Disclaimer: I do not own Thundercats 2011 or Monster Hunter World. They are owned by their respective companies.
Alpha: The author knows this chapter is a tad short. If you have any questions or concerns, or ideas for the story please let the author know.
Luna: The author also wants you to know a longer chapter is in the works as this chapter was to document Lion-o's inexperience with hunting and how much he sucks at it.
Lion-o: That's right- Hey!
Tygra: That's all for now everyone. Hunters, fight hard and stay smart!
Chapter 2: First hunt
Lion-o pov
I got up after we made a plan. I would go out and ask about finding a way to get some kind of money. I could only guess that they didn't take the same currency as we did. Which made sense. Different government and all. I sighed. My brother was being way too much of a stubborn bastard to realize that we couldn't do this on our own. I mean really, giant monsters like we saw at the gate couldn't be a coincidence. Frustrated, I kicked a wooden pole in my way. It took a few minutes before my food was in pain causing me to acknowledge it and how much it hurt. A soft "shit" was in the air before I could keep it from pervading the air.
"Don't you ever wear shoes? Seriously?" Luna's voice popped out behind me. I jumped slightly at Luna's inquiring look. Her leather clothing honestly looking both comfortable and scarily durable compared to any of the other animal kingdoms and cities we had seen in our travels. Her frown marred her face with how intensely she was eyeing my now very sore foot.
"Um, I don't really think this is anything to be upset about. I've walked barefoot my whole life." I answered not really understanding why I would ever conceive the thought of wearing shoes.
Luna didn't seem to think so as one of her eyes twitched before she grabbed ahold of my shoulder and literally dragged my ass over to the second floor workshop. I don't know what the people here though was more funny. Me being dragged by a girl, or me being dragged to the workshop for a pair of shoes. In all honesty, if this was happening to someone else I would probably be laughed at them just as hard as I was being laughed at. Then again…
"I'm purchasing this kid a pair of shoes." Luna said with a glare at me daring me to say anything.
"No, no! It's fine really." I tried to dissuade the people from making me anything.
The blacksmith laughed. I mean full blown belly laughter! "I'm part of the second fleet and I act as the blacksmith for all hunters work here. I make all armor, weapons, and even accessories. A simple pair of shoes is pretty easy for me the second fleet captain. However, miss there is a problem with yer request. I don't have any material to make the young hunter shoes." The blacksmith stated with a small chuckle.
I blinked. I didn't know that this guy really did all that. I guess there was a lot of important roles here that people did.
"Alright, then what materials do you need?" Luna said casually. She touched a long javelin like spear on her back. It had two blades on it and there was a strange bug on her right arm. It looked kinda like a beetle.
"I need some Jagras hides. I'm afraid I have to wait for the Argosy to be up and running before we get anything to make leather armor with, but Jagras hide should be good enough for any beginning hunters. That would include shoes for this young man." The blacksmith stated matter-of-factly.
Luna nodded. I blinked again at how quickly she responded. Then she turned and head out. I followed quickly not wanting to get left behind. It wouldn't hurt to come with her, right? I followed her to the third floor and was surprised at the place we ended up. Another of the Palicos were here. Several of them in fact, with a very muscular one in front of stone table with a stone oven behind him with some meat on a hook inside there. I was surprised as people were given tons of food. It was super different from back in the kingdoms.
Luna pushed him towards the chef and its eatery. Luna smiled before asking for the chef's special. She also ended up paying for the both of us before going to a chest near the bridge. "Here," Luna said tossing me a sword and shield.
I blanched as my arms immediately went down. What the hell? It didn't make any sense for these weapons to be this heavy. And why the fuck as she giving them to me?
"I'm going to take you hunting with me. Two people will manage to get twice as much materials necessary for shoes. Among other things. It'll also give me time to teach at least one of your group the basics of hunting." Luna announced without a care.
"What the hell do you mean by teaching one of our group?" I asked a little bit nervous.
Luna sighed at me. "It means that you guys don't know how to hunt like we do. Most of the monsters here are deadly and even the little ones can be pretty troublesome if you don't know how to properly handle them. If one of you learns how to deal with these monster, then you can teach the others how we do things. It's not like you'll be the only one learning anyway. I have to learn a whole new system of hunting and what not." Luna explained calmly. She shuffled a few things into her bag. They looked like bottles of a green liquid, but I didn't get a good look.
