The Raging Diablos

"It feels like a storm is coming." Phoenix said closing his eyes and raising his head.

"What're you some sort of psychic now, Phoenix?" Dragoon growls.

"No, you can feel the pressure from the wind."

Keira reaches into her waist pouch and puts a veil over her face. "That's why I like this."

"That, and it hides you're ugly face." Dragoon says laughing.

Keira punches Dragoon on the arm.

"Did something just tickle me?" Dragoon laughs.

Keira reaches for her bowgun.

Phoenix raises his hand. "Now now, you two. We're suppose to work together, not fight each other!"

Keira puts her arm down at her side.

Phoenix unlatches his helm from his belt and puts it on. "Gear up people."

Dragoon and Orpheus put their helms on as well.

"I got a bad feeling guys." Orpheus mumbles.

"Don't get you're panties in a twist, Orpheus." Dragoon says mockingly.

"Why do you always gotta say stuff like that?" Orpheus replies.

"It's what hunters me do to the newbies like you."

"When the heck will I not be a newbie?"

"When you prove it to me." Dragoon laughs.

Orpheus proceeds to glare at Dragoon with quite an angry face.

"Are they always like this?" Keira quietly asks leaning towards Phoenix.

"It's not like they've known each other for years, but yes ever since we met him back at the Outlands outpost."

Keira rolls her eyes.

"Let's get moving guys..."

Right as Phoenix begins to finish stopping Dragoon and Orpheus. A giant wall of flurrying sand comes into view over the horizon.

"Oh dear." Orpheus says in a worried manor.

The party continues to move forward as the sand storm reaches them.

"Stick together and form a line guys. Just concentrate on the person in front of you, so you don't get lost!"

Everyone nods their heads and forms up behind Phoenix.

Keira runs in front of Orpheus and behind Phoenix.

Orpheus sticks behind Keira. "I'm not taking up the rear this time!"

"Fine, I'll guard our asses." Dragoon growls contentedly.

The sand storm hits the party with full force. Everyone flinches and leans forward with their heads down, trying to keep the sand out of their eyes.

"It's been a while since one of these has hit!" Dragoon yells.

"Stop complaining, you're not in the front!" Phoenix yells back, taking most of the sand and wind.

Everyone gets closer to each other.

"Grab each others shoulders!" Phoenix yells.

"We should stop, Phoenix!" Orpheus yells.

"If we stop we might get buried by the sand!" Phoenix replies.

"Orpheus is right!" Dragoon yells stopping in place. "We should stay still and hope it dies down!"

"Fine! Everyone stop!" Phoenix says reluctantly.

Everyone flinches as sand pelts their bodies. Suddenly the storm dies, almost instantly.

"Thank god!" Orpheus yells as he takes off his helm dumping out the sand that had gathered inside.

"I don't like this feeling." Dragoon growls.

"Yea, I feel it too." Phoenix mumbles.

"What's wrong?" says Keira.

"Storms don't just stop like that." Dragoon growls.

"Everyone spread out! Keira stay close to Dragoon."

"Why?!" Keira immediately complains.

"Because out of all of us, Dragoon has the best defenses."

Dragoon smirks cockily at Keira.

"Orpheus you take left, I'll go right."

"Sure thing, Phoenix!" Orpheus gives a thumbs up running to the left.

Everyone draws their weapons waiting for any sort of sign. Suddenly the ground shakes.

"I hate the dessert!" Phoenix yells.

A giant wyvern breaks through the sands in the middle of the group, scattering their makeshift formation.

There stands a Diablos. A fierce some beast standing nearly twenty feet tall. It has sand colored hide, two giant horns, stands on two muscular hind legs since it's forelegs are powerful wings, and it has a very long tail with a giant club like bone at the end.

It charges at Dragoon and Keira first.

"Ah, shit!" Dragoon growls putting his sword in front of him like a shield and burying the tip in the ground.

Keira points her bowgun at the creature and fires off six bullets in very quick succession, but they all clank off it's tough carapace. "What the hell!?"

"That won't work honey." Dragoon snarls as the Diablos lowers it's head and slams full force into Dragoon's sword.

Dragoons skids back a good fifteen feet, grunting. "Not today!"

Dragoon's armored back slams into Keira as he is propelled backwards and the impact knocks her down, dazing her.

"Keira!" phoenix yells.

Dragoon realizes what's happened and with the Diablos' horns grinding into his sword he lets out a roar, bringing the beast to a stop right before they run Keira over.

