Pluck stared into the storming night sky. His domain was never so loud, his sky was never so violent as to rip with lightning and thunder. He always had a clear view of the stars from his nest, he always had the ability go wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted, but now. Now he was a servant, a servant for his kin to throw at any adversary that dared to stand in his way. As he was now.
Atop the hill a small army of human men, braced themselves for their incoming onslaught. A single woman broke from the wall of shields, and brandished an elegant sword. She glared at down them, and swiped at the air in front of her, a radiant light, shinned down on them from on high. The men grew braver, and advanced towards the Elders with a renewed confidence.
A hole had opened in the storm, where human women with four brilliant white wings, swords forged in paradise, and bearing golden, blue armor descended from the heavens. He counted four of them, and glanced Kushala's way. The old dragon didn't look too impressed with the sudden opening in his storm. He flicked his horns to the side, and the beacon of light was swallowed by the Elder's black winds.
The men gaped as the light they coveted was smothered in his kin's claim to fame. Pluck's gaze fell on the single human female, who could only stare in awe at the dragons before her. His gaze turned to the winged female humans in the sky, and found them confused and bewildered by the sudden shift in atmosphere. He huffed and announced, "We are here for your metal!", The humans edged away from his voice, "You will strip yourselves of your armor, and…"
"IN THE NAME OF THE CHIEF GOD! WE SLAY THESE BEAST!", The woman roared.
And like that, all diplomacy was thrown to the metaphorical, and in this case very much physical, winds. The humans and winged women alike descended upon them, he huffed and within an instant he was soaring through the air as Kushala gathered his storm into a cyclone around them. Pluck shot into one of the winged humans, and began circling the battlefield. The remaining winged beings were shocked by how easily the Elder tore through their formation, and desperately flew after their fallen comrade.
Pluck watch as the humans charged the unimpressed rusted dragon, before snapping into position with a pulse of red and purple, and dived. Most of the human males were swept up in a current of Kushala's wind, and their leader was left disoriented from the sudden gust. She could only recover quick enough to avoid the incoming Elder's collision with the earth.
He crashed with a thunderous quake, and spread out his wings' prongs to prevent himself from sliding too far from the battle. The humans, who Kushala didn't toss, were struck with the force of the divebomb. Most were lucky enough to avoid the brunt of it and were only left disoriented, while the rest found themselves flying through the air due to the sheer force of the impact.
The woman held her ground, and moved into a fighting stance with her weapon held by her side. She glared at Pluck, and swung for his throat. The weapon bounced off of his natural armor, before glancing off his cheek with a spark. Her eye's widened in fear as the weapon failed to pierce his scales, and began summoning forth a ball of fire in her hands.
He gave her a tilt of the head before extending his wing into a lance, and sweeping her off her feet, causing the fire ball to dissipate in her hand. She fell, dropping her weapon in the process, and scrambled away as she saw his glowing blue, orange eyes staring down at her. She flipped onto her stomach, and desperately clawed at the grass in an attempt to escape. He held her down with a claw on her back, 'You look special.'
Black wind surged, and sent the rest of the human's flying into the stormy night. The winged females, recovered from his surprise attack, and now only two of them were left. With one of them carrying their injured back into the world above the storm.
Kushala moved to stand beside him, loose pieces of rusted scales fluttering in the black wind running through them. He smirked at Pluck, and channeled a tornado beneath the females. The two remaining combatants dived to the ground, and moved to hide behind trees to avoid being dragged into Kushala's attack.
The rusted Elder carefully moved closer to the winged women, and grabbed the closest one in his maw. The women beneath Pluck's claw screamed, "LET GO OF HER!", Kushala disarmed and tore most of the armor off of the winged female, uncaring for the discomfort he caused, and dropped her before rounding onto the other one.
As the tornado's grew nearer, the last combatant released the tree, and used the pull of the wind to send herself back into the air. Growling in irritation, Kushala began channeling his wind, but let it dissipate as she broke through the storm clouds. The winged woman, at his feet, weakly grasped onto her sword, and cleaved into Kushala's shoulder. Bits and pieces of rusted scales fluttered into the air, but it had failed to properly pierce the Elder.
"Back demon!", The woman raised her weapon in preparation. He growled in irritation, and knocked the sword in her hand with a swipe of his claw. She tumbled to the ground, still gripping her weapon in defiance.
Kushala leaned down to get a better look at the winged woman, "Lay down your weapon, creature, or I'll..."
