20 years before…
Tiberus stood on the ledge of the cavern, eye level with the monster. Black mud swirled mysteriously around his legs as he shifted on the spot. "Beautiful, isn't he?" the commander asked, a sense of pride in his voice. "I'm not sure we should be keeping it here sir, what if it escapes?" Tiberus asked with genuine fear in his voice. "I want to talk to you about that, not many people know about project Sierra and if anything happened it would be disastrous for all involved. I need you to make sure the chains are secure before you get sent to the border post in the desert" The commander replied. Tiberus looked at the beast and then nodded. The commander walked away and Tiberus climbed down into the basin of the cavern. He got the locking mechanisms from the box and secured them on, he went round each leg but when he reached the fourth his friend ran in excitedly. "Tiberus, the coach for the desert is about to leave!" he shouted. Tiberus ran out of the cavern excitedly forgetting to fix the last mechanism, after a week the beast had gotten free but it didn't want to strike yet. It was waiting.
We soared through the skies, feeling the harsh wind blowing against our faces. It felt good after the heat of the desert, the Kut-Ku's squawked heartily at the prospect of stretching their wings after being in the stable so long. I patted the bird's back as it cooed appreciatively, stretching its neck forward. They were docile and friendly animals when tamed with a calm temperament and a willingness to help humans. We lowered the birds down as we saw the fortress coming into view; its great black walls looked forbidding in this thick fog. As the landing field came into view we saw the Rathalos squadron preparing for battle, saddling up their mighty steeds. We came down and landed with a thud, the stewards attended to the Kut Ku's immediately as the cawed goodbye to us. We walked over to a nervous soldier. He saluted us, my service in the war had not gone unnoticed, even though I resigned, and my status of aviation sergeant still lasted. "At ease, what's the situation?" I asked, the soldier must have been about 19, he hadn't expected anything like this. He looked like he had shit himself, twice. "Ummm…we…ahhhhh…Lao, first gate" he stammered, I nodded thanks and he saluted again. Another soldier, just as nervous ran up to me "sir, we've prepared your Rathalos" he said. I smiled "thank you private, tell the rest I'll be there shortly". He nodded and scurried off into the forbidding fog. I turned to my team, "this is where I have to leave you, but I'll be in the skies over the main path to the wall". The team nodded solemnly and walked off into the mist, it engulfed them slowly. I turned back and saw the Rathalos squad waiting patiently for me. They had prepared me their best fighter. The silver Rathalos. I smiled and mounted the beast.
Arran walked forward, heading for the command post. He barged in, "how far away is the Lao?" he asked authoritatively. A Commander turned to him "who are you" he asked in a rude tone, wanting to claim his authority back. "I was sent here from the guild to help, where is the Lao? I am with aviation sergeant Zak Delong" Arran shouted, standing his ground. The commander looked shocked. He stuttered "two miles north". Arran nodded and left, Megan and Simeon waited for him outside, he told them what he knew. "The Lao is two miles north of here, the soldiers are manning the defence towers. We should go to the north face and wait for it; we will be helping the infantry go for the legs, making it fall over. Zak will be in the skies with the Rathalos squad attacking the face." The other two nodded, following Arran. Simeon said "my father will be with us, I haven't seen him in ages", he seemed happy but Arran looked troubled when Simeon said this he turned to Simeon and said in a warning tone "don't get distracted, if he gets hurt we must carry on". Simeon nodded and carried on walking, eventually they reached the north face where Simeon's father was waiting. "Simeon, my son! How long has it been, a year?" he asked as he embraced his son, Simeon smiled and said "I've missed you father, it will be an honour to stand beside you in the heat of battle". His father smiled and nodded. Then, something big came out of the mist, the ground shook as debris fell off the high cliffs and his father turned towards the shape. "That's not a Lao Shan Lung".
To Be concluded…