan was reckless, and I would have stopped her from doing it. If I did, I would have found a way to signal reinforcements from YoRHa …but I was struck down before I could do anything…. The monster gave a hard blow when my guard was down and from there, those last moments weren't clear for me, I couldn't remember everything." White said, with the others finally learning what happened to the commander in the quest and what lead to her condition before. White continued, speaking almost in a whisper for the next part.
"But I could remember clearly though… the sound of A4 yelling for me to go, as I watch her somehow collapse the cave around her. Debris fell from the ceilings as I struggled to get out, with the sound of rocks and stone walls collapsing the last thing I heard before I collapse and lost consciousness completely…" From there White paused a bit making the others believe she was struggling to speak after remembering something traumatic.
"When I woke up, I immediately remembered what happened and try to dig out the cave and when I couldn't do it by myself, I went back to the village to bring help. When I did, we dug and dug until we came upon a bottomless ravine… seeing it, I knew that A4 was gone and so was the Black Calamity." White said the latter part wistfully, remembering the cold truth like it was just yesterday.
"You know the rest, with the guild sending an investigation per my request in any hope to recover any of the bodies but found none. From there, the quest details, the Black calamity's undetermined fate and my account was made confidential, but only revealing the death of A4 for respect to let the world know that she died in duty and to let her family know of what happened to her…" The commander finished and could see that the reactions of the group were mix.
Some were in awe from hearing a fellow hunter in slaying the Black calamity and died in a glorious manner but others like 2B and A2 were silent, with expressions one couldn't determine. White doubts, of her shedding some truth to what happened to A4 would put some ease to the twins. But knowing that she and the late hunter fought a near hopeless battle, with the only option to save the village is through their mentor sacrificing herself, still leaves a bitter taste to the girls.
Regardless, they still need to address their current situation. Hopefully Zinnia would be able to talk to the girls later, she figures that it would mostly involve complaints and angry vices to why they kept the details of A4 a secret or why their mentor was too bull headed to do something else. White thought of giving them a day off, if it would help the twins with their thoughts to this revelation.
"Now that you know of what happened to the Black calamity and its presumed status of being slayed. Our current situation has some slight implications of changing its status." White spoke again, getting everybody's attention and their confuse expression. They all trying to figure out what she meant would change.
White glance at Zinnia to explain, for she knows the wyverian chief has the same thoughts as her and a much clearer theory to the black haze emerging.
"The Black calamity hasn't been heard from the guild for two years and presumed to have been slayed based from White's account, but its body hasn't been found. The presence of the black mist in this section of the forest changes that by giving the possibility that the Black Calamity's body is here, somewhere. Probably a place where it's body found itself to be after dropping from the ravine, still buried below us in the underground cave systems. Dead or alive, its body still holds whatever this darkness is…" Zinnia said gesturing to the tree, while Anemone begins to catch on with what all of this would mean.
"Making it the possible source of the black haze and the prime reason to why those Hermitaurs were infected. If we find the body…" Anemone spoke, making the rest of the group understand what the chief said.
"Then we could stop the infection and maybe even confirm if the Black Calamity is truly slayed and if not…"
"Finish it off for good."
Both the researcher and a hunter continued the train of thought, with the latter statement spur a thought into 2B.
"Would that mean… that we could find A4 and…" 2B struggled to say her next words.
If they find the body of the monster, chances are they could find the body of the late huntress. Such a thought could make one believe that her old mentor could be alive since her body wasn't found either but the realistic chance of A4 surviving is… unlikely.
And if A4 is really gone then the best that they could do is...
"Finally let her rest… and finish what she started..." Said A2 with remorse, finishing for 2B and surprising her as well that A2 seemed to accept the passing of their mentor and the likely hood that she may really be gone.
'Or she already had but now she could have a certain closure to it, by looking for A4 and let her pass on properly' Zinnia thought to herself.
The chief couldn't forget the hard and pained look on A2's face when she said it. It conveyed how one would accept the harsh nature of reality but didn't want too.
2B shared the same look, realizing too what her sister was feeling and the chief could see the grief on both of their faces.
Zinnia couldn't remove the image from her head and was one of the reasons for her staying up late last night.
She was worried what A2 and 2B would be feeling for the next days, with the fact that they would be searching for the body of their mentor/older sibling like figure. She could tell some past memories would well up and feelings of pain and hurt accompanied by it would resurface for the two.
Then there's her other concerns for today. One of which is the meeting that would continue her discussion with White from before.
Just yesterday, when Anemone asked what's their next move after the whole revelation, White made the order that as of the moment, the northern section of the forest would be restricted and banned to be entered by the villagers, any travelers and the rest of the public. She told Anemone to relay this to the village, through a guild announcement once they went back.
She also ordered that they would not be revealing to the public the black haze and must be kept a close secret among themselves, until the guild decides what to do next. The commander explained it was to avoid panic among the villagers and mass hysteria, since even with the knowlegde and theory they have about this black haze, they still know little of it to perform a proper course of action.
A select few, besides themselves would be informed of the truth but only those who will be assigned in helping the investigation.