Kushala was interrupted by a blast of fire slamming into the side of his face. His natural resilience to fire caused the flames to dissipate into strands of smoke. His only eye fell on the woman beneath Pluck's claw, and growled. He swatted the weapon from the winged female's hands, impaling the tree she had hid behind.
Pluck adjusted the pressure he used on the human beneath him, causing her to gasp in pain as she felt her ribcage push into itself. He eased up on her when she started turning blue, "I would wait for my turn if I were you. Trust me, it's painless if you cooperate."
She stared at him in horror, the color drained from her face as she came to her own conclusions. He turned back to see Kushala ripping the rest of the armor from the winged human's back in the distance. He left the female to her exhaustion, and came to sit in front of Pluck.
The older Elder stared down at the human in a mix of contempt and interest, "Human?"
She summoned another ball of fire, but it puffed into smoke when Pluck pressed into her back. She gasped and wretched as the feeling of her lung decompressing overcame her anger. Pluck eased off of her, and gave her an annoyed look. She gasped, "What do you want, demon?!"
"I just want to ask some questions, and take your armor of course.", Kushala leaned down to the point his single eye could stare into hers.
"Questions? Armor-r?", She felt the dragon holding her down ease up a little more, "Why would I tell you, monsters, anything?"
"I can always ask the other one," Kushala moved to the side to let her see the unconscious valkyrie, "she's probably just as cooperative as you are. Might be ever so slightly more durable than you though."
Her eyes widened, "Fine. I'll tell you everything, just leave the valkyrie alone."
Kushala gave her what could only be called a smile and turned to Pluck, "Release her, it's not like she can do anything anyways.", As Pluck stepped off of her, he added, "We've travelled far enough tonight; you can go back to your resting."
Pluck glanced at the human between them, but decided that he would much rather ask Kushala what he learned at another time. He laid himself down beside a tree, and was about to let sleep take him when he felt something grasp onto his snout.
He opened his eyes to see the annoying creature that lived with him on his peak. She glared back at him and whispered, "What the Hel do you think you're doing?"
-0-
The orphanage was quaint. That is what Dawn would call it, quaint. It wasn't impressive, but it was clean, it was cozy, and it was filled to the brim with smiling children. Young boys and girls bounce from wall to wall, giggling amongst themselves, with most of them not paying the two newcomers any mind. Dawn felt something tug at his hand, and found the same boy, that had nicknamed him, pulling on his finger.
He lowered himself to the boy's level as he began to speak, "Mister Doggy, do you have any sweets?"
"Can't say I do," Dawn ruffled the boy's hair, "why don't you go play with the others."
"Auh," the boy's expression fell and then brightened, "okay, Mister Doggy. Can you bring some sweets next time?"
"I'll think about it.", Dawn stood back to his full height as the boy ran off to join his rough housing friends. He turned to look at Estrid, and saw a rare smile grace her features. Her actual smile was beautiful, now that he could properly see it, but for some reason he felt a strange desire build up within him. He took off his helmet to pinch the bridge of his nose in irritation, 'Where did that come from?'
"Are you okay?", concerned by the hunter's small outburst, Estrid grabbed onto his arm. He patted her hand, and nodded as the headache left him, "I'm fine… just a headache.", She didn't believe him, but she didn't get the chance to ask him when Sasha made her announcement.
"Alight children," Sasha moved to undo the pile of rough housing boys, and then entered the open kitchen, on the left side of the orphanage, "I'm making dinner, go take your seats now."
The children dropped everything they were doing and moved to sit at the long dinner table. With two benches on each side, rather than an array of chairs. Elt was already in the kitchen readying the pots and pans for Sasha. She gave him a light reprimand before turning to the idling foreigners, "Elt go sit down, I can take it from here. Dinner won't take long; can you two please go take your seats as well?"
Shrugging Estrid pulled the hunter by the arm to sit down at the table as well. The children all sat on the right side of the table, while Dawn, Elt, and Estrid sat on the other. There was still plenty of room for others, and a single chair that Dawn could only assume to be Sasha's at the head.
Elt gave them odd looks, but was relieved that Dawn was the one sitting next to him rather than the minotaur. He idly rapped his fingers on the wooden surface, while the children joked and played at the table. The hunter peered at the young man's face believing that he had seen him before.
"Have we met before, Elt?", Dawn asked.
"Uh," the soldier racked his memory, "oh yeah, I was a part of the heroes' guard in Reinhold. I was right behind Wilmarina."
"I see," Dawn placed his helmet into his lap, "you wouldn't mind answering some questions, would you?"
"Um, sure… I can do that.", Elt nodded awkwardly.
