This was supposed to be posted yesterday but I decided to add some changes and additional dialogue.

...

Chapter 6

The large doors to the Dundorma Guild Hall opened as a woman entered, dressed in the distinctive red robes, and plating of a Guild Knight. She took off her eye mask and hat, shaking her long red locks free before kneeling.

"You've summoned me?"

In front of her, sat an old towering Wyverian man. This was His Immenseness or the Great Elder, the founder of Dundorma and due to his size, a rare specimen amongst Wyverians. In short, he completely dwarfed everyone in the room.

"Harrumph! Yes, we have summoned you, Knight Rachel, for we have an emergency in our hands."

"And what may that be?"

The Wyverian man gave a nod toward one of his aides standing by who proceeded to explain the situation. "Throughout this past week, we have received concerning reports coming from the Desert. It started with odd monster activity, such as a seeming lack of predatory Wyverns in the area. Then the attacks occurred, where there have been an increasing number of reports of Cephadrome attacking people passing by the desert, some of which have been fatal. The reports stated that the Cephadrome were far more aggressive than normal and none of them seemed to have a pack of Cephalos with them."

That's not normal…Rachel noted.

"We also received a report several days ago. A merchant party was attacked while traveling through the desert. Normally not a cause for much concern, until we received more details about the attack. It seems a particularly powerful Diablos was the culprit."

"A Diablos? Forgive me for interrupting but if that's the case then why not just call hunters?"

"Well, that's what we would have done if not for the piece of news we received just a few days ago. We have apparently lost contact with one of our Desert outposts and thus, would like you to investigate. We think the recent monster behavior may be connected to whatever is causing this."

"I see."

His Immenseness huffed. "Thus, your task Knight Rachel is to investigate the cause of these recent events and report back immediately. Is that clear?"

"Understood."

"Very well then. You are dismissed!"

Rachel bowed once again, standing up and placing her hat and mask back on before walking out of the Guild Hall.

To say that Iris and Sven were anxious was an understatement. It had been two days since Shaw failed to return from the other village and the two hunters spent all day pacing back and forth and discussing amongst themselves. They shut out everyone in the village, even Damian. The young man had never seen them act this restless, not even during a hunt gone wrong.

The only exception to this was Ximena, whom they regularly visited to ask for updates. The woman had to reassure them dozens of times that she had already messaged the Guild and are simply waiting for an answer.

"Damn it we don't have time for waiting!" Iris asserted, slamming her hands down onto Ximena's desk, causing it to rattle.

"Ms Thorne, I've already told you so many times that you must wait for further instructions from the Guild before-"

"Fuck that," Sven snapped. "Shaw is our friend, and we are not going to just sit here and wait."

Ximena sighed. She truly hated that she couldn't do much for them. She wasn't going to say it aloud, but she too often questioned the Guild's various decisions. She contemplated whether to follow through with the rules or to follow her morals instead. After a minute of thinking, the latter won.

"Fine. I'll allow you to leave."

"Great! Then-"

"But you are only to observe and report back. Nothing more."

They nodded quickly before the two left without another word. Once they were gone, Ximena let out another sigh and laid her head on her desk. I need a vacation…

Later, Iris and Sven departed from the village immediately after finishing their preparations. Damian offered to come with them, but Iris turned him down, citing that it was something he shouldn't concern himself with. The young man reluctantly obliged and watched as they disappeared behind the gates, not even bothering to wave goodbye.

"You alright?" Anna asked, moving to stand beside him. She took his hand, giving him a gentle squeeze, which Damian reciprocated.

"Yeah…I'm fine." Perhaps I really am a mere witness to someone else's story…

…

There was something wrong, prompting Sven to tap Iris's shoulder. "Hey, do you notice something?"

"What?"

The two were currently traversing the desert, following a map they took as they headed towards the neighboring village where Shaw was last seen. The journey there had been incredibly peaceful so far…and unnerving as well.