I cringed a little bit. I hadn't thought of it that way. I struggled to lift the sword and shield, but eventually managed to sheath them on my back like a few of the others I saw at the canteen (I learned the term from the chef) had. Then Luna explained how to shoot a rope at the windrakes to get a quick lift to the hunting ground. She then whistled and Alpha jumped on her back right as she hooked one. I followed after.
The sight from the air was amazing. We may have had the Felyner to give us a nice view of the sky, but I could guarantee that this would be just as welcome of a sight to everyone as our machine had elicited. I released the rope as at the teepee like structure in a small wooded area.
Luna smiled at my near flawless landing (I tripped). "All right, now that you got the basics of transport lets get down to hunting. First, we need to find you some meat and teach you basic potion making." Luna said holding up one of the bottles she grabbed and a very large knife. It was half the length of my arm, and made me go quite wide eyed. Luna laughed before tossing me a near identical knife to the one she held to me. "This is a basic carving knife. Your going to want that to carve meat, monster hide, and other parts as both proof of your kills and to help you build some decent weapons and armor. As hunters, it's our responsibility to bring supplies to the research commission. Sometimes this job requires us to kill certain monsters, and sometimes its to get them supplies to keep hunters like us alive and well. Try not to think about the more gruesome parts too much kid." Luna said before walking away.
I shook my head and looped the knife around my belt. I sighed a little bit and ran to keep up only to stare at the sight before me. It was a small beach like area with tons of grass and a type of creature was walking around grazing on the grass or drinking water. We hadn't really looked around, so the view was a very welcome surprise.
"The creatures here are Aptonoth. Their herbivores so they're not really aggressive. In fact, we tend to tame and use them to help us move supplies, or for food purposes. There meat is actually pretty tasty and healthy for active hunters. In any case, you should probably get used to using your sword and shield. Why don't you take a few of those down and get some meat?" Luna said gesturing to said creatures.
I paused for a minute horrified by what she wanted me to do. She frowned at me and I took a deep breath. Then I took the heavy ass sword and shield and went to smite some Aptonoth. I went after the biggest one first. I walked up to it and bent down before swinging the word at one of it's legs. I was surprised when the word went through it like butter. I slashed at two other before plunging the word through the side. The Aptonoth went stiff for a few minutes before giving a mournful wail and jerking to the side before laying completely still. I only had a few seconds to process that I killed it when something slammed hard into my back. I tumbled onto the stomach and saw another one looking like it was about to charge at me.
I growled under my breath and held my shield in front of me right as this Aptonoth charged. The impact made me stumble, but this time I was more prepared. I quickly lifted the sword over my head and swung it directly down onto the Aptonoth's head. Instead of it going through it got stuck in the head. I struggled for a few seconds before pulling it out and then dashing to side and swung wildly. It wasn't long before it was in the same state as my previous kill.
Clapping behind me made me jump. "Good job. Now comes the ugly part." Luna said with a sickening smirk.
I looked at the two dead Aptonoth and put away the now bloody sword and shield. I took the knife from my belt and started to carve a hefty slice of meat from the body. When I had enough from the first body, I did the same to the second.
Luna nodded before taking me to the small pond. I smiled at the fish swimming around before something pushed me into the pond. I stood up after the surprise got to me and growled slightly at the laughing Luna. I smirked myself before subtly grabbing the hunters ankle and yanking it towards the water. Laughed peeled out of me as she landed into the pond. She rose faster than I did and shook her head in amusement.
"Ha, ha…very funny. Now lets continue with the lesson." Luna said getting out of the water. Despite the large amount of water in my fur and clothes, I followed her with a smile. "Next is learned the basics of potions since you got the idea of killing and carving monsters. As well as food in case of emergency. Herbs plants look like this." Luna said pointing out a medium weed like plant with long leaves. "Collecting two of these is enough to make one potion. Why don't you collect these and I'll show you how to craft a potion?" Luna said patiently.
I quickly looked at the plant and dug around it to find two different shoots. I dug them up and put them in my bag. Luna them showed me using some she had brought with her what to do. Soon a container filled with green liquid like what Luna had initially brought with her was now in my hand. I was surprised that it was that easy to make.