Just as Dawn was about to continue there was a knock at the door. Elt and Dawn stared at each other, and then at the door. It swung open to reveal Ace and Mia followed by Shizuka with Tatsuo and Mimil on her tail. Ace proclaimed, "I have pants!"
Dawn stared down at the palico's newly acquired pants. It was a simple pair of baggy cloth, white pants with only a leather belt to keep it from sliding from his waist. Dawn gave his partner a halfhearted thumbs up as he came to stand next to him.
Sasha turned to see a number of monsters and Mimil, of all people, at her door. Surprised, she looked over to see the hunter conversing with a male werecat. The sight of which boggled her mind, "Oh my… Welcome, I take it that all of you are with the hunter?"
She saw the fluffy lamia shy away from her, but the mamono answered her regardless, "Yes, we are with the hunter, mam."
"Well then," Sasha gave the mamono her most polite smile, "go ahead and have a seat. I didn't know we would be having so many guests for dinner."
At the mention of dinner, the other male werecat's ears perked up. He hopped off the lamia's tail, and ran over to a startled Sasha. He bowed, "Thank you, but I'll be taking it from here."
"What do you mean?", She asked, baffled by the male werecat, "You are our guest, and the hunter and his companion have done more than enough to warrant a reward."
He nodded and adeptly flipped the wooden utensil from her hand into his paw. And then shook his head, "I understand… But I refuse to let anyone including kind host, such as yourself, to cook for me."
She tried to intimidate him in the way she would reprimand the children, with a stern motherly glare, but realized that she couldn't actually see the werecat's eyes. She blinked, "Can you see me, dear?"
"Of course, I can see you," he tilted his head, "my eyes are squinted not missing."
"Oh, my apologies," she waved her hands in embarrassment, "I didn't mean to offend you."
"None-taken," he started pushing her out of the kitchen, "now go. Too many cooks spoil the broth."
Dawn chuckled at the scene before turning to Ace, "How did you find us?"
"That Wilmartie girl pointed us in the right direction.", Ace pointed over his shoulder at the entrance of the orphanage, "But who cares about that, I got pants!"
"Wilmarina!", Elt sprung from his seat, and ran to the window to call out to the hero.
Dawn gave his palico a quizzical look, before glancing at Mia. She was terrified, shaking at the sight of Sasha, and her trembling only got worse when Wilmarina actually joined them inside the orphanage. He looked to Ace, who's excitement had petering out. Mia clung close to him, silently pleading for him to take her away from the orphanage, away from the heroes, away from the city if he had to.
Ace glanced over at Tatsuo, who had completely taken over the kitchen, and whispered, "Save us some, if we take too long. I'll try to make it quick."
And like that Ace began escorting Mia, down the hall, and away from heroes' presence. Sasha came to sit at the head of the dining table, and watched as the two werecats left, "Where are they going?"
"Mia isn't doing too well, with all of this," Dawn wasn't sure what to call it, "attention she's been getting."
Sasha suppressed her empathy, and nodded. She couldn't make herself look too sympathetic to mamono, especially around two other heroes. Speaking of heroes, "Wilmarina it is a pleasure to see you and Mimil again, but I have to ask… Why are you riding that monster, dear?"
The young hero hopped off of Shizuka's tail with a childish grin plastered across her face. She waltzed up to the hunter and said, "Because she's a pushover. Hunter," the little girl placed an accusing finger on Dawn's nose, "you will be giving me an in-depth translation, slash illustration, slash introduction to your world and every little thing that is encompassed within it."
Taken aback, the hunter could only edge away from the child as she began rattling off her demands. She brought out a scroll and began scribbling down everything she wanted from him, "I want a guide going over your world's monsters, include flora not just fauna. I will require you to explain the makeup of your world's minerals, and their differences to this world's. I want a guide on Lynian culture, Wyvernian culture, Troverian culture, and…"
Daring to interrupt her, he asked, "Why?"
"Because I would be a fool to let a discovery like this pass by me," she puffed out her chest, "the great Mimil Miltie the prodigy of Lescatie. I will usher in a new world of magic and science, and you my kindred hunter… will assist me!"
-0-
Ace practically carried Mia further into the orphanage and away from prying eyes. He pushed open the door to his right to find the washroom, and brought the terrified cat-girl in with him. She clung to him, her claws lightly poking into his arm, while he moved to close the door.
"Mia," he gently asked, "can you please let go of me? There's no one else here."
She stared up at him in fear, and then turned to the somewhat dark washroom. It had a single tub in the middle, with a washing rack leaning against the cabinets lining the walls, and a number of towels hanging from hooks next to the door. She squeezed Ace's paw, hoping for him to squeeze back, but instead found herself being forced onto one of the many stools.