"Look around. No Cephalos and Cephadrome, no Nibelsnarf, no Genprey, not even Apceros…nothing. Ever since we left, we have not seen a single ounce of life."

"True…"

Sven feared the worst. "Do you think…an Elder Dragon did this?"

"I…I hope not."

Sometime later, when they arrived at their destination, they stopped and stared at the sight before them. Instead of a village, all they could see were the ruined remains of buildings. An airship could also be seen there, with the signature insignia of the Guild on it. There was also a good number of Guild personnel walking around and inspecting the area. Immediately, panic came over them and they rushed over as fast as they could. However, once they arrived, a few of the armored guards intercepted them, blocking them with their shields.

"Halt! This village is under Guild investigation and only authorized personnel may enter. Who are you two?"

"Let us through!"

But the guard who spoke held his ground. "I won't repeat myself," he stated firmly.

Sven quickly spoke before Iris could do something foolish. "Sorry, but we're hunters and we came here because our friend stayed in this village and had not returned for the past few days."

"Hunters?" The guard glanced at his colleague, who shrugged. He turned back to the two hunters. "Wait here."

Not long later, the guard returned accompanied by a masked woman dressed in red Guild armor. The distinctive hat and armor were a clear tell that she was a member of the distinguished Guild Knights. The guard whispered something to her, and she nodded before approaching the two hunters. "You're both hunters, yes? And you wish to see your friend?" she asked. They nodded frantically in response. She turned around, gesturing for them to follow.

As they followed the woman, they looked at their surroundings, noting the wreckage left behind. Absolutely nothing was left, and seeing this, the two hunters feared the worst.

"Here we are," the woman said as she led them to an open space covered by a tarp. There in front of them… were many body bags, all neatly lined up on the ground.

"No…" Iris whispered in disbelief.

"If you're looking for your friend, they may be in one of these. These are all the ones we could find…Or at least what's left of them," she added, glancing at the two. "You may open them up if you wish."

Almost immediately, the two hunters rushed over and began to open each body bag, desperately looking for Shaw. It took them a solid five minutes of checking each body bag before Sven gasped as he opened what was likely his eighth bag. Iris saw his reaction and ran over to him. As soon as she saw the contents of her bag, her heart stopped.

It was Shaw.

"I-I can't believe it…" Sven sputtered out in shock. "Oh, gods…oh my gods…" He struggled to form his words, unable to take in what he was seeing.

Iris on the other hand was silent, dropping to her knees and leaning forward to touch the body. She touched Shaw's now pale-looking cheeks, noting how cold he was to the touch. What made it worse was the fact that he wasn't smiling. Shaw had always talked about dying honorably, especially if he were to be killed by a powerful beast.

"I signed up for this job, so might as well enjoy it to the fullest. If I die in the claws of a beast, well then…I'll make sure to die with dignity!"

Instead, his expression looked agonized, as if he had died in great pain.

Wordlessly, she got up and walked over to the Knight, who had stood off to the side to give them space.

"Do ya know what's responsible for this?" she asked, not a shred of emotion in her voice.

The Knight shrugged. "Judging from the level of destruction, our first guess is that an Elder Dragon did this. Possible candidates are between a Teostra or Kushala Daora. But the latter do not usually attack settlements like this, and the former would have left burn and scorch marks all over the place, which we didn't find."

"Any clues?"

"We did find something-"

"Tell me."

"Well, we found a set of footprints nearby." Just then, an idea came to her head. "Actually, since you're both here, we could really use your help in figuring out the owner of those footprints."

"Show me."

The Knight looked at Sven. "And you?"

"Iris is better at me in that regard and…I need some time alone."

"As you wish…Follow me, hunter."

Iris was promptly led to the outskirts of the village, where she was shown a spot where several guards stood by. The guards saw the Knight and all of them bowed respectfully before one stepped forward.

"Good day Knight Rachel! How may we help you?"

"I've brought a hunter with me," she said, pointing her thumb at Iris. "She should be able to identify the print."

"Understood!"

