Hello and welcome to the next chapter of Swordmen of the west. Today it time for a hunting trip for the gang. So let get right to the action. Disclaimer: I don't own any of the series that appear in this story. They all belong to their respected creators. On with the show!

Recap

Last time on Swordmen of the west: Asuna was catching up with her old friends Lizbeth and Silica as they went with Arthur and the others to check out Valentine. They ran into there own share of problem as Tilly was bother by someone from her past and Karen have to deal with a drunk while learning about the valentine bank would be a good place to rob. They soon head back to camp to plan things out.

Tales of Tamers Xilla

Dimensional Tales

Swordsmen of the west

Chapter 8

Going hunting

Kirito Pov: it been an few days since the girls went into town. It was rather normal aside from the trouble that Karen and Tilly found them selves in. Asuna told that the gang might hit the bank in Valentine, honesty I know were with a gang of crooks but do we need to cause more trouble then we need to? I was busy sharpening my swords. With me was Yui, Yuuki and Silica. The girls were playing with Pina as Yuuki was training with her sword. Arthur was walking by not paying attention as he was almost hit by Yuuki wild swings. "hey easy with that thing you almost took my damn head off." He said as he rub his neck. Yuuki chuckle nervously as she rub the back of her head. "Oops sorry Arthur I was lost in the groove." She said as she shuck her tongue out of the side of her mouth. "You got to be careful when you practice Yuuki, the people here don't use swords." I said as I place my sword onto my back. "I don't get why you kids fights with those over size knives." Arthur said.

"It just what were use too mister Arthur, Sao was a hard place to live in or 2 years." Silica said. "Huhu the players have to learn how to fight if they wanted to survive there." Yui said. "I heard it was quite brutal." Sinon said as she walk over to us. "I never took part in it but I heard the stories from a friend who was a SAO survivor." She said. "I still don't get how you kids got stuck in a game." Arthur said. "It the future you wouldn't get it, it just there no internet yet, I'm missing my shows." Yuuki said with a pout. "Yet use to it Yuuki, were going to be here fro a while until we find Death gun." I said as I notice Sinon frowns. "When we do I'm blowing his head off." She said. That when Hosea walk over to us. He had a rifle over his shoulder. "Hey, Arthur! You wanna go hunting?" He ask. "What are you hunting? An elephant?" Arthur ask. "I wish. No, I saw a huge bear. One of the biggest I ever saw. I reckon nearly a thousand pounds." Hosea said. "My god. What, you need me to come with you?" Arthur said.

"Oh yeah this will take more then me to bag." Hosea said. "In that case I'll come too." I said knowing it would be good to get out of the camp. "Oh me too this could be fun." Yuuki said excited. "I'll come too." Silica said. "Same, I been hunting before." Sinon said. "Yui go tell your mom were going to be gone for a while." I said. "Ok Daddy have fun." She said as she went to look for Asuna. "Come on let go." Hosea said as we got on our horses ready. "Well, where are we heading exactly?" Arthur said. "Up near the Dakota River. Might take a day or two." Hosea said. "I could do with a break from this place." Arthur said. "Tell me about it, I been so bored out of my skull." Yuuki said. "Oh, me too. It's been a rough couple of weeks. You need anything?" Hosea ask Arthur. "I don't think so, I got all I need." Arthur said. "Let's go then. So, you still ain't replaced Boadicea?" Hosea ask. "Nah. I miss her, she was quite a horse. This one's okay but… ain't no Boadicea." Arthur said sadly.

"I been meaning to offload this big shire horse for a while now. Unruly bastard!" Hosea said as he tug the large horse with us. "Where you get him from?" I ask. "Some big, loud-mouthed bastard tried to rob me when I was out riding so I… well, you know how it is." Hosea said. "So you rob him back, that not very nice mister Hosea." Silica said. 'Sometimes the world is not nice lass." Hosea said. 'Let's take him to Valentine. It's on the way, sort of. There's a decent dealer there. We'll unload him, you can buy yourself a new horse. Put your saddle on him, let's get going." He said. We got on our horse as I help Silica onto my as Pina perch herself onto my head. I roll my eyes as we head out of the camp. "Might be gone a couple of days. They got a good range of horse tack at the Valentine stables. Some beautiful saddles… I used to have a real nice one." Hosea said. "What happen to it?" I ask. "Got stolen outside that saloon in Deer Creek." He said. "Oh I remember now, just about. That turned into a long day." Arthur said.

"Yes, remember? Mac went crazy, threatened to kill the whole town. And Davey was passed out so cold we left him there, came back in the next day and… he woke up, started right back drinking again." Hosea said. "I miss those boys." Arthur said. "It never easy losing people that for sure. I lost a lot of good friends back in SAO." I said as I thought about my guild the moonlight black cats. I wonder if they could have been reborn on remnant. "Does feel a bit like our luck died with them, too." Arthur said. "Nonsense. We'll be alright. Just need some money to get back on our feet." Hosea said. "True things are bound to go our way soon." Sinon said. "I hope so. You and a way to offload those Cornwall bonds yet?" Arthur ask. as we soon came to Valentine. "Not yet. They're still very hot. Need to be done right. I have a couple of leads I'm looking into. Stables are just up ahead. Alright, go sell that big brute and… buy yourself a horse. I'm going off to the general store… get a few things to lure that bear out with… Meet you back here in a bit." Hosea said a she head to the store.

