//------------------------------// // Urgent Quest! :Assassin of the Jungle (Part 2) // Story: Monster Hunting: No Way! // by GhostlyDarkness //------------------------------// Soul burst through the last of the trees carrying Rain all the way back to the base camp before setting him down on the bed. Twilight had just caught up to him holding Rain's long sword. She dropped it as soon as they were back at the base camp and ran over to Rain's side. She could hear him slightly breathing softly. "He's alive at least," she sighed. Soul lingered near the entrance of the base camp, "check the chest to see if the guild has sent supplies yet," he said looking out into the forest. Twilight nodded before getting up and checking the blue chest once again. This time it seemed to be filled with all the usual necessities they usually got at the beginning of a quest. "Yes some first aids," she said taking out the first aids kits from the chest. She rushed over to Rain who seemed to be moving around slightly. "Twi-- Twilight? Are you alright?" Rain asked in somewhat of a whisper. Twilight dropped the first aids and bent down to him, "Rain why? Why did you take the hit for me?" she asked sounding emotional. Tears began welling up in her eyes. Rain smiled weakly, "Because...I made y--you a promise to get you home...safely," he said just managing to force the words out. Twilight frowned, "but not at your expense though," she said as tears began to fall from her purple eyes. "You don't have to protect me anymore…trust me," she said softly. She gave him a light hug resting her head on his chest. Soul came behind Twilight and put a hand on her shoulder. "Rain you know by taking hits for her, you're not letting her grow as a hunter, you need to let her take the hits I know you can't stand to see her get hurt, but you have to let it happen," he said looking down at him. Rain closed his eyes and gave him a slow nod. Soul nodded and looked down at Twilight, "go wait near the entrance I'll patch up Rain," he said raising her up from him. Twilight sniffled and rose and began to leave. "I'll be fine Twi," Rain said trying to sound reassuring. Twilight looked back at him and nodded before continuing to leave. Soul looked down at Rain, "you might want to close your eyes and breathe," he said calmly. As Twilight waited by the entrance she was lost in thought hoping Rain was alright. She was interrupted by the sudden screams of her comrade and forced herself not to turn around to look. Tears formed in her eyes as his strained screams could be felt in her heart before they quieted down. Soul soon joined her once again, "his dominant arm is incapacitated so he can't continue the hunt so we have to finish this on our own," he said sighing. "But he should be fine in a couple weeks, the spikes weren't too damaging, they were just jammed between his shoulder blade," he said looking out into the forest. Twilight nodded without responding, she stared out at the forest along with Soul. Soul simply rested his hand on her shoulder, "he'll be fine, now let's go finish this," he said walking ahead of her. Twilight nodded before taking a ration, the odd taste not even making her flinch. "I will kill this thing..." she muttered to herself before walking to catch up with Soul. The two of them walked in silence as the continued back to the area they had last seen the Nargacuga. Soul broke the silence, "I have a plan, but we need to anger it," he said seriously. Twilight looked blankly at him, "what's the plan?" she asked. "I have one trap so we have one shot to try this," he said calmly. "We're going to bomb it and you have to detonate it with a shot," Soul said carefully. "But for this trap to work on the monster it needs to be enraged otherwise it'll hop right out," he said seriously. Twilight nodded before hastily walking ahead. She was ready to end this hunt; her blood was boiling just thinking about the monster still being alive. Soul looked at Twilight, "you need to calm down," he grabbed her and turned her around to look at him. "Being angry isn't going to help you, it’s going to get you killed trust me, calm down and focus," he said before letting her go. Twilight sighed and nodded slowly before turning around to continue on. The two had made it back to the area where they had last seen the monster, yet everything was quiet and still. Not even the wind blew a single breeze through the dark sky. "Damn, we have to track it down now," Soul muttered. "Wait..." Twilight said silencing him. "Listen carefully," she said before falling silent. She could hear slight breathing that wasn't either of them. It sounded somewhat like an exhausted growl that repeated itself quickly. "Where's it coming from?" she asked him in a whisper. Soul listened intently before motioning over to deep in the vegetation. The bushes led to a shadowy patch of undergrowth where the beast lay almost invisible at first glance. The slight tinge of red in its wings gave it away though. The rising and falling of its fur showed its presence even more. "Ok, here's the plan Twilight I'm going to set the trap out over in the open," Soul whispered as he took out a rectangular shaped object. "You get the beast angry, don't mess up we got only one chance at this," he said before leaving back towards the open marshy area. Twilight nodded and unfolded her bow stealthily. She quietly loaded up more power coatings before crouching and aiming carefully at the Nargacuga. "Wakey wakey," she said in a mocking tone as she fired a fully drawn back arrow straight at the monster waking it up. The beast looked at Twilight with ruby red eyes of pure ferocity. It was clearly not happy at being awoken from its nap, especially in an unpleasant manor. Twilight quickly got up and dashed away as fast as she could. She cleared through the bushes and branches in her way to break into the plains to see an odd contraption sticking out of the ground covered in camouflage. Soul was standing on the other side setting up large barrels where he stood. "Is it coming?" he asked looking up at Twilight running towards him. Twilight ran over to him nodding and slightly panting. The beast erupted from the vegetation, eyes glowing red to show its anger. "Alright get in place," Soul said as he drew his swords before rushing towards the beast. He quickly slashed away and dodged as the monster attempted to slash its assaulter. Meanwhile Twilight waited for the right moment Soul would lead the monster to fall into the trap. Just after Soul dodged a swipe from the monster he sheathed his blades and rolled over next to the barrels trying to lead the beast to step on the trap in the ground. The Nargacuga jumped to the right of the trap, but didn't step on the center pad to activate the trap. But then it quickly changed directions and lunged right at Soul swiping him and the barrels away just as the beast fell into the trap. Twilight watched the barrels roll away as the beast fell into the hole. One chance she thought to herself as she drew back her shot. She took aim as the beast flailed around in the trap trying to free itself before taking in a breath and steadying her aim. Time seemed to have slowed down in this moment as she released the arrow leading her shot. The arrow flew effortlessly through the air towards the Nargacuga's head. Yet, the beast moved its head upward and revealed its jugular vein taking the hit of the arrow. An angry cry from the beast was heard, before it fell quiet and still in the hole. Twilight released her breath and lowered her bow. She felt a great sense of relief as she slowly approached the dead monster. Soul slowly approached Twilight, "that was one heck of a shot," he said with a somewhat proud feeling. Twilight sighed and smiled at him, "well at least it’s done and over with for now," she said sounding exhausted. "Yeah...that was pretty impressive," a voice interrupted both of them. The two turned around to see Rain limping, using his long sword as a crutch. "You always seem to pull off amazing feats," he continued. "What are you doing here you need to be resting," Twilight said quickly walking over to him. "I'm fine...don't worry and the Felynes are coming to pick up the body, Nargacuga armor is pretty good I hear," he said smiling weakly. Soul approached Rain, "well kid you got your first battle scar, you better hope it’s not your last," he said jokingly. Rain gave him the same weak smile, "oh shut up and let’s get back to the port...I need to rest..." he said before turning around to limp back the way he came. Twilight joined him walking beside him and began to lecture him on his injuries making him groan. Soul could only walk behind them and chuckle to himself as he listened in.