"Let's see what you got, beastie!" Dragoon growls. He digs one foot into the ground and begins to push the giant wyvren back.

The Diablos locks it's horns into his sword and flings Dragoon through the air.

"Holy shit!" Dragoon yells as he is flung skyward, barely hearable over a loud cracking noise.

"That's it!" Phoenix charges the beast, but right as he goes to swing at the Diablos' it swings it's tail at him.

"Shit!" Phoenix quickly raises his shield as the giant club-like tail slams into him. Phoenix goes flying off to the side. The Diablos slams it's feet into the ground and let's out a deafening roar. Everyone still standing is forced to cover their ears, flinching from the roar.

Orpheus yells. "Where'd it go?!"

Everyone looks up and all they see is a hole in the ground where the Diablos once stood.

Dragoon finally manages to get up. "It can dig, remember!"

Dragoon looks down at his sword and sees multiple cracks along the blade. "That can't be good." Dragoon mumbles in irritation.

"You alright, Dragoon?!"

"Yea, I'm fine!" Dragoon shouts back.

"Can't say the same for my sword though" Dragoon quietly says to himself.

"Keira!?" Orpheus calls.

"I'm fine, but my gun broke when the Diablos his us."

Phoenix runs over to her. "Here, might not be as quick as you're bowgun. But, it should get the job done. Be careful this thing has a lot of kick to it."

Phoenix hands his bowgun to her and some shells. "Thanks." Keira replies.

"Alright spread out again. We don't wanna get hit all at once." Phoenix yells in a encouraging manner.

Suddenly the ground shakes near Orpheus and he leaps to the side. The Diablos comes flying out of the ground and lands on it's feet. It instantly swings it's tail at Orpheus.

"Heres my chance!" Orpheus grins insanely. He jumps into the air and grabs onto Diablos' tail. "I got you now!" Orpheus yells as he climbs up along the tail onto it's back.

Dragoon smiles. "Go newbie, go!"

Orpheus unsheathes his swords and in a frenzied state slashes away at it's back. Pieces of it's carapace go flying off and it snarls in pain. It tries to buck Orpheus off, but Orpheus takes both of his swords and stabs them into the Diablos' back.

Orpheus laughs. "Just try and shake me off!"

Keira pulls out Phoenix's bowgun and loads a round into the breach. "Man this thing isn't very light."

She aims it at the wyvren and fires off a round. The bullet flies out of the barrel and goes right through it's left wing, completely blasting it off.

Keira hears a loud snap and falls to the ground in pain. "Aaaahh!'

Phoenix looks over and see that she broke her arm trying to fire his bowgun. It was bent back at a disturbing angle, nearly protruding from the skin. "Oh, no."

Phoenix gets overcome with anger and charges at the Diablos before it tries to hurt his wounded ally.

"Just die!" Phoenix yells leaping at the beasts legs slicing right through it's left tendon.

It falls to the ground and Orpheus jumps off on the way down. "Do something, Dragoon!"

"Payback time, asshole!" Dragoon picks up his fractured sword and runs towards the Diablos.

He skids raising his sword up as he musters all of his strength. He slams the blade into the Diablos' neck and cleaves it cleanly off.

His sword impales into the ground and snaps in half. "It was worth it!" Dragoon growls throwing the remaining half of the blade to the ground.

Everyone runs, or walks in Dragoon's case, over to Keira.

"Are you alright?!" Phoenix yells.

But there is no response she just lays there unconscious with a nearly shattered arm.

"Let's set up a camp and try to treat her wound." Dragoon says trying to break up the worry.

They set up a camp and treat her arm to the best of their ability. Phoenix and Orpheus stay inside the tent helping Keira while Dragoon heads outside.

"Can't believe that hunk of treated metal broke like that. What the hell am I going to do. I can't just buy a new one out here and I don't wanna get ambushed with no weapon. Although with Keira out of commission and no weapon someone will have to carry her, so we only have Orpheus and Phoenix to guard us. I pretty much spent myself on that fight so Phoenix will probably have to carry her, since Orpheus' armor isn't exactly safe."

Dragoon looks at the Diablos carcass and gets an idea. "Hmm."

He gets his carving knife out and begins to carve its legs off. "This thigh bone would work pretty well I bet."

Dragoon spends a few hours carving the leg off and cleaning it. He doesn't see either of his still intact teammates exit the tent, but is too focused on his task to take much notice.

