Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Monster Hunter, only how the story goes. The characters and world of Monster Hunter belongs to Capcom. The only thing that I do own are the OC's of the story. I do apologize for any errors in grammar and/or if I was not accurate in reference to something.
A/N: As I was writing this, I had a certain feeling of heartache come about me. And what a way to say hello to the final month of the summer. I did say that these two arcs would probably take me over the course of the summer and I am glad to deliver.
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Chapter Thirty-Four: Goodbye, Sea Faring Felynes
The sound continued to resonate over the ship and her passengers. Slowly rising to his feet Jacob asked, "Just what is that?"
"It sounds like a sad song." A Felyne above them on the rigging said. Jacob and Floot moved over to the side of the ship and saw the Lagiacrus floating in the water a good deal away from them. She swayed her head to and fro with her snout pointed towards the sky, sorrowfully moaning. Floot then said, "It is said that there are many songs of the sea. And I guess that this must be one of them.
"She cries for her lost brood." The Felyne shook his head. Jacob watched her continue as he sorrowfully asked, "And I doubt that we can do anything, huh?"
"Unfortunately, we can't." Floot sighed and hopped up onto the railing. Jacob wondered aloud, "What happened to the rest of the poachers?"
"Some managed to cut the lines to one of the other haulers." Another Felyne said when they walked up. The Lynian then said, "Only a few managed to get to it as the others were either picked off by the Plesioth or one of the adult Rathalos or the Espinas. Those whom survived headed southeast. As for the wyverns, we were fortunate that they soon lost interest and took off. Well, the flying ones any way."
"Think the poachers will be any more trouble?" Jacob asked them. Floot shook his head, "Unlikely. Without the Captor or her captain to guide, they'll be in disarray for quite some time."
"And… And Joc?" Jacob asked Floot, wondering about the leader of the group. But Floot only shook his head in sorrow. Jacob lowered his head and sighed, feeling really guilty about what happened to the older Felyne. Floot hopped down from the railings of the hauler and gave a sharp whistle. It caused everyone to stop what they were doing and they looked to him. The blue and white furred Felyne then said, "Our escape was accomplished, though we did suffurr the loss of our leader, Joc. And he will be greatly missed by us all."
A lot of heads bowed in respect to the fallen leader and Jacob did the same to show the same level of respect. Floot then said, "But we will honor his memory by continuing to live on.
"I say we make for an outpost and find ourselves new lives. Whatever they may be." Floot suggested, earning a few nods in agreement. Placing a paw on his person, he then said, "But tonight, we heal and rest."
"Where to?" One of the Felynes at the helm asked. Floot then said, "We'll head southwest. And when we see land, we'll make purrt.
"So way anchor and let loose those sails. We need to get a move on." Floot ordered them. The Felynes at the helm nodded in agreement and started to turn the wheel. The rest of the Felynes moved off and tended to those who were wounded.
Jacob looked down to Floot as the Felyne received some medical supplies and turned to the teen. Floot motioned for Jacob to kneel down and the human teen complied. Moving the tunic to where Floot could see the injury, the scratch that the captain had left had stopped bleeding but still looked quite nasty.
"Brace yourself." Floot said as he used a wet cloth to wash the blood away. Jacob grimaced from the sting from the cloth touching his wound. After cleaning the wound, Floot applied some of the Healing Potion to his shoulder. The Felyne wrapped it up by wrapping some clean cloth around his shoulder. When he was done, Floot asked, "Do mew mind helping me out?"
"Of course not." Jacob said and took the supplies from the Felyne. Floot showed Jacob where his scratches and bruises were and Jacob applied the medicine. Floot gritted his teeth when Jacob touched the sensitive skin. When he was finished, both he and Floot breathed a little easier. Floot then handed Jacob his disguise back and Jacob took the hat, the coat and the mask back from him.
The two moved over to the railing and they leaned against the wood. After placing his hat on his head, Jacob glanced down to the cat man and asked, "So, what will you do now?"
"I don't know." Floot shrugged, looking a little lost in thought. Then he said, "Maybe I'll join the Guild, try and do some good.
"What about mew?" Floot asked the teen from another world. Jacob sighed as he looked out to the sea before saying, "To be honest, I think I need to get back to the New World."
"But why?" Floot didn't understand. Jacob looked to him, "Let's just say, not only am I waiting to get back home, which is kind of a long story, but there are a few still who depend on me."
"Like a family?" Floot asked, wondering about the teen. Jacob nodded when he thought of the beasts back on the continent, "Yeah, like a family.
"Think one of them Mernos can get me back?" Jacob asked, looking to the Flying Wyverns perched at the front of the ship and up on the sails. Floot nodded, "Yeah, they could get mew there. In one go even when they have enough energy."
"So, we let them rest for a bit and I can have one take me back?" Jacob asked, hoping that they wouldn't mind. Floot nodded, "Yeah, that's reasonable.
