As the days went by since Lillian had taken down the Anjanath, things were sort of quiet around Astera while hunters and researchers alike searched for more clues about Zorah Magdaros. Having no quests or missions, she helped out around the settlement wherever she could- washing dishes or helping in the canteen or helping with repairs and upgrades. She was always happy to help, but it was a bit disappointing when she didn't get to see James much. He was always out on patrol or overseeing training of low rank and new hunters. It did make her happy, though, whenever he took the time to come and see her- even just so briefly as to say hello before heading out on patrol.

One day, Lillian had nothing to do in Astera, still no quests or missions, so she decided to go out into the field and gather materials to upgrade her weapons and armor. Adorned with her bone armor and armed with her glaive, she set out for the Ancient Forest with Kimi at her side.

James was out on a patrol in the Ancient Forest, much as he had been lately, when he spotted Great Jagras tracks, noticing that they were fairly fresh tracks and larger than he was used to. He starting to follow the tracks through sector one before turning towards the waterfalls in sector nine. When he reached the waterfalls, he heard the clanking of a pick axe and looked around. Seeing someone mining on the other side of the river, near the paths to sector eight, he hurried towards them. When he reached the other side of the river and made his way up the hill, he noticed it was a hunter- a woman, too- in bone armor with a bone glaive at her back.

"Hey," he called.

The hunter turned to look at him and smiled. "Fancy meeting you here, James."

James smiled, recognizing her voice. "Farming for materials, Lily?"

Lillian nodded, raising her helm a bit from her face. "You out on patrol again?"

James nodded. "I was, then I spotted Great Jagras tracks.."

"Want to go check it out?"

"Are you offering?"

Lillian smiled. "It'll be just like our first mission together."

James chuckled, recalling the first mission he and Lillian were assigned to. "I suppose it would."

"Then let's go." Lillian replied, waiting for James to take the lead before following after him.

"Where's Kimi, by the way?"

"She's at our northeast camp, getting a few things we needed together."

Searching along the path they took into sector eight, James and Lillian kept an eye out for any Jagras as well- knowing full well that where there was a Great Jagras, there was almost certainly a large pack of Jagras accompanying it.

"We need to keep an eye out for a Rathian, as well." Lillian told him. "I spotted some tracks in sector eleven, but they're a bit older, maybe a day or two old?"

"Good to know."

Lillian heard a rustle nearby and reached out to stop James from going any further. "Wait."

James looked at her, seeing a finger to her lips and gesturing towards the tunnels leading into sector ten where Jagras usually denned. They backed into some nearby bushes and ducked down out of sight, waiting to see what was coming their way.

And out of the tunnels came the Great Jagras they were tracking. Only problem? It was the largest Great Jagras they had ever encountered.

"By the Sapphire Star..!" Lillian gasped, in a low tone. "That thing must be nearly two thousand centimeters in length..! We have to take it out, who knows the damage it can do..!"

"We'll have to be careful." James whispered to her.

Lillian looked at him and nodded. "There are two traps towards the center of this sector. If we can get in a few good hits with some redpits and lure it in, it'll be much easier to trap it and take it down."

"Agreed. Ready?"

Lillian nodded, quietly drawing her glaive. "Ready when you are."

James drew his giant jawblade, signaled for Lillian to go right, then took off to the left.

While James slashed at the Great Jagras and it's accompanying Jagras, Lillian made her way over towards the first trap. She turned and fired off a nectar shot, hitting the Great Jagras in the face. Her kinsect took flight and headed straight for the Great Jagras, dispersing a cloud of electrically charged particles. James slashed through the cloud, which stunned the Jagras and allowing him to make quick work of them as the Great Jagras charged towards Lillian- who had climbed up the post where the first trap was set up and fired redpits at it. When the Great Jagras smashed into the post and knocked the trap loose, Lillian launched herself into the air above the Great Jagras and spun her glaive, bringing it down on the monster. James, having dispatched of the Jagras pack, hurried over to help with the Great Jagras while it was trapped. But before he could reach it, the monster broke free and swung its tail at Lillian who, anticipating the attack, had launched herself into the air and out of harm's way. James watched as her whole body spun with her glaive as she brought the weapon down on the monster's back before she mounted it successfully.