She squeaked in fear as Ace pulled away from her. Mia felt a chill run down her spine as Ace pulled up a stool for himself. Once comfortable, he crossed his arms and asked, "What wrong?"
"What do you mean?", She was sweating.
"You've been acting odd since we got here," he peered at her, ", and you've been shaking me whenever that Wilmart girl gets near you. Now that I mention it," his eye's widened in realization, "you were acting really weird around that other hero lady back at the castle."
"What, me weird, pfft noooo," Mia wiped the back of her neck, "I'm just not feeling well right now. That's it, yeah, I'm sick!" She began fake coughing into her elbow.
Ace gave her a deadpanned stare, but did move to actually feel her forehead for warmth, 'Maybe the Healing Horn did something to her.', She calmed slightly as his paw mad contact with her, but all he felt was the wet due of sweat and the standard warmth one would feel when touching another person. He brushed her blonde hair aside to get a better look at her eyes, and noticed that they were dilated. It wasn't the same kind of high that felvine caused; she was quite clearly in a fight or flight state.
"What's wrong?", Ace cupped her face in his paws, and forced her to look him in the eye.
She enjoyed the intimacy, but the terror within broke loose. Tears dripped from her cheek to his paws and down to the floor. She grabbed onto his paws for support and said, "I'm scared Ace. I'm so, so scared right now."
His gaze softened, and he leaned closer, "Why are you scared? There's nothing to worry abo…"
She pulled his paws closer, and began sobbing, "The heroes… I'm scared of the heroes, Ace!"
He began wiping away Mia's tears and cupped her face again, hoping to calm her down. He asked, "Why are you scared of them? That nun lady looks harmless, and that little girl's all bark. Wilmarina doesn't want to hurt you…"
"Ace," she pulled him closer, "heroes do bad things. They hurt mamono… mamono, who don't attack people… mamono, who just want to be happy. They'll act nice, but they like hurting us… They're monsters… Ace!"
Ace's brow furrowed as he tried to reach for her once more, "No one's going to hurt you," he moved to get her to look at him again, "we'll make sure of that. Me, Dawn, Shizuka, Tatsuo, Estrid, we won't let any heroes hurt you."
"Promise?", She asked shakily.
"Promise."
He moved to release her, but found himself stuck in her vice grip. She pulled him closer and into a hug. She nuzzled into his breastplate, and closed her puffy red eyes. He blinked in confusion, but was quick to embrace her as well. They stayed there for a moment, as Ace let Mia bring herself down. She squeezed his arm's, and smiled when she felt Ace squeeze her back. She pulled away for only a second, so that she could look up at him again.
She felt her heart swell with joy as she looked into his bright orange eyes. She didn't care about the heroes anymore, she didn't care about what they could do to her, but she did care about one thing in particular. And that one thing was the palico right in front of her. She could only hope that he would return her feelings.
"Ace," Mia sat straighter, and rubbed the red from her lilac eyes, "can I try something?"
Ace blinked in confusion, before shrugging with a smile. He nodded, "Go ahead, but make it quick. I'm starving."
'It worked for Shizuka. It'll work for me.', She leaned in, until they were only inches apart. She stayed there for a moment, waiting for Ace to push her away. She bit her lip in anticipation, before throwing caution to the wind and kissed him. She closed her eyes, and leaned into it, hoping he would do the same.
Ace felt her lips touch his, and at that moment something new overcame him. It was a new sensation for Ace, which was only metaphorically true. He had been kissed by other felyne before, but it was more of a general lick, typically on his wounds, but this, this was different. He would have been lying if he said he didn't like it, he even grew a little annoyed when Mia decided to push away.
She stared into his eyes and he hers, but neither knew exactly what to say. Mia smiled as Ace's face flushed red, but they both remained there, in one another's arms. She moved to speak, but was silenced as Ace brought her in for another. Cupping her chin as he savored the oddly sweet taste that came with it.
They stayed like that for but a moment, letting the feeling wash over them. Wanting to push her luck a little further, she moved to unbuckle his newly acquired pants, but her paws were slapped away by Ace as he brought her further into the kiss. She pouted, despite the pure bliss she was feeling, and pushed away again, "Why not?"
"Stop trying to ruin this.", Ace snarled.
She giggled and gave him a light peck on the cheek in good fun, "You're the one being the prude here, not me."
"Enough!", Ace wiggled out of her arms, and lightly kicked his stool over as he did so, "Let's get back to dinner, damnit."
