Red lightning.
The sparks of dragon element brilliantly lit Joe's Charge Blade, Fate's Curtain as they call it. In front of him, the Black Diablos angrily growled, scratching at the ground eagerly as it threatened to charge. The staredown slowly grew more and more intense; the veteran hunter's presence and experience standing against the rage and power of a Tempered Black Diablos. Hazel and Anna both stared in awe, almost frozen in place as they wanted to stay and watch, curious to see a master hunter of the New World go to work.
"You two better be leaving. And I mean NOW."
The two flinched at Joe's almost booming voice, his orders loud and clear. Just then, the Black Diablos let out another ear piercing shriek, it's arms now on the ground as it took a four point stance. Its legs clawed at the ground menacingly as Joe raised his shield, bracing himself. Hazel was quick to gawk as the Diablos took off at a mad sprint, quickly grabbing Anna and beginning to drag her out of the cave. The sound of bone crashing against bone filled the air, Joe letting out a loud grunt as his feet dug into the sand below him. The Diablos's horns were on either side of him, the massive head and skull pressed against his shield as it suddenly swung its head off to the side, throwing him off to the side. Joe's body bounced off the ground for a moment before he regained his balance, now on his feet as he jammed the saw-like blade of his Charge Blade into the sand to stop his slide.
Once his momentum ceased, he slowly looked up, a smirk now on his face as he looked the Diablos right into its rage-induced, red eyes. Pulling his sword out of the ground, he slammed it back into his shield, an audible "k-CHK" filling the air as he loaded his Charge Blade vials. Joe couldn't help but tremble with a slight bit of excitement, his body filling with adrenaline as he then said, "C'mon big girl!"
The shriek of the Diablos followed as Joe let out a shout, charging the horned wyvern.
—-
"Hazel! Hazel, stop!"
Hazel slowed down, turning to look at Anna. The poor girl slowed to a stop, bending over and putting her hands on her knees as she gasped for air. Hazel was just about to keep pushing her, only stopping to hear the Diablos's shriek yet again. The two flinched at the sound, the echoes of battle only adding to the mystique of what was going on below.
Anna kept her eyes locked on the cave, wanting to stay and try to help their mentor. Hazel, however, grabbed her shoulder and turned her, looking her dead in the eye. His gaze was intense, commanding, his voice seemingly booming in her ear as he said, "Anna, don't you think about it. Joe gave us an order. We need to go. We'll only get in his way."
"Yeah, you will."
The two hunters flinched and glanced up a ledge, seeing who else but Reiya sitting there, her deep blue Velkhana armor contrasting the azure sky. Turned sideways on her back was her longsword, Wyvern Blade "Pale," her feet dangling over the edge as she looked down at them. The two gazed upon her, almost captivated as Reiya then asked, "I'm assuming good ol' Josama is down there?"
"Huh? Josama?"
Reiya let out a grunt, jumping off the ledge and landing rather gracefully on the sandstone below. She then glanced to the cave, walking toward Hazel and Anna as another shriek, followed by an audible "BANG" echoed from within. Reiya couldn't help but smile, shaking her head as she muttered, "Showoff."
Clearing her throat, she then stopped in front of the two and said, "Oh, sorry. Josama is Joe's full name. We just call him Joe because…well…why not?"
The two nodded slowly in understanding, another shriek echoing from within the cave. Reiya shot another glance at the cave, then turned to the other two again and said, "Well, since I'm here, I'll walk you guys back to camp."
Reiya turned, beginning to walk away. The two hunters simply stared, both in awe and surprise, at how casually Reiya was walking away and leaving Joe to his own against a Tempered Black Diablos. Reiya, seemingly sensing this, stopped and glanced back, an almost annoyed and disappointed gaze on her face as she then said, "Joe can handle his own just fine. Now hurry up. Otherwise you guys will have to find your own way home."
—
"Reiya," Anna's voice piped up, causing the veteran hunter to glance back and look at her. The three took a left turn, going down a small decline as Anna then asked, "What brings you out here? I thought only Joe was going to be out here with us."