The next thing she ordered was for 6O and the researcher with them to gather some samples and bring them to the research center and to Jackass to be studied. The hunters, including 2B and A2 would assist them.
It was much easier for them to do, after Zinnia told them not to be worried of touching the infected plants. The black haze doesn't affect people or wyverians as they do to monsters and plants, and only feel the chilling and dread presence to them.
That was the last thing the party did for the day before they headed home to for the night, and while they were busy gathering, White and Zinnia spoke to each other about what they needed to do.
Which are also the topics of their meeting today, together with Anemone and Jackass.
Zinnia remembers mainly from her talk with White that they need to inform the guild at Gildegaran of their situation, and collaborate with them for a joint investigation on the matter.
White has also shared interest to have some hunters to monitor the other areas of the forest, besides guarding the restricted northern area, just in case the black mist appeared suddenly in those places. Also to drive some stubborn monsters off from the northern area, to avoid any of the wildlife to be infected by the haze.
Zinnia did agree with White's latter suggestion, and knows all too well of the dangers of some monsters going insane and attack the village. But YoRHa is a bit shorthanded on hunters and all are too busy in rebuilding the village.
Meaning that they would have to request Gildegaran to send some hunters to YoRHa, and the village might be hosting more hunters and guild representatives in the next days.
"Giving me another concern on how to lodge a lot of people and make room in our currently shambled village." Zinnia muttered to herself while pinching the bridge on her nose as she entered the guild hall.
As she continues to walk through the main hall, heading to the captain's quarters, she begins to think of how everything is getting more complicated for the village after the stampede and how tiring it is being the village chief, while raising three children at the same time.
Teens no less.
Her senior wyverian chiefs and town leaders told her running a village would be difficult ...and they were right.
Normally, villages would at least last for twenty years before something threatens its existence, like a five-star monster or an elder dragon passing by. While also handling and managing the needs of the people and the economic aspects to provide and maintain said village.
YoRHa has the latter part covered, since they are considered the hotspot for culture and trade in the whole continent, it's the former that the village and chief is having a problem with.
It's barely the 10th anniversary of their founding, which is coming in a few months, and the village has already been invaded by monsters and came close to being wipeout by the Black Calamity, which its existence caused and started it's founding in the first place. And that is just the latest of what the forest full of monsters have been throwing at them throughout the years.
The wyverian chief dreads what other eventful thing will happen next to the village …or her life in general. Many things have happened that change her life as much that it did to the village. She recalls and reflects on them as she turns to a corner heading straight to the captain's quarters.
First was the Black calamity rampaging, then forming an outpost in response to help those in need. And then a village because a lot people gathered and bonded together under her leadership. Become a village rivaling Gildegaran in just a year and a tourist spot in two.
Then in her personal life, she adopted a pair of twins, since back then she thought 'Heck why not? Nobody wanted to take care two violent cute kids, who are now two mildly less violent cute teenage girls, so might as well be the one giving them the lovin they need. Besides, she thought she could use the company and she was really curious in taking care of kids and raising ones of her own.'
Then came another addition to the little family she had. Her current charge she took in, after finding him unconscious and lying in the riverbanks. The boy was handful even before he was less shy and open…
Could be because of the fact he has memory loss, the commander being suspicious of his currently mysterious origin, and no known records at all of himself or his village.
But did that bother Zinnia? No it didn't. If anything, it didn't matter to her of how her boy came to YoRHa. She treated him well, like a child of her own, just like with A2 and 2B.
And the six of them, Pods included, are one big happy family the wyverian didn't think she wished she would ever have.
"Haaaa… But I feel they're growing up so fast…" Zinnia said to herself wistfully. 'Well, they wouldn't stay as kids forever… I should spend some time with them more, before they get too busy with their hunting career.' She also thought as she finally arrived at the room and before opening the door to the captain quarters.
"Oh Zinnia you're here!" Zinnia heard her name called and saw it was 9S.
"Nines?" She asks, with the boy answering her with a grin.
It surprised her that he was here, since he said he would be staying with the felynes just a day before yesterday. And further to her surprise, he was also with Anemone, Jackass and White in the captain's quarters discussing something with them before she arrived. But before the chief could ask him why he was here, the commander immediately spoke.
"Good that you're here Zinnia, now that we are complete, we can head to the cart." Said White as she stood up and with everybody else, all motioned to exit the room as Zinnia holds the door open for them in confusion. Once everybody went out, Zinnia shook herself from her confusion, follows them and walk with the same pace as 9S.
"9S what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Whistill with the tribe?" The chief asks her youngest charge.
"Oh! I actually came here to report that we found them a place! I was reporting to the commander and Anemone about it before you arrived." He answered cheerfully.
"Really?! This soon, how? And why are leaving the captain's quarters. I mean I just got here!" She exclaimed, a bit bothered that she woke up early to head to the guild for their meeting, only for said meeting she suspected to be elsewhere.