"Well wait out here for you Arthur." I said as we watch him into the stable. I look to Sinon. "So any thing on Deathgun yet?" I ask. "Nothing, I was able to send out a few feelers with the local bounty hunters. They will contact me when they learn something. Turn out Death gun been busy, he wanted all over for various crimes. With a bounty as large as his everyone is gunning for him." She said. "But he look to cover his tracks well if he been in this world longer then we have to have a bounty this big." I said as we look at a wanted poser of death on a nearby wall. It was about 2000 dollars at the moment and that being a lot in this time. "What did this guy do to piss you guys off so much?" Yuuki ask. "Right your not an Sao survivor. He was one of the leader of the murder guild laughing coffin. They killed people in game knowing it would be killed in the real world. We manage to take them down in Sao." I said. "But after the game ends they were in the wind." Silica said worry.

"Death gun was the brother of a former friend of mine. He was just as mess up as his brother as they were killing people in gun gale. Shinichi wanted to turn me into his play thing. It was thanks to Kirito we were able to arrest them. But now Death gun is here and with his powers of his avatar like us." Sinon said as she clench her fist. "Relax we'll get him." I said trying to calm her down. Arthur soon came out with a black horse. " Nice horse." Yuuki said. "Looks like a nice animal you got there. You happy?" Hosea said as he came over to us. "Guess we'll see." Arthur said. "Hop on up there and let's go. You won't know till you get in the saddle. Alright, let's get going. We got quite a ride ahead of us." Hosea said as we mount up and head out of town. "Lead the way. So… what's this lake we're heading for?" Arthur ask. "It's called O'Creagh's Run, up in the mountains east of Cumberland Falls. I just hope I can remember how to get there." Hosea said. Arthur sighs.

"Back into the mountains, I sure didn't figure on that." He said. "But this time we're doing the chasing… So how are things with you and John?" Hosea ask. "Fine." Arthur said annoy. "Ain't it about time you let it go now?" Hosea ask. 'What wrong between Arthur and john?" Silica ask. "From what we learn John left the gang for about a year leaving his family behind and Arthur feels like he abandon them." Sinon said. "I've spoken to him many times… he knows he did wrong… he just wants to put it behind him." Hosea said. "I'm sure he does. Running off on that kid is one thing, but there's a code, and he knows that. He ain't Trelawny. Dutch and you pretty much raised him." Arthur said mad about this. "I know… but it's done, has been for a while now. Okay, I think we need to head right up here. Yes… I remember this place… Moonstone Pond. We're going the right way. That's the lake there. Good, we made it. Let's loop around the other side." Hosea said as we were nearing the spot we were heading to. "I should really be heading back over to Great Plains to see about Sean." Arthur said.

"He got a point, the sooner we get to him the sooner we can save him." I said. "It's bounty hunters who've got him?" Hosea said. "So Trelawny says… Javier and Charles have gone with him to scope it out." Arthur said. "Hopefully they were able to learn something. It not good going in with out information." Sinon said. "Pretty dangerous going anywhere near Blackwater." Hosea said. "Right… but, if he's alive, we gotta try." Arthur said. "Of course. Look there, rabbits. Maybe we should catch one to cook." Hosea said as we saw some rabbits near by. 'Must we? They look so cute." Silica said. "Sorry kiddo but it eat or be eaten." Yuuki said. "We'll make it up to you later." I said as I pull out a pair of throwing needles from my coat. I threw them at the rabbits to hit them dead on. Once we gather then we set up a fire to cook them. After dinner much to Silica disgust we went to bed to get ready for tomorrow. The next day we were getting ready to hunt a bear. 'Ok let hunt down yogi." Yuuki said pump as always.

"So… what's your plan?" Arthur ask the older man. "Well… we'll see if we can track him, but… we might need to lay bait to draw him out. Bears like fish, obviously… but they also have a sweet tooth. A lot of fellers bait then shoot from the trees… but I prefer to hunt on the ground. More dangerous, but… we'll have a much better chance of getting a good shot in… and if he bolts we can start right off after him. Can you mix up this bait for me while I finish packing us up? Fish, berries. Tie it up in that rag when you're done." Hosea said as Arthur work on the bait. "Yeah that should do it, I use something similar when I hunted this bear monster back home." Sinon said. "That the one that was bothering Ahadi right? Didn't you get Nora and Rina to help you on that one?" I ask. She sigh. "I did, but they make it worst wen they end up forcing it into town and decided to wrestle it. I swear Rina scares the shit out of me. She broke it neck with her bare hands." She said with a shudder. " Miss Rina is tough." Silica said. "I say she bad ass." Yuuki said.