Reiya blinked at the girl, contemplating her answer. Hazel remained quiet for the most part, curious as to what the answer was as well. Reiya remained silent, stopping at what appeared to be another cave. Anna cocked her head to the side, still wondering what the answer was before Reiya answered, "I was…tracking something. Ended up coming all the way over here."
"Tracking something? Was it that Diablos?"
Reiya couldn't help but chuckle at Anna's inquisitiveness, to which the former then said, "Hey, don't worry about it. Maybe when you guys get stronger, I'll tell you."
"What? Why do we have to wait?"
In one smooth motion, Reiya turned and jabbed two fingers into Anna's forehead. The girl let out a small yelp and flinched, then rubbed her forehead as Reiya smirked at her, then replied, "No need to be getting nosy now. You shouldn't be poking your nose into matters that you don't have to worry about."
Anna visibly began to pout, causing Reiya to smile before patting her head. Anna, though annoyed, simply stood there and took it as Reiya ran her hand through the rookie hunter's hair. Reiya's gaze softened as she then said, "Maybe once you're stronger, you can take my place, eh?"
The statement immediately snapped Anna and Hazel out of their daze as Reiya pulled away, going toward the cave and jumping off an apparent ledge. The two very quickly gawked before running to the ledge, looking over to see Reiya getting up onto her feet. Blinking in surprise, Reiya turned to look at them, amused by the worried looks on their faces before she then said, "I'm still alive, don't worry. Hurry up."
Glancing at each other, Hazel and Anna both jumped down next, following Reiya over to a small tent with a pond off to the side. The two ooh'd and ahh'd as they looked around the cavern, exploring the small camp as Reiya sat down by the pond with a sigh. Glancing back at the two, she watched as Hazel entered, then popped back out. This was followed by Anna, who popped out just as quickly before walking over to Reiya.
"This is basecamp. Well, one of them that're littered around here, anyway," Reiya explained, Anna and Hazel sitting down next to her. Reiya took in a deep breath, then slowly let it escape her lungs as she then said, "And if you guys are worried about Joe, don't be. He's one of the best we've got. He can handle one Tempered Black Diablos."
Anna and Hazel both nodded, evidently still worried. Reiya immediately took notice, shooting them a quick glance before looking back at the pond. She then began to reminisce about all the hunters that she had seen come and go, the two rookies, a familiar sight that she had seen several times in her time in the New World.
"...Don't worry. As long as we're hunting with you guys, we won't let you die," Reiya stated to the two. Hazel was the first to glance at Reiya, followed by Anna, the veteran hunter's fist clenching into a fist. The soft and gentle gaze that was on Reiya's face was suddenly very intense and, to the two hunters, suddenly very intimidating. The two hunters felt a chill go down their spines, both their bodies freezing up. This went on for a few minutes before Reiya snapped back to reality, flinching and blinking before looking at the two. The reaction was understandable, considering that said look was usually enough to deter most smaller monsters. A chuckle escaped Reiya's lips as she casually reached over, shoving Anna into Hazel's lap. The girl yelped in surprise, getting knocked out of her daze before looking up at Hazel's face, the young man looking right back at her, having been knocked out of his gaze as well. The two looked at each other and blinked as Reiya laughed and said, "You two look so cute right now."
Reiya had raised her hands, fingers positioned like a camera as she looked at the two rookie hunters. Hazel looked back down at Anna just before the two burst into a mad deep red blush, Anna scrambling to get her head off his lap. Reiya let out another laugh, about to comment again before the sound of wings beating filled the air. A smile graced Reiya's lips again as she looked up again and said, "Well, right on time."
Right on cue, a Mernos came flying down, Joe attached to its foot with his slinger.
With a grunt, Reiya stood up, taking a few paces toward him as he landed. Joe, evidently, was just as surprised to see her, opening his mouth to speak. However, a single finger landed on his lips, Reiya smirking and raising her other hand up to her mouth, putting a finger on her lips as well. This was followed by her taking her finger off his lips, the hand going to pat his shoulder as she then said, "Good job. I'll see you later."
Joe remained quiet, still surprised as his eyes followed her out of camp, followed by a sigh being released from his lips as he wiped his lips and said, "You goddamn tease."