She beamed and grabbed ahold of right paw, before dragging him out with her, "Yeah let's... I can do that; those heroes can't do anything to me when you're around, can they?"
Ace looked back at her in thought, 'I have to ask her where the hell that hero stuff came from… I'll ask her later… When the time's right.'
-0-
As Ace and Mia returned from the washroom, they found everyone else seated at the table with another guest they weren't too familiar with. Drell, the old soldier that liked to ask too many questions, at least that was what Ace thought of him. The old man acted very friendly with Dawn, as well as the other mamono, and the two other heroes that decided to tag along.
His main attention only ever moved from Dawn, to Ace, and occasionally Tatsuo's way. He would glance at the other mamono, and every now and then he would engage in conversation with Sasha. He extended a hand for Ace to take, it was an odd action, especially considering how the rest of The Order treated mamono.
"Name's Drell Augustus, it is my 'pleasure' to make your acquaintance.", Ace hesitantly took the old man's hand, and found his grip surprisingly light. Ace looked up at the man's eyes and saw that they had turned from brown to red. He blinked and they were brown again.
"Yeah, cool… I'm Ace.", Ace cautiously shook his hand, as his attention moved to Mia. It was a strange feeling, it was like he was touching a monster's scale, but there was distinct softness that shouldn't have been there as well. He would have sworn that he saw red flash across his eyes, but his scrutiny was cut short by Dawn calling him over.
"Ace," Dawn handed him their plates, "were leaving, eat quickly."
"Oh, you can't leave yet," Drell reminded him, "you promised the children a story didn't you."
Dawn stared at the old man in confusion, he furrowed his brow in thought, and eventually shook his head. The children were more than excited for a story, after having to listen to the same five or so tales Sasha had to offer. The other mamono, sides Tatsuo, tiled their head in confusion, but also nodded in confirmation along with the heroes. The only one seemingly unaffected by what Drell said was Sasha Fullmoon herself and the young man sitting next to her.
"I don't remember the hunter ever saying tha…", Elt was cut off by smack to the head by Mimil.
"You weren't paying attention, fool.", She harrumphed and scooted over to the hunter, "You owe us a story Hunter. Make it a good one and answer some of my questions while you're at it."
Dawn rubbed his chin, remembering that he hadn't actually made such a promise. He was about to decline when he felt the young boy nudge at his arm. He looked down to see the exact same boy giving him a pleading look, "Please tell us a story Mister Doggy."
Sighing the hunter nodded and turned to Sasha, "Is there a proper place for everyone to gather?"
She gave him a pleasant smile and gestured to the lone rocking chair in the playroom, "I always tell the children stories over there. You are welcome to use it if you'd like."
Nodding the Dawn lifted himself from his current seat, in favor of the rocking chair. He placed his Great Sword against the wall, and was careful to not break the old piece of furniture as he sat in it. The boy came up beside him, so the hunter carefully placed the boy on his knee.
The rest of them gathered into the living room, with the children gathering up and onto Shizuka's tail to use as a cushion. Despite her quietly pleading for them to not sit on her. Estrid sat down with her legs crossed and allow the youngest girl, from before, to crawl into her lap. The humans pulled a bench closer to use as their own seats, despite Mimil wanting to join the other children on the mamono's tail. Leaving Ace, Tatsuo, and Mia to sit themselves in the center of the room.
Ace turned to Tatsuo and whispered, "Did Dawn promise anything?"
"I didn't hear anything about telling stories, but I was in the kitchen the entire time so…", He shrugged in response.
Mia curled up next to Ace, laying her head on his shoulder. Her tail coiled closer to herself even as Sasha laid candles out for light. She nuzzled into Ace, "I'm sure he did, and just forgot about it.", The two of them deadpanned at her, before turning to the hunter.
"Does anyone have any preferences?", Dawn asked as he settled into the seat.
Shizuka gently nudged one of the children to move a little further down her tail, "I would like one about the Najarala if you wouldn't mind."
Mimil scowled, but nodded as well, "I want to know more about your world's monsters. As long as there are monsters in this story, I'll be satisfied."
Drell decided to make his own request, "I would like to know about your world as well, Hunter. I have always found stories from outside of The Order to be most interesting than others."
Dawn nodded, trying to formulate a proper story to tell, before taking a look at the boy on his knee, "What is your name, young man?"
"Me," the boy rubbed at his head and shook it in distress, "I don't have a name Mister Doggy. Mama," he pointed to Sasha, "said I could pick one, but I neva decided on one."
Nodding, Dawn stroked his chin in thought, scratching at the stubble along his chin, "How about after I tell the story; we give you a name."