"Well… the commander informed me that something is infecting the forest and made it a restricted zone. I'm not sure of the rest, honest." 9S said, also a bit perplex to why they're leaving the guild too. Zinnia was a bit surprise too that White didn't tell 9S of the black haze entirely and just vaguely worded it as an infection.
Zinnia could guess that masking the black haze as an unknown infection would be their main cover up to what is happening to the forest. Better keep the populace ignorant than let them assume the worst and say the Black calmity is coming to destroy their town. She'll have to ask White later what their full cover up story would be.
"We're heading back to the forest, rather to the northern area of it, Zinnia. We didn't have a thorough look since it was getting dark but now, we can have one since it's the morning. Also before you ask, we're bringing 9S as well. I have informed him about our current situation and I may have an important job for him." White spoke, answering some of the questions Zinnia would ask and giving the hint that she didn't give 9S the full story, confirming one of her thoughts.
Though a new one came with White's statement that 9S would be doing something related to it.
"What? He already has one by helping with the felynes…" Zinnia said before getting cut by Anemone.
"Don't worry chief. His current job and what White's job for him will coincide." The hunting captain spoke as they reach the main hall and head to the direction of the cart station. Zinnia was getting a bit irritated with the constant news she was receiving at notice.
"Okay… Can someone tell me and bring me up to speed to why we're heading off back to the forest and why should we involve another one of my charge? I already have two who are involved and that I'm are concerned of." The chief's question sounding more of an order and a strict request to her companions walking with her.
"Don't worry Zinnia the task I have in mind is safe for 9S and like or not, he may encounter what we have seen in the forest regardless if he was warned of it beforehand. And we know how he is when his curiosity gets the better of him. Better he knows now than let him find out later." White said to Zinnia, who agrees to what the commander said ...reluctantly, seeing that 9S was looking at them before scratching his head a bit shamefully.
She looks at him and gets a chuckle out of the boy before he averts his eyes, knowing what the commander was saying about himwas true, guilty too that he may try to do something dangerous to find whatever peaked his interest. It wouldn't be the first time and the wyverian knows this all too well.
But Zinnia knows in her thoughts that telling 9S would let them satiate his curiosity and avoid some misunderstandings or conflict with the felyne tribe in the forest by informing them that the northern area is restricted or that they may encoutner the infection in the other areas of the forest.
"I and 9S can debrief you with his report and what we have discuss on the way there. And it was Jackass' idea to head back to the forest to investigate it more." Added White as Zinnia huffs a bit immaturely to Jackass, not liking the change of plans and the fact that they would be trekking in the forest today. She would have prepared herself to wear something more outdoorish, and gives a sigh to release some of her frustration for being awake in the early morning.
"Yeah… I'll just get a few my tools and meet you guys at the cart station." Said Jackass before sprinting off to the research center as the rest watch her leave. Anemone then turns to Zinnia to ask her something.
"Hey chief?"
"Yes." Zinnia said as they resume to head to the carts and walks with the same pace as Anemone. With White in front of them and 9S now at their back, lagging a bit, the two could have a semi private conversation.
"You thought about what I said last night?" The captain said, reminding Zinnia the other thing that kept her late last night.
"Uggghh… Yes I have." She said a bit grouchily as she remembered the captain's requests and the details behind it.
"Zinnia…" Anemone drawled.
"I know, I know… I'm still a bit peeved and didn't like how you kept it a bit, the whole raptor attack, from me and the girls. " Zinnia said to the captain, still a bit irritated.
"I know and I promise I won't do it again... So what's your answer?" Anemone asked while glancing a bit at 9S, who seems to be in his on world right now thinking about something, before facing Zinnia again with a look.
Zinnia knowing what Anemone meant by it, thinks for a bit and looks at 9S briefly before giving a sigh and answers the captain.
"Fine… yes. I agree, you have my permission." Zinnia hopes she's not making another mistake and regrets this later from giving her answer.
"Really? That's great, I assure you that 9S will be happy of it." Anemone said in a cheery manner, happy too that Zinnia approved of her plan. The chief was still a bit pensive of it but she knows Zinnia can count on her.
"Just keep him safe."
"Of course, don't worry… it's not like he's doing something more dangerous than hunter training. Also, the kids a natural." Anemone replied, while trying to alleviate the wyverians maternal instinct.
"I know…" Zinnia relents and knows that she shouldn't be doting to much on her charges under her care, they're going to be future monsters hunters and she might as well get use to the fact that they would be heading to danger every second in their future job.
Won't stop her from worrying though.
She takes a look at 9S and sees he was trailing behind, very deep in thought before she calls for him. He hears her and catches up, as the group continues to head to the cart station.
'Hopefully nothing would happen today that would be too stressful for me' Zinnia thought.
Author's notes:
Okay that is the end of the chapter.
This chapter and the next is pretty much just exposition for the coming ones. There would be a time skip after, then the next chapters would be about 9S and Rogue bonding/training as Rider and Monstie. I'm also thinking of making some small omakes at the end but I'm still not sure about it.
Well that's all, See you guys in the next one!
In about two weeks, same date as the Iceborne expansion coming to Monster Hunter World!