"Or mew could come with us if mew'd like." Floot offered. Jacob smiled at the thought of traveling with the small and furry crew. And as tempted as he was, the human teen felt that it wouldn't work out great. With a small shake of his head, "I'm gonna have to say no, Floot.
"As honored as I am that you're asking me, but I feel like I've gotten you into enough trouble as it is." Jacob told him. Floot waved it off, "We got into a big scrape, but thanks to mew, we were able to escape."
"Not everyone." Jacob disagreed and looked away, thinking of Joc. Floot seemed a little down about his friend too, but still said, "Listen, Joc knew what he was getting into.
"Same as the rest of us." He gestured to the others. Jacob looked to the Felyne as Floot then said, "But it was your plan that got us out, and a good deal of us are liable to follow mew to the ends of the world."
"But as Joc said, you're the one that needs to lead them." Jacob reminded him. Placing a hand on the Felyne's shoulder he said, "He knew that you'll be a good leader for them.
"And I have a feeling that you're gonna do a fine job." Jacob said and lifted his hat from his head. He then placed the hat on the cat man's head and saluted with a small grin, "Captain Floot."
"Heh." Floot chuckled as he removed the hat and looked at it. Looking up to Jacob again he said, "I'll never forget mew. Mew were a great friend to me and the rest us."
"And I thank you." Jacob kneeled down to Floot. Floot then leapt at him and wrapped his furry arms around the teen. Jacob hugged him back and Floot said, "I wish you luck, Jacob, my furriend."
"Likewise." Jacob nodded to him. Floot looked a passing Felyne and requested, "Prepare one of the Mernos for our furriend to get back to the mainland."
"Yes, captain." The Felyne nodded before moving off to get one prepped. Jacob grinned and turned his head back to Floot, "Seems like that's caught on quicker than I thought."
"So it would seem." Floot nodded in agreement. Jacob then asked, "Think you'll pass by the New World again?"
"Maybe, one never knows." Floot shrugged and wondered about it too. Jacob looked down to the mask and coat in his arms and said, "Looks like this stuff served me well enough.
"I think it's time to leave it behind." He said and tossed the articles of clothing over the side. The coat and mask landed in the water with a small splash. It didn't take either one too long to start sinking beneath the waves of the ocean. Jacob and Floot watched until the two disappeared from their sight. The Felyne placed a paw on the hat and asked, "I can at least keep the hat, right?"
Jacob laughed a little as he thought it funny and nodded, "Yeah, Floot. You can keep the hat."
…
A little later…
It was a few minutes later when one of the Mernos had been prepared for Jacob. The Mernos in question had a long rope wrapped around its leg and was perched on the railing of the hauler. The teen had been given instructions on how to send it back to them once he was dropped off. Jacob and Floot stood before the crowd of Felynes as the latter said, "We wish mew well on your journey back to the New World and for what may come afterwards.
"We will never forget what mew have done furr us." He gestured to him and the others. Floot continued by saying, "Though I wish that mew would join us, we all have a different path.
"May we cross paths again in the future." Floot said with a hopeful look. Jacob nodded to him and said, "I hope we do.
"May you all have joyous lives." He looked around to the Felynes. He knew they wouldn't know what he would be talking about, but Jacob still said, "May God watch over you."
Just like he thought, it earned a few looks from the Felynes as they turned to each other. Floot shrugged, "Uh, thanks furr that. And may the Sapphire Star light your way."
"Yeah!" The others agreed by raising their paws into the air. Jacob took the rope into his hand, looked back to Floot and the Felynes and said, "Stay safe."
"You too." Floot nodded with a grin. Jacob grinned back to him as another Felyne came up to the Mernos and motioned for it to go. The Mernos groaned as it opened its wings and took flight. Jacob held on tight as he was lifted into the air. The Mernos lifted the teen from the deck and climbed higher into the sky. Jacob took one last look at the Felynes to see them waving to him. Jacob waved back to them as the Mernos carried him in the direction of the New World. In the air, he watched as the hauler shrank the further he was carried away.
Jacob focused his attention back in the direction of the mainland and could see it a good distance away. The sound of splashing made him look down to see a shape moving through the water and wondered if it was the Lagiacrus. But he broke from his thoughts when he turned his attention back to continent as they came closer to the landmass.
Down below the teen traveling by Mernos, the Lagiacrus raised her head from the rolling waves and watched them go. She gave a sorrowful whine before swimming again. And she too was heading back to the New World.
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Author's Note: I do hate that we have to say goodbye to Floot and the others, but Jacob's place is in the New World for a great deal of time. I think you're all going to like what I have in store for the next chapter. But I'm just gonna have to let you experience it for yourself. I look forward to reading your reviews. Be sure to leave a comment either about if I've done something wrong or if you want something specifically to happen. See you all next time.