The sound of Lys's pen scratching away at her notebook filled the otherwise quiet yet buzzing air. After the scare that was the Rajang incident, Joe had opted to just take Anna out on a quiet expedition to see her mental capacity for hunting. It wouldn't have been the first time that a hunter could not continue hunting due to a close brush with death. Even moreso since she was right front and center to Hazel nearly getting turned into mush. Even now, as Joe glanced back to the girl, he could see a nervous quiver to her eyes, though she tried to fight her instincts to just hide in camp. A sigh escaped his lips as he turned and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You don't have to force yourself," Joe stated, "We can head back and wait until you're more prepar–."

"I'm ready!"

Joe actually flinched at her sudden outburst, though her hands remained clenched tightly. He could still see her quivering nervously, her eyes getting wet with tears though she fought back against them as hard as she could. He admired her effort, his hand coming off her shoulder as he scratched the back of his head, contemplating his next move. The pen stopped scratching away, Joe looking over Anna's shoulder to see Lys looking at the both of them, curious as to what he was going to do. It took a few moments before the handler stood up, slinging her book bag to her side as she walked over and asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, ma'am," Anna answered, though the quiver was still in her voice. It was blatantly obvious to the both of them that she was trying to play it tough and brave, but there was still a lingering bit of doubt in their minds. Joe and Lys both looked at each other again, followed by Lys sighing as she then said, "...One moment."

The handler then walked away, to which Joe then turned back to look at Anna. His hand slowly rose to lift her face up by her chin, making her look him in the eye. The water was still just on the verge of breaking past the dams, but she kept her gaze on him regardless. Joe's eyes eventually rose as he took in a breath, then sighed as he let her chin go. Just as he was about to ask again, the sound of a Light Bowgun getting loaded up caught both of their attention. Joe whistled with amusement, Lys throwing the weapon around her shoulder and spotted the two looking at her, walking over as she then said, "What? Just cuz I went to handling part-time doesn't mean I gave up with my stuff."

Joe raised an eyebrow, then snorted a chuckle as he then looked at Anna and said to her specifically, "...in that case, stay close to Lys. I'll take the front."

–Meanwhile–

In some dunes of the Wildspire Waste, the mad, but tired eyes of a Barroth wavered between life and death. As it weakly flailed around, the sound of a sword piercing right into its eye filled the air. The sound of Revultures cawing filled the air, the birds taking to the skies as the blue gauntlet of the Sapphire Star gripped her Wyvern Blade "Pale" with both hands.

The sound of flesh and armor getting cut open filled her ears as Reiya forced the blade to cut into the monster's limp body a bit more, making sure it was dead for sure. She furrowed her brow, still as confused as when she fought the Rathalos not too long ago. It was all the same symptoms. Monsters that had gone mad, seemingly for no reason. This would always be followed up with a hunt, followed up by the monster seemingly coming back to life…even if it seemed painful. She remembered reading something of the sort from her mother's hunting reports, but she didn't want to believe anything of the sort could've possibly made it to the New World. As she pulled her sword out of the Barroth's skull, she hiked it onto her shoulder and looked up at the sky, seeing that some clouds were forming. Rain was rare in the Waste, though Reiya's eyes closed as she could feel the air beginning to dampen. It almost felt like a Namielle, but it would make sense if the Elder Dragon were found in the area. No, this was a natural rainfall. Clouds formed, the first droplet hitting her right on the forehead. The next would fall onto her cheek, then onto her shoulder, then the rain would begin to fall. Slowly, her hand would rise and take her fake glasses off, her blue eyes opening to look at the darkened skies.

"...I WILL find you…"

Reiya's hand tightened on her sword's handle.

"I WILL find you."

–Back to the trio–

Anna had watched in awe as Lys skillfully moved to and fro, reloading and firing her bowgun with ease. What attention she did attract, Joe was quick to intercept, giving her more time to reload, move, and fire again. It was a teamwork that would've required years of practice to master, and yet at the same time, the two were somehow sloppy with it as well. Oftentimes, it would end up with Joe getting caught in a cluster bomb shot, immediately followed by said hunter cussing out the bowgunner.

"And yet for all that," Joe stated while they sat in camp, "Reiya and Argus are still more in tune with Lys than I am."

After a rather relaxing day of hunting, at least for Joe and Lys, the group had opted to finally relax. Nearby, the part-time hunter had her bowgun down on the ground as she wrote away in her notebook. At the stove, the two senior hunters' palicos tended to a meal, only for the both of them to let out a yelp as a small burst of fire leapt out of the furnace. It actually caused Lys to look up, Joe doing the same as they both looked at the two cat-like humanoids run right back to the fire to try and save whatever meal they were making. With a sigh, Lys closed her book shut and set it down, standing up to go join them. Joe snorted a laugh as he muttered, "Dammit, Cali."

Anna followed Joe with her eyes as he went over to rescue the situation with the two palicos. Her eyes then went down to the ground in front of her, her body trembling ever so slightly. Even though it was a relatively easy day of hunting, moreso just to ease her back into it, she still couldn't get it out of her mind that maybe she needed to find a different profession. Her hands clenched as she took in a deep breath, trying to keep herself from hyperventilating.

"A lot of rookies come into the field seeking fame and glory."

Anna's eyes rose to look at Lys, the woman still writing away at her notebook as she then said, "It's a sad fact that many rookies don't take into account. While there are those dubbed as 'heroes' in our profession, most people often forget about the other side of being a hunter. The aspect that, maybe some of us never make it back. Even worse, maybe some of us have to watch as our comrades are ripped to shreds. It's usually after something like that, that many newbies end up leaving the profession. Kind of like…like what happened to Hazel."

Immediately, Anna felt a lump in her throat. She forced herself to take in a deep breath as Lys continued with her statement. However, her voice changed ever so slightly, somber even as she said, "It's hard to come back from something like that. Seeing comrades get so beaten down, broken, hell even torn to bits. We all become so close to each other, and eventually, we just go through so much that some of us become exclusively solo hunters. And, well, Reiya comes to mind."

Lys's eyes slowly turned to Joe, who had just come back and caught the back end of the conversation. The man simply sighed as he sat down on his stool again, the palicos finally getting back on with their regularly scheduled meals. Immediately, he could see Anna still stiff as a board, to which his hand went to her shoulder. A flinch later and Anna's eyes rose to look at Joe, the man smiling at her as Lys then said, "But…I think you'll be alright. As beaten up as Hazel was, they say he'll live."

Both of the palicos then let out what could only be described as victorious mewls of excitement. Lys looked up from Anna and looked over, seeing her dear friend scurry over with a plate of some freshly cooked Aptonoth meat. Likewise to Joe, his palico bringing a dish over as well. Anna watched as the two cat-like humanoids ran back to the stove, immediately bringing attention to her as Joe then asked, "...wait, where's YOUR palico?"

"Huh? Palico?"

Both Joe and Lys's eyes landed on Anna, wide and shocked to say the least. They both looked at each other as the palicos ran back over to give Anna her dish. A sigh escaped both of their lips as they realized just how much of a rookie she was. And by extension, Hazel as well.