Iris followed the guard towards the spot, where they backed off to give her the space she needed. As soon as she saw the footprint, Iris got to work immediately. The huntress examined the footprint, noting down its size, shape, and depth of the print. Once finished, Iris walked back towards Knight Rachel. The woman raised an eyebrow, eager to know the answer.

"Well? Can you tell the owner of the footprint?"

"There is lack of long, sharp talons, which are present in most carnivores…Instead, having large, almost blunt claws, which make it suitable for burrowing. Not to mention the overall shape and size of the print. In conclusion…a Diablos," Iris finished.

Rachel could only frown in disbelief. "A Diablos? You're meaning to tell me that a Diablos was responsible for destroying a large settlement and killing everyone in it? I know they're powerful beasts, but I also know that they do not possess enough power to wipe out an entire settlement, let alone one that is guarded by hunters." Could this be the Diablos I was informed about?

"It isn't just a regular Diablos," Iris hissed bitterly. "If my guess is correct then…"

Seeing Iris go quiet, Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? Then what?"

Iris ignored her. "I'm heading back," she said as she proceeded to walk away.

"Hey! I'm talking here!" Before Rachel could stop her, she was intercepted by Sven, who had suddenly appeared beside her.

"There's no use convincing her…" He sighed. "That was the last straw for her."

"What do you mean?"

Sven shook his head. "Never mind that point is you need to listen to me. I need you to send a message to the Guild. Inform the Guild of this threat and tell them to send their best hunters. Please."

Seeing the pleading and desperate look in his eyes, Rachel nodded. "I will. Thank you for informing me, hunter."

"Good."

"…I'm sorry about your friend," she added quietly. "I'll make sure to give him a hunter's burial. Also, before I forget, may I ask if he has a family?"

Sven's heart broke even more. "He does," he answered.

"Thank you, I'll make sure to inform them as well."

Sven sent a sad but thankful smile her way before heading off to catch up to Iris.

…

When Damian saw Iris and Sven return, he could immediately tell something was wrong. Tentatively, he tried to approach them. "Iris?"

But all he received was silence as Iris walked past him without even bothering to acknowledge him. "It's no use kid," Sven said.

"What happened? Don't tell me…" Sven simply shook his head in response and Damian connected the dots. "Oh I-I see…I'm so sorry…"

"No need to apologize. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must prevent her from doing something stupid." He patted Damian's shoulder before hurrying towards the direction Iris went.

Not long after, he found Iris over at the quest counter and the huntress had Ximena lifted by the collar of her uniform. Alarmed, he quickly moved to intercept, grabbing Iris by the shoulder, and pulling her away, causing her to drop Ximena. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Not until she does what I say!"

Ximena coughed as she adjusted the collar of her uniform. "Ms Thorne, for the last time I told you-"

"Shut up!"

"Iris!"

"Guards! Seize this woman at once!" Ximena commanded as the nearby armored Guild guards joined Sven in holding Iris back. However, Iris was far stronger and broke free from their grasp, making a move to lunge towards Ximena. But before she could, a pair of strong arms grabbed her from behind.

"Let me go, Sven!"

"For god's sake, Iris stop! You're making a scene!"

She turned her head around to glare at him. Her expression was furious and crazed and Sven could tell that she had truly lost it. "Shaw is dead…all because of that thing. How many more people must I lose before I kill that monster?"

"I grieve with you Iris, I really do. But right now, heading out on the whim is a foolish mistake that will get you killed!"

"I don't care! I won't be satisfied until I have my blade shoved up that thing's blasted skull!" She struggled more fiercely, forcing Sven to muster all his strength to hold her in a vice-like grip. But Iris refused to give up and Sven was forced to push her face down onto the ground and hold her arm against her back.

"Guards, help me!" he pleaded as he and the two guards proceeded to place their entire weights onto the huntress, who continued to struggle and shout profanities. He then looked towards Ximena, who had been watching the entire ordeal with an unfazed look. "Ximena, I've contacted a Guild Knight and told her to inform the Guild and bring back their best hunters. So, need to worry."