"I hope you know what you're talking about." Arthur said as he finish the bait. "I grew up in the mountains, Arthur… I was virtually weaned on bear meat." Hosea said. I cross my arms. 'I wonder if Asuna could cook bear meat." I said think about what my wife could do with it. "Pack up and we'll get going. Okay, let's go. We'll try our luck down by the water, that's where I saw him last." Hosea said as we got moving toward the river. "So far, so good. You know, I was in this area with Bessie, years ago." Hosea said. 'Who Bessie?" Silica ask. "This girl I was sweet on." He said. "Really? I didn't know that. I imagine you still miss her." Arthur said. "Every day." Hosea said. "Did you two ever think about getting out of the life?' Arthur ask. "We did briefly, you don't remember? Guess you were still young. Didn't last long. I drifted back into it. She understood… she knew what was." Hosea said. "I remember you not being around for a while, but things were looser back then." Arthur said.

'What you guys mean?" I ask. "Truth is, there's never really any getting out, and staying in… it's hard, you know that, but Bessie and I made it work. Why, you thinking about getting out?" Hosea ask. "Who me no never." Arthur said. "Listen, if Dutch's grand plans work, and we can make enough money to go some place new, really new, maybe we can all have a new start. Anyway, for now, let's try and chase ourselves a bear, shall we?" Hosea said as we got to the river. "Look like he was here recently." is aid as I saw sighs of fishing here. "There's some paw marks here, Hosea, they sure look big enough." Arthur said as we found tracks. "By the looks of them they go into the trees." Sinon said. "huh hey guys don't these tracks look strangely familiar to us?" Silica said. I got a closer look as I notice that the track look bigger then normal as the claws look to dig into the ground. "Your right, I don't think a normal bear made these. I seen these kind of tracks before but where?

We decided to follow the tracks into the forest as we try to hunt this thing. "But the whole thing feel off. "Damn we lost the tracks." Hosea said. "Let place the bait here." Arthur said. But then Vielecmon started to growl. "No need it here!'" He shout as a tree fell to ward us. We move back in time to avoid it crushing us. We found the bear but it was not what we expected. It was 3 times bigger them a normal bear with black fur and spikes coming out of it back. It claws were a foot long as it had tusk on the sides of it mouth. "What the hell kind of bear is that!" Arthur shout. 'It a demon bear from SAO!" I shout. "Shit Arthur Hosea get clear while we handle this." Sinon said. "Uh right." Hosea said as the two cowboy move to take cover. "Kirito." Vielecmon said. I nod. "Digi-modify Digivolvtion activate!" I shout as I swipe the card.

Digivolvtion

Vielecmon digivolve to Lowemon

Tamers vs demon bear

The bear charges at us as we move to dodge it as it clash into a tree to knock it down. I soon charge at is. "Horizontal arc!" I shout as I swung at it back as it try to slash it claw at me. I move back and follow up with a second slash to it chest. It swung down as I jump back. "Shadow meteor!" Lowemon shout as he shot his chest cannon as it slam into the monster chest to push it back. It roar as it was shot in the face by Sinon as she continue to assault it with sniper fire. It rush at6 her as the cat girl jump into the air to get on it back. She then pull out her proton sword to stab it in the back. The demon bear roars as it shook her off. Silica rush at the bear as she slash her dagger at it knees causing it to kneel as she then thrust her dagger into it right eye to take it out. The bear try to bite at her as Pina got in front of it and shot a burst of blue flame at it face making it stumble back. "Vorpal sword!" Yuuki shout as she slashes at it chest leaving several cuts in it. The bear try to attack as he was hit by gun fire as we saw Arthur and Hosea shooting at it.

Now to finish it. "Lowemon go!" I shout. My partner nods as he charge forward with his lance in hand. "Shadow lance!" He shout as he thrust his lance into the monster chest leaving a hole in it. I jump over my partner as I let out a cry and swung slicing the bear head clean off. It fell to the ground and burst into data. With the batter over Lowemon turn back to normal a she others came over. 'Damn that was quite the beasty." Hosea said as we look at the dissolving monster. "Tell me about it, to think this was runnign aroung out here." I said. 'You thing Death gun send it like those kolbold you guys face a while back?" Sinon ask. "Most likely, we still don't know how he pulling this off." I said. "Either way I thing we had enough excitement for one day. Same we couldn't bring anything back." Hosea said disappointed. "There always next time." Yuuki said. "Yeah." Silica said. "Let head back to camp." I said as we head to our horses to ride back. Death gun what are you up to here.

Chapter end

Preview

Kirito: After that mess with the bear, we decided to pay the O'driscols a visit. Next time on Swordmen of the west: Chapter 9: Paying a socal call. Here we go again.

And that is it for the chapter folks. We gotten another sao monster to appear. Most of the monster are going to be monsters I will make up since there aren't many of them to use. Now I will be cutting some parts of the game play out of the story because it will be too long to type since this story is going to be long. Stay tune to find out what happen next. Until then this been Crimson Dragonic blazing out!