"The Carrier Ants out in the Wildspire Waste are extraordinary engineers. We've been trying to further our research of them but a Barroth appeared and mucked up our entire operation."

That's what the Endemic Researcher told them when Lillian and James made it to the Wildspire Waste. They quickly made their way towards sector nine, where the Barroth usually nested, searching for signs of tracks. They reached sector nine, but found only old signs that the Barroth had been there so instead, they followed those tracks back the way they had come in hopes for finding fresher tracks.

They followed the tracks back into sector four, then up into sectors five and six, finally spotting it at the center of sector six.

"Ready?" Lillian asked, looking over at James.

James nodded, letting Lillian take the lead. He watched as she made for higher ground, motioning him to hide out of sight as the Barroth turned towards them. Having an idea of what she had planned, he nodded and found a spot. When the Barroth was getting nearer to his position, Lillian readied her glaive and hopped down onto its back from where she was perched and started to attack it's back- trying to dislodge the mud coating. While she made quick work of the mud from its back, James waited for the right moment, then swung his jawblade at the Barroth's legs- tripping it. He slashed at its exposed underbelly, getting in a few good strikes before it got back on its feet and started to run away. Lillian quickly mounted its back once more, doing more damage now that the mud was gone. She steadied herself as it took off towards sector seven.

James followed them and ran ahead of where Lillian and the Barroth were, placing a shock trap before fire a few redpits at it to lure it over. Lillian hopped off just before it stepped into the trap, landing just a yard away. She took the chance to sharpen the glaive's blade while James slammed his greatsword against the Barroth's head. She winced when the scalp broke off, landing with a thud as the Barroth broke free of the trap and cried out in pain. It fled the sector, making its way into sector four and heading towards its nest in nine. But it didn't get far before a Jyuratodus jumped up from sector ten.

James and Lillian stood back, knowing better than to get caught in a turf war between monsters. James sharpened his jawblade, glancing at Lillian as they crouched in the nearby bushes. She was on edge, waiting intently for the moment they could strike. He never really paid much attention to her as a hunter, how she held herself, how she analyzed the situation, nothing really beyond the usual things he looked for in newer hunters. But as he got to know her better, he started to noticing her tells- from how she tensed before an attack or how she positioned herself when she crouched down to keep out of sight, how she held her weapon in each hand- only alternating during certain attacks. It made him smile when he noticed her eyes darting back and forth as she watched the turf war, and when the Barroth won and scared the Jyuratodus back to sector ten, she started to creep forward expertly as the Barroth made its way towards its nest. Chuckling, James followed closely behind her.

They followed the Barroth to its nest, finding it mostly submerged in the muddy water. Just as before, Lillian took a position above the monster and James found one as well that was a bit closer to the ground. Lillian knelt down and aimed her glaive at the Barroth's head, firing off a shot of nectar for the kinsect to follow. When the Barroth started to rise out of the muck, James jumped down and sliced through its tail- severing it. Lillian took her chance to leap up and use her downward spin attack to deal the final blow, leaping down and sliding through the muck until she came to a stop. When the Barroth took its last breath, she and James carved what they could from the monster and made their way back to camp- only stopping to inform the researcher on the way of their success.

"Whew, that went well." Lillian said, setting her things down by the tent.

James chuckled and set his greatsword near her things. "I don't think this muck will wash out any time soon, though."

Lillian smiled. "Let's get them cleaned before it sets in then."

James blushed when she stripped down to her underclothes, going over to the small pool to wash the muck free from her armor. He noticed the fractal pattern of the scar along her back. It was from the electrical burn she had gotten facing off against her first Tobi-Kadachi. She had been struck by one of the monster's thunder attacks, but she had pulled through until she could get back to Astera. She had insisted to Sarah that it was nothing, but collapsed when they reached the main gate. James had been so worried for her, checking on her as often as he could manage and anxious for her recovery.

Lillian called out to him, offering to wash his armor clean, and waited patiently for him to hand her his armor. James shook himself from the memory and handed her his armor before taking hers from her to hang it on the line. He waited for his armor to do the same and once she was done and their armor was hung up to dry, Lillian stood and stretched.

"I could use a good wash, myself." She looked at James. "Would you like to come with me to the pools in just north of here?"

"Sure."

Lillian smiled, nodding to Kimi when she said she'd wait at camp for their return, and led the way to the lower pool the piscine researchers liked to frequent.

James followed her to the pool, smiling when she jumped right in. 'She used to be much shyer than she is now." He chuckled, waiting by the edge of the pool for her to resurface.