"Ah, thank you."

"Are you alright though? She didn't hurt you or anything right?"

She shook her head. "Thankfully not. I appreciate the concern though." She turned her attention back towards Iris. Boldly, she stepped towards them and crouched down to look directly at the huntress. "Ms Thorne, what you did was irrational and idiotic and as such, you've nearly jeopardized your entire hunting career. Assaulting an official member of the Guild is punishable by law, and had you inflicted harm on me, you will be arrested, stripped of your license, and imprisoned. You would have also been banned from hunting for the rest of your life."

Iris merely growled her.

"I understand that you've lost someone dear to you, but I cannot bend the rules just for one hunter. I sincerely apologize for that," she said. The huntress looked away in response and Ximena took that as a sign that she understood.

"What do we do now?" Sven asked.

"For now, just take her away. Let her calm down. Though she didn't harm me, under Guild law I still must instill a punishment for attempted assault." Ximena turned around and walked back towards her desk. She reached down, opened a cupboard, and took out a piece of paper. "Ms Thorne, for your actions you are forbidden from engaging in hunter activities for forty-eight hours and be placed under probation. If you attempt to break this, you will be arrested, and your license suspended until further notice."

Iris was silent and she still refused to look at them.

"I appreciate it Ximena," Sven said.

"Just doing my job. By the way, I need you to sign this paper since you're a witness."

"Alright." But before he could take the paper, he heard sniffling. Looking down, he realized it was coming from Iris. "Iris?" When she didn't respond, he loosened his grip and told the guards to do the same. He pulled Iris up to a sitting position and lifted her chin.

She was crying.

"S-Shaw…he's…he's gone and it's all my f-fault…" she murmured between sobs.

"It's not your fault."

"L-Leo…they're both gone…"

Sven immediately pulled her into a hug. He felt her muffled cries against his shoulder, and he sighed, raising his hand to caress the back of her head. "Just let it all out, Iris…I'm here for you", he whispered soothingly. He looked up at Ximena, who was still holding the paper. He opened his mouth to say something, but she interrupted him.

"The paper can wait. I'll give you both the space you need." She stood up and gestured for the guards to leave as well. They also shooed away the villagers nearby to give them the privacy they need.

"Thank you," he muttered quietly as they left him and Iris alone on the floor.

…

It was a few hours later when a Guild airship landed on the village. Normally, this was a regular occurrence but what caught people's attention were the individuals who arrived on the airship. The first to step off the ship was a Guild Knight, recognizable from the red coat armor and hat. Trailing behind her was a small squadron of armored Guild guards. And following the guards, was a man and woman.

"What a lovely little village, don't you think so Wehner?" Long, pointed ears were a clear sign the woman was a Wyverian. She wore a mask on her face and was adorned in armor covered in a mixture of blue feathers and plating. On her back was a large Switch Axe, similar in color and covered in feathers. She walked with an alluring gait and had an aura of mysteriousness that captivated the men watching.

"Indeed, it is Lavanda," the man answered simply. He was a tall and slim man, donned in green armor belonging to a Rathian. Strapped onto his back was a Bowgun, indicating the man was a gunner.

The village chief had come out of his hut to greet their visitors. "Welcome to Batu Village. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

The Knight bowed. "Greetings, my name is Rachel and I have come here in response to a danger that may befall upon your village."

"Danger?"

She nodded. "Have you heard of the news regarding one of your neighboring villages?"

The chief shook his head. "No…Did something happen?"

Rachel spared no expense in being blunt. "Well, I'm sorry to say this but one of your neighboring villages has been annihilated by a monster. There were no survivors."

Immediately, the villagers gasped as panicked looks came over them.

"That's…Does that mean whatever destroyed them is coming here too?" the chief asked, fear lacing his voice.

"A likely assumption. That is why I brought these two with me," she said, gesturing towards the man and woman. "They are Lavanda and Wehner. Two of the best hunters the Guild has to offer. I have already informed them of the situation, and they will be the ones who will slay this beast."