"Kind of blunt, but this should do for now." Dragoon holsters the weapon on his back and heads into the tent.

"How is she doing?" Dragoon asks.

"Well she calmed down after we got a splint on it and I got her to take some herbs to numb the pain, but we have to get to a town soon. We won't have the supplies to keep her healthy for long out here."

"I see Orpheus fell asleep." Dragoon mumbles as he looks over at Orpheus laying on the ground.

"Yea, he definitely showed he has what it takes to be a hunter." Phoenix smiles.

"Quite the little demon when he gets close to something, eh?" Dragoon chuckles.

"I actually almost felt sorry for that poor beast when he was hacking away at it's spine." Phoenix laughs.

"Yea... almost." Dragoon replies.

"Tomorrow we have to make haste to the volcanic outpost, Dragoon." Phoenix yawns.

"Yea, I think you should carry her and me and Orpheus will cover you guys."

"With what, you're broken weapon?"

"That's why I made this puppy." Dragoon unholsters his new weapon off his back.

"That looks more like an axe than a blade, Dragoon."

"Hey, whatever works. Besides it will hold out until we can get to the outpost. I'll have the local smith there treat it to make it better."

"Hopefully they got a nice big vat of Monster Fluid to soak it in." Phoenix chuckles.

"Anyways, let's get some sleep." Phoenix says yawning once more.

Dragoon and Phoenix go to sleep after some more discussion on the fastest route to the guild outpost.

Phoenix wakes to Keira patting him on the face. "What happened to me?" She whispers.

"You broke you're arm trying to fire my bowgun." Phoenix frowns.

"It's alright, it's what happens in the heat of the moment with a new weapon." Keira smiles then flinches from a sharp pain.

"I can't do much more for you with the supplies I have with me. We have to get you to the outpost as soon as possible."

"I'll be fine with you guys helping me." She smiles then falls asleep again.

Phoenix stands up and wakes Orpheus and Dragoon. "Hey guys, we got to head out."

Everyone packs up quickly and gets ready to move out.

Dragoon helps Phoenix put Keira onto his back. "Okay we have to reach the outpost within a day or she might get a fever or an infection."

Dragoon and Orpheus nod their heads in agreement.

The party sets out and jogs for nearly a day through blazing heat, but they are able to reach the outpost without any more "incidents".

"Why is it, when you get close to safety that's when they like to attack you?" Dragoon laughs.

Phoenix and Orpheus smile and laugh.

As they reach the outpost the guard goes to ask for their cards. "Please show me you're... what happened?!"

The guard looks at Keira, who was currently unconscious on Phoenix's back. "We had a run in with a Diablos and she broke her arm pretty bad in the fight." Phoenix replies.

"No need for paperwork, get her to the infirmary now!"

"No argument there." Says Dragoon.

The party takes Keira to the infirmary

"Hey guys I've got to report this to the Guild Rep here. I'll talk to you later, please one of you stay here with her at all times until I get back."

"Will do Phoenix!" Orpheus says giving him a thumbs up.

Phoenix heads to the Guild Rep and tells him of how they came here on a training assignment, but ran into Keira and the Diablos.

"Oh my, well I do have a Maccabeus assigned to this area on population control duty. But he has been gone for about three weeks now." Says the Guild Representative.

"Well, we need to leave this women in you're care and head out to find Maccabeus and take out a Basarios for Orpheus' training."

"No arguments here. Just be careful."

"Will do, sir." Phoenix heads back to the infirmary to check on Keira.

"How is she doing?"

"Well the doctor said she has a slight fever, but we did well on treating her wound." Orpheus replies.

"Where's Dragoon?"

"Oh he headed out a while back to the tavern for a drink."

"Well, at least that hasn't changed." Phoenix laughs.

"Yea, I'll stay here for a while if you want Phoenix." Orpheus smiles.

"Thanks man, I need to check the local smith here see if he can do anything with my Kirin Hide."

Phoenix makes his way to the local blacksmith. Hopefully, the smith here knew how to treat the hide.

"Hey, hows business been here..." After a seconds pause, "Erald?!"

"Hey Phoenix, long time no see."

"What, how, when did you get here?!" Phoenix says in astonishment.

"Oh I caught a caravan here. Funny thing is I talked to my master and he showed me how to treat that hide of yours." Erald says with a large grin.

"Oh thank god. I'm tired of hauling this around with me. Although my plans have changed about what I want to do with it."

"Oh really?"