"Now all you need is to collect some honey. Potions don't heal you very much, but are good in a pinch when required. However, Megan Potions will heal you even more. You make them by combining honey and a potion." Luna said. She then showed me how to gather the honey and combine the two. She beamed at my proud look. Then she walked me over to a vine and bramble like wall.
I frowned, but quickly decided to take my sword and shield out seeing the spear like thing on Luna's back being taken off her back. She looked wary and determined and it wasn't long before I saw what was making her look like that. Large iquana like creature were walking pretty fast on all fours. Lime green scales and dark green bellies were seen with orange and yellow feathers gracing their backs. They ran around the area with little care of what was around them.
"Those are Jagras. We need their hides to make your shoes. Gonna be okay taking them out with me?" Luna said with a questioning tone. A hint of concern was in her eyes as she gave a side glance before keeping an eye on the predators.
I stared at these creatures. They reminded me of the lizards that attacked Thundera, but these were much more intimidating and a tad larger than those that attacked my home. I clenched my sword tightly and nodded at Luna afraid that my voice would betray how angry and nervous I was. I didn't expect her to go first.
She used the spear like object to jump higher than even Cheetara had gone before, and spun the spear. The blades on both sides cutting into two lizards like they were cheese. They were the first two down. I saw one creep behind her when she landed and took the hit with my shield before bashing it into the lizards skull. Then a quick chop done and to the side killed it. Luna then speared two of the lizards through in one hit, and lifted them off the ground to toss them towards the other corpses. There were no other Jagras. I was kinda relieved at that. I put my bloodied weapons away and began to collect their hides. Trying to block what we just did out of my mind.
Luna pov
I gave a curious look to Lion-o. Poor kid was skinning the lizards like it was the worst thing in the world. I sighed. "Y'know Lion-o, if we didn't deal with these guys they would've slowly destroyed the ecosystem you see here." I said in a nonchalant manner. I smirked a little when he looked at me surprised. "There are too many Jagras here. They would've eventually killed all the prey animals here and that would leave the ecosystem without its most important food sources. Eventually, this whole forest would die without a little management. Okay that's a lie, but it would be in quite a pickle until something fixed it. We just dealt with it before any damage could happen." I explained. I grinned slightly when Lion-o seemed to feel a little better about carving into the monsters.
I refocused on my task and checking my mental checklist. I taught Lion-o everything that as important for immediate purposes except mining, but I didn't have a spare pickaxe. Guess I would need to talk to the commander about that. Once we finished and I gave Lion-o the hides I carved, we hitched a ride back.
Once we were back, I dragged him over to the blacksmith and had his shoes made. Now I was watching him model them. He jumped and seemed surprised at how they felt on his feet. I suppose that would make sense since it seemed he never really wore any before (or for an extended amount of time). "Enjoying yourself?" I said playfully. I received a punch for my question which just made me laugh. Hard.
"Shut up!" Lion-o shouted back.
"Well, now you know the basics of hunting. You should be able to help your friends and be able to make some decent money if you guys need it." I said waving while walking out. I could hear Lion-o's footsteps follow me.
"Yeah, thanks for that. Um, question…" Lion-o stated a bit nerviously.
"You just did." I pointed out with a brow raised.
"Shut up. Will you keep teaching me stuff? I kinda need to look for a stone and it's somewhere around here. I was kinda hoping to explore and find out where it is." Lion-o explained vaguely.
"Basically, you want to help the research commission in exchange for being able to explore environments for the item that your looking for. That all?" I asked.
"Maybe? I don't really know when I'm going to find it. Or under what circumstances I'll find it. I just need to find it before Mumm-ra. He's responsible for a lot of wrongdoings back home, and I gotta stop him…" Lion-o started to explain.
"And you need that item to stop him. Sure. I'll help. I'm sure my partners in crime will help too. But you got to talk to the commander. Kay?" I said with a smile and thumbs up. The bright smile I got from the kid made me happy at my job well done.
Lion-o left for the commander while I walked over to the provisions group to deliver their in-demand supplies. Maybe the kid and his friends would provide a fresh set of eyes and experiences for the research commission. After all, it was refreshing for me to teach someone else for a change when I had to relearn everything myself. Good thing I already know the basics huh.
A shout from Alpha made me sight with a light smile gracing my face. Fudoka shouting out loud at my Palico partner also reached my ears. Ho-boy was that kid going to get a run for his money when joins up with us. If he does.