The chief looked towards the two hunters. "Just the two of you?"

"Please don't underestimate us," Lavanda stated confidently.

"We'll slay it. You have our word," Wehner reassured them.

The chief bowed gratefully. "T-Thank you."

Later after the two hunters departed to find the beast, a woman could be seen running towards the Guild counter. Ximena was busy sorting out the quest papers when she heard a loud bang on her table. Startled, she turned around to berate the intruder…only to freeze at the sight of a familiar face.

"Where are they?"

"…What?"

"The hunters, who came here."

Realizing what she meant, Ximena shook her head. "They already left."

Iris slammed her palms on the desk again. "Why?"

"Why? Do I need to explain why? They were simply called here to slay the monster."

"Who called them here?"

"I did."

Iris turned around and saw Sven approaching. She scowled at him. "Traitor. Why did ya do it?"

He sighed. "I did it because I care about you."

"If ya cared about me, ya should have let me go."

"If I let you go, you would have gotten yourself killed."

Iris scoffed. "Well, maybe I do want to get killed."

Suddenly, a loud smack. Iris felt a searing pain on her cheek, and she glared fiercely at the perpetrator. "Ya son of a-"

"Don't you fucking say that again to me."

Iris promptly launched herself at him, tackling Sven to the ground. They wrestled on the ground, catching the attention of passing villagers. Eventually, it ended with Sven pinning Iris to the ground by her wrists.

"Will you quit it!" He looked up and caught the villagers staring. "What are you all looking at huh? Scram!" In response, they all scrambled away and back towards minding their own business.

"Get off me!"

"Iris, just please let me talk."

She struggled a little more before eventually relenting. "…Fine."

Sven sighed in relief. It would appear those few hours of rest did wonders. "Sorry for this." He quickly got off and extended a hand to help her up. She begrudgingly took it and he led her away to get some privacy.

Once they were in the privacy of Iris's room, she crossed her arms. "Make it quick."

"Alright, you know I care about you right?"

"Yeah, I noticed. And?"

"You must understand that I only did this for your safety."

"But-"

"Iris, I've already lost two of my best friends. I cannot lose another."

Iris opened her mouth to respond but stopped and looked away. "I…You know I can't ever let it go. What it did to us…"

"I know, and I can't ever forgive it either. But going off and dying to it isn't going to solve anything, let alone killing it. You need to let go Iris, and I'm sure Leo and Shaw would have wanted that too."

"Easier said than done."

"Never said it would instantaneous."

The huntress balled her fists, gaze firmly on the ground. "I…I don't know if I can. I-I spent so long thinking of it that I…"

"It's not too late Iris."

"…I'm a bloody mess."

"I know."

"I'm selfish and inconsiderate of others."

"Selfish yes, but inconsiderate? No."

Sven could see her tremble. "…What can I do then? What purpose do I have in life? Tell me, what can someone like me do?"

Sven took a step towards her. He lifted her chin so she can look at him with one good eye. "That's why I'm here. I'll be there for you Iris, one step at a time. I won't abandon you."

Iris stared at him, noting the gentle but determined look in his eyes. She recognized it. It reminded her of…Suddenly without thinking, she leaned up and pressed her lips to his. A muffled gasp escaped him, his eyes widening in surprise. But almost immediately as it had happened, Iris jerked back, equally surprised.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

Sven failed to hide the flush on his cheeks. "I-It's fine."

"Y-Yeah…"

"Right…I uhh, I think I'll be leaving now."

"Bye."

"Uhh yeah, bye." Not wanting to make things more awkward, he quickly left the room.

…

It was sometime later when the guards heard knocking on the village gates. However, when they opened the gate…

"Run," Wehner croaked out before collapsing in front of them, dropping the unconscious Lavanda onto the ground.

…

In case you didn't know, Lavanda and Wehner are canonical characters from Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate. They are the Pub Manager and Questender respectively.