As Lillian mounted and attacked the Great Jagras, she could hear the faint roars of a monster approaching their location. But she couldn't worry about that; she had to remain focused on this battle. Slashing her glaive's blade along the monster's back, Lillian dealt damage up top while James swung his greatsword at its bottom. They knew they were wearing it down, but just as they were about to deal a significant amount of damage- enough to make it flee the area- that same roar Lillian heard a moment before sounded again. Much, much closer.

"Rathian!" James called, seeing it dive towards them through the trees.

Lillian leapt off the Great Jagras' back, rolling when she landed on the ground before taking off with James as they sought cover. They ran towards some thick brush, James tackling her out of the way when the Rathian's fiery breath attack sent the Great Jagras stumbling back as a turf war started between the two monsters.

Lillian landed on her back, her bone helm getting knocked off and landing next to her as James shielded her from the blast. When he looked down at her, they both blushed for a moment before scrambling to their feet and sticking to the edge of the sector as they made their way towards the nearest camp site. Only problem? It was on the other side of sector eight and the monsters' turf war was at the center. Lucky for them, though, the Rathian knocked the Great Jagras into the second trap only to be caught up in the vines as well. Taking their chance, while the monsters were distracted, they made their way around the edge of the sector and quickly scaled the cliff that led up towards the campsite. Scrambling underneath the protective root wall, Lillian and James took a moment to catch their breath.

Lillian looked up when she heard a rustle at the entrance and saw Kimi wiggling her way through. "Kimi!"

"Meowster, are you alright?" Kimi asked, rushing to Lillian's side.

"I'm fine, but what are you doing here? I thought you were at the northeast camp."

"I heard the Rathian and saw it fly overheard towards you. I came as quickly as I could."

The crashing of the turf war continued out in the rest of the sector.

"Well, we're just going to have to let them fight it out for now. There's no way we can take on a Rathian and a Great Jagras of that size on our own."

Lillian took a peek through some of the vines just in time to see the Rathian break the Great Jagras' neck, roaring triumphantly. "I don't think we have to worry too much about that now."

James came over, looking where she was through the vines and saw the Rathian hovering over the Great Jagras for a moment before patrolling the sector. "Well, that takes care of one problem. We'll have to wait until the other one leaves."

"Luckily, her nest is in sector sixteen. If she stays in the forest, that's where she'll go. Though, I hope she leaves the forest entirely; I'd rather not deal with a Rathian this soon after the Anjanath. I've had enough of fire breathing monsters for a while." Lillian added, her eyes widening in surprise as the Rathian turned towards the Great Jagras carcass and begin feasting on it. "I didn't know Rathians ate Great Jagras."

James shrugged. "Beggars can't be choosers, I suppose. I mean at least it's not going to waste."

"True, but we could have carved it up and taken materials and such from it."

"True." James looked from the Rathian feasting to Lillian, seeing that she had a cut on her cheek and a few on her arms and legs. "Are you alright?"

Lillian looked up at him as he reached up to wipe away some of the blood that had been dripping down her cheek. "Ya, it's just a few scratches, nothing I can't handle."

"Are you sure?"

Lillian smiled, leaning into his hand. "You don't have to worry so much."

James chuckled. "Someone has to."

They stood like that for a moment before turning their attention to Kimi, who tugged at Lillian's armor.

"What is it?"

"Let's eat while we wait for the Rathian to leave."

"That's an excellent idea." Lillian smiled. "I haven't eaten since this morning." She looked at James as Kimi started pulling her towards the tent. "Coming?"

James chuckled and nodded, following after the two.