"Okay, Mister Doggy.", The nameless boy patted Dawn's head.
"Alrighty then," he cracked his neck and leaned in, "Isaac and his mother lived alone, in a small house, on a hill."
-0-
Isaac kept to himself, drawing pictures, and playing with his toys as his mother watched over their village. She was the village Elder, and had only just recently received a letter asking for their village to join the Hunter's Guild. She feared these outsiders, for they were from the mainland, a place considered evil in the eyes of her people. She began to write a letter, telling this Hunter's Guild that they would not join them, When suddenly!
"A monster attacked!", One of the kids yelled.
Yes, but also no. A rumble ran through the village, causing Isaac's toys to fall from their shelves. The young lad looked out his window to see a Kirin. A majestic Elder Dragon that lived within the forest beyond their walls. It took the form of a bright white, scaled horse with a single spiral horn that caused lightning to run across its mane.
"Oh no.", Another child whispered.
But this Kirin wasn't here to hurt anyone. It was being chased, yes chased, by a mighty Rajang; a beast so ferocious that it hunts Elders Dragons. This big horned ape rampaged throughout the village, until it was upon the Kirin. It roared so loud that Isaac felt himself be thrown back by the force. He hit his head on the shelf behind him, as the sound of screams echoed out across the village.
Sasha waved her hands to tell the hunter to hunter to sugar coat the next part. He subtly nodded in turn.
He awoke to a destroyed home, and the sound of his mother pushing rubble off of him. The village was destroyed entirely, but luckily no one was hurt in the chaos. A hunter from the Hunter's Guild had come bearing gifts, but had ended up repelling the monsters as well. This hunter was an odd one too. Instead of wielding a sword or a lance, he carried a massive harp, much bigger than himself, and wore armor made from old monster bones.
"Cool.", The boy on Dawn's knee whispered.
Isaac said the exact same thing. In fact, he was inspired by that hunter, and while everyone else was busy cleaning up, he ran up to the foreigner. He asked the hunter how he could be like him, how he could get so strong, and if the hunter would train him. What do you think he said?
The children resound in chorus, "Yes!", while the adults nodded with them. The only ones who didn't answer were the two felynes, who were simply watching the other's reactions.
Well Isaac wished he said yes. The hunter said no, telling the young man that he needed to grow stronger, and more importantly older, before he could become a hunter. He told him that he would come back in five years' time, and then he would judge whether or not he was ready to become a hunter.
"Was he?", The nameless child patted on Dawn's chest.
Hmmm, Isaac spent three full years building his strength, and running laps around his village. He used his status as the Elder's child to visit the mainland to find the hunter two years earlier, hoping that his devotion and his training would prove his worth. He spent the next two years traveling from Guild village to Guild village, until he eventually happened upon the hunter. But now, that man had finished his life as a hunter, and had rejoined his own village. Isaac was happy to see that the old hunter was in fact making preparation to head to back to his own home, just as he promised.
"Did he say yes," the boy was frantic, and based on the other children were acting. They felt the same, "did he?"
The old hunter smiled, patted the lad on his shoulder, and said: My friend you are already a hunter. Rest now… I'll send a letter of recommendation tomorrow morning. And so, Isaac rested, and he rested, and he rested. He waited and learned patiently from the old hunter for a whole month, until the Guild sent back a letter of congratulations. Isaac was a hunter at long last.
The children began loudly celebrating, but after a stern look from Sasha they were quick to quite back down. Shizuka and Estrid smiled at Dawn, giving him knowing looks, while the heroes and soldiers grew more invested in the story. Drell smirked and asked, "What is a hunter, Sir Dawn?"
Dawn carefully patted the excited child, on his knee, on the back, "A hunter is a great many things. A protector, a warrior, and most importantly, they represent what everyone in my world stives to be."
Satisfied the old soldier flashed the hunter a smirk before settling back into his seat. Wilmarina decided to ask her own question as well, "So they're basically heroes, right?"
"Essentially speaking," he nodded, "yes."
So, Isaac settled out and joined a man known only as the Caravaneer, a scholar, a man of impressive status, and the man Isaac would be working for, for a long time. Isaac then met his caravan's blacksmith, also going by the alias, The Man. A half Wyvernian, a people who live far longer lives than the average human, such long lives were often used to become experts in their fields.
"Are Wyvern-ians like elf-s.", The boy asked. A question to which Dawn nodded.