"Yea, as it turns out a woman was responsible for wounding it."

"Ah, a nice gift to please you're new girlfriend I see." Erald chuckles.

"Anyways, I want you to make her armor instead of a cloak for me."

"Aye, I can do that for ya. But she'll need to come down for some measurements first."

"No, I can tell you her measurements. I want to give it to her as a gift."

"How soon can you have it done?"

"Oh, I'd say about one month."

"One month?!"

"Aye, these materials are very sturdy and they give off a sort of field that repels most materials, especially the metals most of tools are made of that I use to treat normal hides."

"Give me a break, Erald! Fine, then I'll have you deliver it to her, along with this note." Phoenix hands a note in a envelope to Erald.

"Oh, a love letter." Erald laughs.

"Erald..."

"Fine fine, leave it to me Phoenix. By the time you get back it should be done and you'll have one happy girlfriend."

"Thanks Erald, I owe you one."

"Yea, you'll owe me plenty of money for this." Erald chuckles as Phoenix leaves the shop.

Phoenix heads over to the tavern to tell Dragoon what going down.

"Well as it turns out my Kirin Hide is being turned into armor for Keira." Phoenix says walking up behind Dragoon.

"What?! Are you bloody daft?" Dragoon yells and whirling around showing no real surprise.

"I feel sorry for taking her kill and breaking her arm. It's a gift, a very expensive and rare gift. But a gift all the same."

"I think you're falling for her." Dragoon chuckles.

"What if I am?"

Dragoon looks a bit puzzled. "To each his own I guess."

"Whatever, Dragoon. We'll be heading out tomorrow for Orpheus' training assignment."

"I don't know if he really needs the training. He straight up tore that Diablos apart just fine."

"True, but we are still under contract and we have a bit of a side one as well."

"Eh?"

"We have to find Maccabeus and see what's become of him. He was on population control and has been gone for three weeks."

"Well, you did the same not long ago, Phoenix."

"Yea, but you know how his luck is."

"Yea thats true, horrible luck for getting in bad situations. But, he also has pretty good luck for getting out of them too."

"Anyways, I'm gonna go over to the hospital and tell Orpheus to get some some rest. We will head out tomorrow."

"Alright, well good night Phoenix see you tomorrow then." Dragoon waves as phoenix leaves the tavern and makes his way back to the hospital.

"Hey, Orpheus."

"Oh hey, Phoenix."

"We better head out now. Since she's okay, I'm going to leave her to their care. We have to get some rest and head out tomorrow for you're training."

"Yes, sir."

Phoenix rolls his eyes as Orpheus leaves the room.

Phoenix talks to the doctor before he leaves.

"Hey Doc, I'm Phoenix. I'm the one that brought Keira here."

"Good to meet you formally. You did a good job on her care for being out in the wild."

"I got used to it fast, I hunt alone a lot. I've had to take care of myself for the most part because of that and I've learned a lot."

"Good to know hunters aren't loosing their touch." The doctor laughs.

"I want you to give her this note when she wakes up and is feeling better." Phoenix hands him the note.

"I will make sure to give it to her personally."

"Thanks, Doc." Phoenix leaves the hospital and heads back to the tavern.

He checks out a room for the night and goes to sleep.

The next morning Dragoon, Orpheus and Phoenix Restock their supplies and meet at the front gate.

"So you get you're sword treated, Dragoon?"

"Yea, Erald was able to do a very fine overnight job on my brand new baby."

"Well that's good to hear. Let's head out shall we."

The party heads out in search of Maccabeus.

The following day Keira awakes to a nurse tending to her arm.

"Excuse me, but do you know where a hunter named Phoenix is?" Keira asks the nurse.

"I'll go get the doctor, I was told he has a message from him for you."

A few moments later the doctor walks in and tells Keira about her friends and hands her the note.

Dear, Keira.

I hope you like the gift I'm having the smith make for you. It should be done by the time you're better. Talk to Erald and tell him you know me. Dragoon, Orpheus and I set out to look for our friend Maccabeus and to finish Orpheus' training. I hope to see you again. Not to make you wait, but I would like to see you again.

Wait for me,

Phoenix

Keira's eyes began to tear up.

The Doctor asks. "Are you alright?"

"Yea, I'm fine. Thank you for helping me. I don't have much money to pay you for this though."

"Don't worry Phoenix has already covered your stay and your treatments." The doctor smiles and walks out of the room.

"I'll wait Phoenix, I promise."