Chapter two
After collecting everything Bran decided going for another hunt was alright since the Grazers had taken so little time. Tomioka had made himself quite usefull with that sword of his. The strange man's performance had neutered any doubts Bran had about him. - Hey Tomioka, you up for another hunt?-. -Yes-. -Okay, since you're adept enough and i would like an insurance on my life while doing it. We'll be going for a Sawtooth hunt-.
-Reports have been going around that there's one loose in the nearby forest and towns close by would give a good prize for removing it-. And like that they took of travelling out of the steppe and into a grassy area with a river.
To Bran's dismay when Trying to cross the river he saw the reason why merchants avoided this route. -Damm, i completely forgot that there was a Snapmaw Site on the way-. -Hn- Since his partner did not know the Machines they had to wait and observe for a time in order to check their Patrol-Lines. Bran was quite focused on planning out a route so he was startled when he heard his companions voice. -Bran-san, is it not easier to simply loop around the Machines?-. -No, the way to the right is to far and to the left is another Snapmaw Site-. -I see-
-But don't worry I've planned out a route for us. We go along the rocks by the river and advance when the outermost Snapmaws take to the water. Then when the ones behind switch with the ones in the water we make a break for the trees. Got it?-. -Yes-.
And with that they began to move, first rolling through the bushes until they reached the boulders embeded into the river. -Okay, when i say go. Move out of the bushes and behind the rocks. Then observe the Snapmaws and signal me when it's safe to follow-. -Hn- After waiting for a few moments Bran turned to him and said –Go, quick-. So he moved diving behind the rocks as soon as possible. Then he turned and peeked at the Lizard-like creatures from behind the rock.
Seeing as they were returning from the water he made no motion to signal Bran and waited but quicky ducked behind the boulder when one of the Machines tourned around, it's gaze briefly flashing yellow before returning to their blue color. Then the two Snapmaws moved back into the water and he signaled Bran to come over.
-Shit, that was close, lucky you tucked your head in so quick. We would have been mincemeat if the entire pack noticed us-. Giyu nodded not quite convinced that he couldn't take them all or at least escape but made no motion to correct Bran. -Okay so now were moving along i go in front and count to three when we're ready. Then we make a break for the trees like i said, understood?-. Once again binging on his companions silence as an afirmation Bran began to move sneaking past the Snapmaws with suprising grace.
Once they reached the last boulder he stopped and stuck his head out in order to see what the Machines were doing. Seing as they just moved into the water he nodded to Giyu and quietly countded to three then stood up and began sprinting from the shore to the edge of the forest. Hearing footsteps behind him he didn't look back and dove into the bushes.
Once Bran looked up he was relieved to see Tomioka beside him. -Good, we made now it's just a short walk to the last place were the Sawtooth was seen-. -But don't think that this will be easy. Sawtooths are some of the most agressive creatures out there so don't get cocky-. -Very well- The trek in the forest was not an exiting afair with Bran only making short stops to comfirm their postition or to ambush any animal that stumbled on their path.
Finally they reached a clearing with a nearby pond were they refiled their water. They were almost finished when Bran suddenly pulled Giyu into a nearby bush. Suprised Giyu gave him questioning look. -Yeah yeah sorry but i think the Sawtooth is close by. Just hear-. Giyu nodded and concentrated on his hearing and was suprised to hear a loose beat akin to breathing or large footsteps. It was coming closer and closer until Giyu could the Beast in it's full form.
He could see why Bran would tell him to be catious. It was not unly large but also looked to be armored in what apeared to be some kind of white steel. -One ugly bastard eh? But don't worry to much. With enough preparation we can kill it. I'll move farther back and set a few Firebombs up then I'll bait him over and blow him up. When on fire these things can't do much. Hopefully the fire takes out a few pieces of armor along the neck-. If that happens, behead it if not try to distract it while i take it out with arrows and a few small bombs-.
With that Bran began to move to the other side of the clearing. There he set up what looked to be small Balloons with little packages at the bottom. After putting about three in the same spot he moved futher back and began making noise. -Hey! You stupid bastard you hear me?-. With speed unatural for it's large form the Sawtooth turned around and began running towards the man.
When the Beast reached the other side of the clearing Bran pulled out a flaming arrow and quickyl shot the ballons which at the moment were directly benath the sprinting Sawtooth. The moment the arrow toucched the ballond they went up in a large ball of flames briefly blinding Giyu as to what was happening. When he could see again the Beast was in flames and rolling around on the ground accidentally toppling a few trees with it's large form.
That was Giyu's cue to move as he decided on the first form of his Breathing Style. Water Breathing First Form: Water Surface Slash. So he jumped and aimed his blade for the neck of the Sawtooth that apeared to be distracted with it's own buring body. When he was just about to connect The Beast suddenly turned around and lunged up in a suprising attack. Giyu's eyes widened and he quickly turned his body in order to dodge the incoming attack.
He landed in a roll and turned around to see the Sawtooth already turning around to jump at him again. He was about to check the area for Bran when an arrow struck one of the Machine's eyes. Turning to the side he saw his companion up in a tree holding a large bow and his quiver slung over his hip. -I'll cover you since i don't have a melee weapon with me-. Nodding Giyu looked at the Machine once more and took a stance.
Just as the Sawtooth lunged at him again he jumped at a tree and propelled himself up dodging the attack and positioning himself above the beast which was still landing and couldn't evade his next attack. Eight Form: Waterfall Basin he swung and with a motion amplified by gravity took the Beast's head of in one clean cut.
Landing on a fallen tree he made sure the Machine was dead bevor signaling Bran to come over. -Wow, i knew you were good but not that good-. -Hn- -Tch, still responding like that, you know it's annoying right?-. -Hn- Huffing Bran took to dismanteling the Sawtooth corpse handing half the shards to him and taking a lense out of the one good eye of the Sawtooth. -Here take it, I've no use for it and you can sell it to a merchant-. Since the lense was small enough to carry easily Giyu nodded and took it from Bran's hand.
-Well, we gotta get to some settlemant you don't wanna know this forest at night-. -Very well- taking of towards a town called the estate they didn't need to wander for long before reaching it and settling down for the night.