When she did, she looked up at him. "Come on, James, it feels great!" She waited, scooting back a bit as James lowered himself in.

"You didn't say it was cold!"

Lillian laughed, splashing him. "Doesn't it feel great after that hunt, though?" She leaned back and rinsed the mud out of her hair, smoothing it back out of her face when she was finished.

"It does." James leaned back and did the same, rinsing the mud out of his hair once he had pulled loose the leather string that kept it back. When he stood up straight, he noticed that Lillian was staring with blushing cheeks. "What?"

Lillian looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Sorry, I didn't mean to stare. I've just never seen your hair down like that before." She glanced back up at him. "It looks really good."

James blushed at the compliment and smiled. "Thanks." He leaned against the wall of the pool. "So, when did you want to head back to Astera? We're not due back for another day."

"Then, let's enjoy the time off." Lillian replied, smiling. "It's been awhile since we've been able to just relax like this."

"That's true. Plus, we could always stop by the beach on the way back, too."

Lillian's smile grew. "That'd be nice." She moved to the waterfall, reaching her hand forward and letting the water rush through her fingers. "The New World never ceases to surprise me."

James chuckled. "I hope that's a good thing." His eyes fell on her scar and he pushed back from his spot, going up behind her and touching it lightly. "Does it still hurt?"

Lillian shook her head. "Not anymore. The pain went away after a few weeks." She looked up at the sky. "It helps me figure out when we're getting a storm, though. I can feel the charge in the air now."

"There's a silver lining." James sighed. Scars weren't uncommon in the slightest for hunters. It was a dangerous business, one that would cost you your life if you weren't careful.

Lillian looked back at him. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why do you worry so much about me? I'm not the only Fiver, you know."

James chuckled. "True." He sighed, his hand resting against the small of her back as he came to stand next to her. "Honestly, I've been wondering the same thing lately."

"It's not like I'm your only friend, James."

"You're my only female friend, though."

Lillian looked at him, surprised. "Really?"

James nodded. "None of the other women hunters really caught my attention like you did."

"We did bond pretty quickly." Lillian smiled. "Before I met you, I was always alone. No one else but Kimi with me. And I was fine with that." She looked back at him, her smile growing. "I have you to thank for changing my mind."

James returned her smile, but his attention was drawn towards sector two and he pulled Lillian behind the waterfall.

"What the-"

James covered her mouth and gestured towards sector two. He peeked around the edge of the waterfall with Lillian as she followed his gaze to where a Rathian was walking towards them. James lowered his hand and glanced at Lillian. "Isn't that the same Rathian that took down that Great Jagras?" he asked, hoping that even in a lower tone the rushing water would hide their voices.

Lillian nodded. "But what is she doing here?"

James and Lillian watched as the Rathian casually walked through their part of the sector, drinking from the pool before taking flight and heading out towards sector eight. They waited until she was out of sight, then looked at each other and released the breath they had both been holding.

"Should we head back?" Lillian asked.

"I think that'd be best. We don't want to get caught out in the open without any of our gear." James stood, offering her his hand.

Taking his hand, she stood and followed him down to the lower pool, then back to camp- all the while keeping an eye on the sky.

Lillian and James made it back to camp safe and sound, both thinking about what was said earlier before the Rathian interrupted them. James sat by the fire, watching Kimi cook, while Lillian checked on their gear before coming to join him.

"So our gear still needs to dry, but it's clean and muck free. Should be dry by morning."

James looked over at her, thinking back on her question. "Does it bother you that I worry about you?"

Lillian looked at him, surprised, and shook her head. "Not at all, I was just curious. I was hoping you weren't playing favorites."

"And if I was?"

"I don't know." she replied, shrugging. "I don't see why you would, but it would have people talking- maybe even getting the wrong idea about us." Then, realizing how that sounded, she looked up at him embarrassed and scrambled to save the situation. "N-Not that I wouldn't... with you... it's just..." She sighed, looking away with burning cheeks. "I'll shut up now." She walked away, going to stand by the opening of the cave sheltering their camp and looked out over the barren landscape where it met the forests home to Astera.

James chuckled and stood, going over to her. "Would it be that bad?"

"N-No, it's just..."

"What?"

"We're friends, James." Lillian felt that strange sensation in the pit of her stomach again and looked away. "I wouldn't want to ruin what we have if things were one sided." she sighed. "Besides, there's so much going on with Zorah Magdaros and everything else. Would there even be time for something like that?"

"Who knows? It'd be worth finding out, though."

Lillian had to smile at that. "I suppose it would."

"Come and get it!" Kimi called, waving them over.

"Let's go eat."