They were very much like elves… Isaac's first venture was defending the caravan's sand boat from the attack of a Dah'ren Mohran, a giant sand dwelling Elder Dragon known for the ore deposits lining its body. Isaac was successful in repelling the creature for long enough for other more experienced hunters to take on the Elder. He even had to save the Caravaneer's favorite hat after the wind blew it off his head.
The children giggled, while the rest of the listeners smiled at the mental image.
When they made it passed the great sea of sand. Isaac started his first day as an actual hunter. He was given his first set of armor, a slap on the butt, and was told to set out on his first quest. A personal quest from the Caravaneer himself, he asked the young hunter to hunt and properly cook the meat of an Aptonoth. It was easy to say at least, the small monster didn't put up much of a fight, and cooking the meat into a fine well-done steak only took him a couple of tries.
After that he got to proper hunting. He met his palico friend Faux, and set out to hunt actual monsters. He started off small with the Great Jaggi, and then moved on to Velocidrome, and these monsters only got stronger as he kept hunting. Until he ran face first into his first wall. A monster far stronger than any of the ones he hunted before. A beast known as the Twisted Snake Wyvern; the monster called Najarala!
He could see the excitement light up in Shizuka's eyes, and flashed her a brief smile before continuing.
The Najarala is gigantic, easily the largest monster Isaac had ever seen in his life, perhaps as long as the sand whale. The beast rattled the plates lining its crest in territorial fury, before lashing out by slinging its human sized scales at the young hunter. Isaac avoided the attack, but wasn't ready for the monster to rattle its crest again. The scales exploded as the sound resonated with them. Isaac didn't know if he could beat this beast.
Each time he struck the monster, his sword would simply bounce from the sheer strength of its scales. With each attack, he felt his resolve dwindle to the point he felt like he couldn't go on; that he had met his match. He cowered beneath the serpent, believing that he could never defeat it. For it was simply too large, too powerful, too resilient for a fledgling hunter, like him.
But that was when Faux stepped forward, in an incredible display of courage, the palico charged the monster head on. He was flung into the air as the tail slapped him away, but the act of courage was enough to inspire the hunter to keep going. And after a long-fought battle, Isaac and Faux stood victorious over the captured form of the great serpent king.
By now most of the children had fallen asleep, seemingly satisfied with a story much longer than they were used to. Sasha quietly brought the children to their beds as the rest of them groggily followed her to their rooms. Dawn looked to the young boy yawning on his knee, "I think I'll continue the story another time. Now how about that name?"
"No, you said I would get a name after you finished!", The boy whined.
"Fine then," Dawn patted his back, "I'll finish the story the next time I visit, and then we'll give you a name. How about that?"
Yawning again the child nodded, before falling asleep against the hunter's chest. Dawn let the nameless child sleep until Sasha eventually came for him as well. The nun gave him a thankful smile, and quietly left with the boy in her arms to tuck him into bed.
He turned to the werecats to find a groggy Mia curling up in Ace's lap, as Tatsuo worked to help the cat-girl to her feet. His attention moved to Estrid, who was rocking the infant little girl in her arms, as she moved to set the child in her bed. Shizuka had actually follow Sasha as most of the children had fallen asleep on her tail.
His attention eventually fell on the heroes. One of which was carrying the other in her arms, "I'm taking Mimil home, I'll meet up with you tomorrow morning, Hunter.", Dawn gave Wilmarina a nod, as she opened the door to leave. She turned to look at the hunter from over her shoulder, "And please don't start without us next time. I want to know how the story ends."
Nodding the hunter then turned to Drell, "That was a wonderful story hunter.", He clasped a hand on Dawn shoulder, and for a brief moment the hunter believed he saw a glint of red in the old soldier's eyes. Dawn hesitantly nodded as he continued, "I too would like to know how it ends, but we both have quite a lot to do tomorrow. I'll see you then."
'Odd.', Dawn found Elt making his way to his own room, and gave him a short wave. To which the young man returned.
By the time Sasha had tucked in the last child, the rest of the mamono had prepared themselves to head back to the wagon. She smiled, "Thank you Hunter. I would appreciate it if he you came back tomorrow to finish your story, I won't hear the end of it if you didn't."
"Don't worry," Dawn smiled back as he slipped his helmet back on, "I still have to get to the library, we'll be here for a good while longer, mam."
They left soon after the quick farewell. Leaving Drell and Sasha to watch them leave. Sasha sighed as she felt Drell's gaze move to her. He grinned, "The hunter, is far more interesting than I first thought him to be. What do you think Fullmoon?"
'He looks like my last chance.', Sasha nodded, "I think he would make a good father. But that does not matter right now. I beg you, postpone the invasion for a little longer," Sasha pleaded, "long enough for the children to leave Lescatie, at least."
