Monster Hunter: Yuujiyou Ch.10

Eva was beginning to hold up their journey. Angel was becoming irritable because of his broken staff and Alix was wearing holes in her winter fur that she pulled tighter around her neck. The cold was effecting everyone. Alix felt as though she was travelling alone, Eva out of sight, silently padding along behind, and Angel was scouring the ground for something though Alix couldn't begin to guess what.

'RAWR!' the sound echoed between the wall of trees on one side and the rocky outcrop they were using to cover themselves from the wind on the other. Both Alix and Angel cringed at the sound. It was the first time that Eva had uttered a sound that day. She had grown faster than Alix thought possible, her shoulders were higher than the crown of her head giving her a strange loping gate. She was only as tall as Alix's hips but it was still bigger than she was only days before.

Alix spun around to see what Eva had found. All her fur had stood on end and her slender tail was out straight. Alix was at a loss. Then shadows fell, and wind swept across the shallow gully they were tracing. As Alix peered nervously over the rocky edge of the path, another shadow fell. She turned, unsure of what she would see; But there was nothing. Again, she turned to see what was making Eva shake and whine. About 5 feet from the track they were on was a dark blue heap, it twitched wildly, eyes red with anger. At first it seemed completely oblivious to them, then Alix noticed that it was glancing at them and then back to the trees. It was to scared to do anything but quake in its foot steps. Alix felt a light shudder underfoot and instinctively hurled herself to the ground, just as Theo had told her to with the Daimyo Hermitaur. Tears pricked her eyes as she fought for some self restraint. She was on her feet again to see what would happen. The ground movement passed them by and reached the wretched Nargacuga. It realised too late its fate.

Two huge horns burst through the surface, chunks of clay and soil flew in all directions. The spec tical  was obscured but it was easy enough to imagine from the screams and rips. In the confusion and chaos Alix almost didn't register the huge shadow cross the track into the trees. The dust settled leaving Alix and Angel and Eva shocked to silence in the trench. Just as they began to regain some sense of themselves a twisted, black body jumped out of the trees. Life poured out of the place where the head should be, its forelegs were mangled, bones protruding through the skin. Alix was without words. But words wouldn't have helped in that moment. The Diablos screamed and charged headlong into the trench, twisting to face them still at full pelt, using the walls the steer.

There was nowhere to go but up. Angel grabbed Alix around the middle and threw her over the ledge before clambering up himself. The Diablos ran past bits of moss lifting off its back in the wind. Alix lifted herself up from the wet ground to face the beast. It stepped out of the trench heavily as Alix drew her short sword. Once again, a terrible scream blasted forward out of the Diablos and it began it's charge. Alix pressed herself into the ground in front of the raging monster and just as it skidded over head, she thrust the sword into its belly up to the hilt and was dragged along underneath the mortally wounded animal. By the time it reached a halt the monster had lost so much blood and other bodily items that it was ready to drop. It swayed; staggered a few steps and fell head first to the ground.

Alix, with the help of Angel, stood up and cleaned her sword of the crimson stains. The ruined beast hung in the ground, like some grotesque scarecrow, supported by its twisted black horns. Eva was chewing on a lump of discarded meat when Angel finally declared it was time to leave. They had had a quick meal of monster meat cooked over a small yet scorching hot fire Angel had made out of some yellowish slimy rocks. The hunting trio packed up their bags and trod off into the twilight.

****

Sun was streaming into Alix's small tent. She lay there awake for a few moments, listening to the sounds of Eva, grunting lightly in her sleep. Eventually, she felt it was time to get up to wash. They had walked a good few miles after the incident with the Diablos and had only set up camp when they reached the cover of trees. After a very sticky night, Alix was interested in finding out what the jungle was like. She thought of waking Angel but decided against it. 'After all he needs his beauty sleep!' she whispered to herself, giggling.

She began wandering away from the camp following her ears to the sounds of running water. The noise grew louder and louder until she was at the source of the deafening roar. A waterfall pitched over the edge of a cliff. The river above hurled itself over the rocks of the path, threatening to wrench Alix from her foot hold. She splashed some of the water over her face, grimacing as the icy chill registered with her tired brain. She sat still cringing for a few seconds as her brain freeze subsided. Once her head had cleared Alix was able to get back to cleaning her sweat caked body.

****

Two beady eyes spied from a thick hedge by the water hole. The owner had had to dive for cover when a strange monster had stalked up on him. The beast resembled him but had long gangly arms and legs and the head was on an extremely long neck. He had only just reached the copse by the water in time. He stood watching, and made the familiar movement to touch his brand scar, wondering if it was safe enough to get the others. The beast he was watching began to call out in a strange tongue as it slipped, caught by a strong swash over the edge of the Cliff. He gasped as he realised that she would fall straight into the Cliff-den and possibly bring harm to his clan. He rushed forward, blade drawn, and dived over the edge.

****

Angel stood in shock, rooted to the spot as he watched Alix topple over the edge, followed by a screaming, fury midget.

****

Alix landed with a crunch. Her leg twisted awkwardly underneath her. Her head swam and lights popped before her eyes. Grunts and whistles echoed around her as she looked up getting her bearings. Twenty or so small people with pointed ears and too much facial hair stood around her, gawping. Some held spears limply in their paw like hands. Darkness washed over Alix and she was gone; Comfortable.

****

Angel made his way down the shear cliff to the edge of the den below. Carefully he slipped around to edge to where Alix was being held.

'Psst! Alix!' He reached in and tugged her bruised ankle. She murmured sleepily before becoming properly awake. 'Shhh' Angel warned. She rolled over wide eyed rubbing her side where she had been lying. 'I can't see anyway of getting you out of here. These people they're... We don't have time. I'll be back. I have a friend who can help. I know it's a lot to ask but,' he pressed a sheath knife into her hand, 'Stay safe. I'll be a few days.' He paused for a second, their eyes meeting.

'Stay safe.'

No sooner had Angel ducked from view than a small hand shoved a crude bowl of something blue and lumpy into Alix's enclosure.

****

Angel was thinking fast. How best to reach the Capital, Sil-Shink Yo, to the South? He could walk down through the Jungle, across the plains and down through the volcano area. But the supplies were running thin. That trip would take at least 9days on foot. Otherwise, he could travel across the plains to the fishing town to the west and jump on a cargo ship to Sil-Shink Yo. But that would take him through the swamp. A terrible place at the best of times. But as it would only take 5days to make the trip Angel chose that route. After all, his danger was relatively little compared to Alix's...

Angel had packed all of his things into one pack including his broken staff. Alix's Light Bowgun would have to serve him for now. Everything else that he didn't need he wrapped up in some creepers torn from the trees nearby and dropped into a trench he dug and now covered. Marking the spot on his map, he walked into the trees.

****