As we approach the tree, I feel the Banbaro tense up. I grab on to some fur and ready myself. We charge and slam right into the tree. It only gives a little, barely doing more than shaking the leaves. We keep pushing, and I start to hear cracking, then branches start to fall. I raise my arm to protect my head as the Banbaro keeps pushing down the tree. I notice a crack start to form at the base of the trunk. This tree is probably old enough that its roots stretch out around a mile, considering its size.

We aren't moving the base, but the tree is definitely starting to lean. We give it one last shove, and hear a deafening snap as the tree finally gives way. It tumbles between the bigger trees as the smaller ones are completely crushed. I was expecting an earth-shaking thud, but the branches and other trees must have slowed it down enough to prevent it. That, or I just couldn't feel it while mounted. Either way, I have a newfound respect for Banbaro now that I know just how strong they can be. We decided to take a short rest, so now I can see just how cozy it would feel to sleep on this Banbaro.

It sat down, and I stayed on top of it. I fell asleep almost instantly, with my arms and legs stretched out just like how I wanted.

I had a similar dream as before, where I was lying on my back at the nest. Everything about it seemed exactly the same. I saw the dot, and eventually it stopped and started to grow into a Rathalos. This time though, I didn't feel afraid. I didn't bother trying to move, and I noticed something I didn't see before. The Rathalos diving after me… it was an Azure. Not only that, there was someone on top of him.

I barely got a good look at who it was before all I could see was the Rathalos. Once it got close enough, it flapped its wings and started going horizontally. I could finally get up and move at this point, so I did and turned around to get a better look. The Rathalos banked around and started coming back. It slowed down and landed right in front of me. The person dismounted and I could finally see who it was. I can't believe it, it was me?!

This person looks exactly like me. Hair, height, eye color, even armor. He walked right up to me and held out his hand, not saying anything. I looked him in the eyes as I shook, like I always do with anyone else. Then his expression started to change. He started crying. This was when I woke up.

I hear something coming closer. At first it just sounds like a gust of wind, but then it comes back, and stays. It keeps rustling the leaves as it gets closer. Is this really wind? As it keeps coming closer, for a split second the sunlight is reflected in my eyes, nearly blinding me. I see what's causing the winds; a Kushala Daora. It stops in front of us, and I get off expecting to have to defend myself. It keeps its eyes on me as I dismount, but doesn't move to attack us. It just stands there eyeing me down. Eventually it just walks past calmly. The Banbaro is still sitting, so I climb up and we make our way back to where we met.

I go back up to its head and on its horns. It rests them on the ground, so I'm able to slide right down and step off. I run my fingers through the fur behind its jaw again, and this time I can tell its noticeably softer than the fur on its back. I follow the scoutflies back to the nest, and Queen and the others are fast asleep, except for King, who stayed awake waiting for me. We approach each other, and he stops to sniff all over me. No doubt he smells the Banbaro. He looks back up at me and turns to the side. Time for some more riding practice?

I climb on, and we walk around the nest for a bit. Then he starts going to the edge, the same way Queen does when I'm on her back. I try to get him to turn around and go back, but he doesn't. I quickly dismount, because I'm not going to let him leave the nest with me on his back. Not yet, anyway, not until I know he can at least hover with me on him. He reaches and grabs my hand, and tugs on it. I can tell he's frustrated, but I don't care.

"No!" I tell him, which wakes Queen up who looks our way to see King tugging on my arm while grunting and growling, and me using most of my body weight to keep him from pulling me down. She just looks at me for a few seconds, then I get her message.

I climb back on King, and he starts toward the edge of the nest again. Queen growls, which causes King to quickly turn around and go back like I wanted him to before. He starts flapping his wings, and starts slowly gaining altitude. I want him to be able to hover at a certain height for at least ten seconds before I consider even letting him glide away from the nest with me on him. He doesn't even reach the height I wanted before running out of energy and flopping back on the ground. I climb off, and let him catch his breath as I pet him.

He soon gets right back up and starts wedging his head between my legs and flapping his wings, trying to take off with me again. This repeats a few times, with each attempt ending the same way. Eventually King manages to reach the height I want, but can't stay that high for very long. Queen, who's been watching us, starts waking up the others. Good timing, I just felt my stomach growling. I saddle Queen and start to climb on, but King tugs at my foot.

"We'll do some more flying practice while we're out, ok?" He huffs, then goes out ahead of the rest of us. I mount Queen and we take off after him. He seems too focused on hunting to notice us, when suddenly he starts to dive. As we follow, he tackles a Great Jagras and starts scratching and biting at it. Queen lands and quickly helps him kill it, and the others take down the other Jagras.

One almost gets away, but King pounces after it, killing it quickly. He doesn't start eating it, however. He goes back and starts eating the Great Jagras, not bothering to wait for me or help me set up my cooking spit. I skin one of the Jagras and set up my spit, and by the time I start cooking I feel a gaze staring at me. I look up, and it's King. I can feel his impatience. He never looks away from me as I finish cooking and eating.

I approach him, but he doesn't turn so I can get on.

"I know you're upset, but pouting won't help you fly better. You got the hang of your fireball quickly, you'll get this too." I hold my hand out in front of him, but he just huffs and turns to the side. I mount him, but before I can give him any direction he aggressively takes off and starts flying toward the nest. He's gaining height quickly, I need to do something.

I whistle, and notice Queen making a beeline for me. I hold my arms out, and she grabs on to them, picking me up off King's back and dropping me off a bit further ahead.

She lands, and soon after King tackles into Queen. She doesn't stand down, and butts her head at him to knock him back. He starts to roar, but Queen only roars back louder. This catches him by surprise, and he backs off. I can only look back at King.

I was terrified, he could have seriously hurt both of us. He approaches me with his head down in submission.

"Don't ever do that again." It came out a bit more stern than I meant it to. I inspect him carefully, looking for any signs of injury. Seeing none, I pet his head. I'm just glad he's okay. Queen calls for the others as I mount her, and we head back to the nest.

As soon as Queen lands, she lies down with me still on her. I dismount, and notice how heavy her breathing is. She's probably still winded from flying as fast as she did after me and King. I sit and lean against Queen, taking off my armor for the night. When the siblings land, they almost immediately start playing.

King, however, doesn't. Instead, he walks right in front of me, head slightly low. "Apology accepted" I say, as I pat the ground beside me. He lies down next to me, and rests his head on my lap. His purrs slowly fade as he drifts to sleep. Eventually me, Queen, and the siblings finally drift off to sleep as well.