"I can only keep my horde back for so long, Fullmoon.", Drell's smile fell, "How long do you expect us to wait?"
"Just awhile longer, I beg you.", Sasha held onto to Drell's hand as she fell to her knees.
Drell's eyes flashed red, but for that moment, he relented. He sighed and shook his head in disappointment, "I will postpone it to the day after tomorrow, but no longer than that, Fullmoon."
"I thank you, lady Druella."
-0-
"So, your name's actually Isaac.", Shizuka began making her side of the wagon's bed, "Why didn't you tell us?"
"My name isn't Isaac.", Dawn corrected, "It was just a name that came to mind."
"Oh," Shizuka laid herself down, "what about the village, and your mother?"
"Most of them died in the accident," Dawn sat down beside her, "I was discovered by the hunter, my master, after he repelled the monsters."
"Okay," Estrid stretched out her tired body on her side of the bed, "so what's the actual story?"
"My village was destroyed," the hunter glanced out the entrance of the wagon in interest, "I was orphaned, and the hunter brought me to the closest Guild village. Which is where I decided that I wanted to become a hunter. The rest of the story is the same."
Shizuka's expression soured, "I'm sorry for your loss. I can't even imagine losing my family like that."
Dawn shrugged apathetically, "It is the reality of life. We live and then one day we must die. No one, not even the Wyvernians live forever, and after becoming a hunter and learning to hunt monsters myself. I came to see those monsters that attacked my village in a very different light. A light that most of my fellow villagers found… disgusting."
Shizuka and Estrid looked to one another and then to the hunter. Silence fell over the wagon as the two mamono processed what he said. Shizuka was the first to ask, "What do you mean?"
"I admired them," he shook his head in disappointment in himself, "I valued their strength, and strived to make it my own… The person following us is leaving now."
Estrid and Shizuka blinked in confusion. The two moved to get up, but the hunter prevented them, "We were being observed. I don't think they were stalking us by choice."
"Then let's go track them down and find out why.", Estrid pushed.
"I have a feeling, we know who sent them.", The hunter eased the minotaur back into the bed, "I'll take care of it tomorrow."
Mia uncomfortably shifted next to Ace. She stared up at the palico, as he tried falling to sleep. She shook his shoulder, "Who's following us?"
"That elf lady," he grumbled, "since we left… castle."
"How do you know that?", Mia bristled at the idea of being stalked.
"Tatsuo saw her, while getting pants." Ace turned away from her, "Go… sslep."
"Fine!", She whisper yelled as she moved over to force him to face in their hammock, "But we're sleeping like this."
"Why?", He whined.
"Because we're married now, silly.", She nuzzled.
"Who decided that?", He groggily turned over to repeat the cycle.
-0-
"What the hell is wrong with you?", The creature throttled Pluck's snout, much to his annoyance.
"What are you doing here?", He squawked.
She stumbles back at the sound of his voice, but only grew angrier with the Elder. Her claws clench onto his nostrils, "Since when could you talk? What's wrong with your voice? Answer me dragon!"
Shaking the creature from his snout, the tired Valstrax tossed her aside, "Stop that you, you… I don't even know what you are. Just leave me alone."
She growled and started pressing her talon into his vent, "I'm a griffon you insufferable dragon. Now answer my questions, damnit!"
There outburst drew Kushala attention away from the shaking hero before him. His lack of a right eye gave Pluck enough time to draw the griffon behind him and out of the other Elder's sight. The old dragon grumbled before going back to his interrogation.
"I gained my ability to speak this morning.", Pluck looked down at the female beneath his wing, "What's wrong with my voice? I sound awfully human… Should I sound different?"
"You sound like a man, it just sounds creepy," she whispered, "then again I haven't really met any dragons before… Wait a second, I was angry at you. Why were you killing those humans?"
Pluck laid himself back down, "They were in our way, and decided to keep fighting after we started throwing them around."
"That's murder.", She whispered.
Pluck glanced Kushala's way, "Kushala called it Darwinism, said something like 'we're just killing the stupid ones' or something like that."
She gaped at him in bafflement, "By the gods, what the hell is wrong with you two?!"
"Pluck," Kushal called out, "what's going on over there?!"
"Nothing!", Pluck called back, "Just talking to myself!"
"So, you have a name too, huh?", The griffon jabbed.
Pluck sighed. He was going to have a long night.
AN: Okay, so Kushala Daora can actually generate Dragon. MH rise has just given Kushala the Alatreon dragon paw slam, so yeah.
Regardless, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. See ya later.