MHW:IB ; The Search For The Sapphire Hunter!

11.Layers Of Regret

The next day....

It was a pretty normal day. Cory and his group went off to find more tracks for the Sapphire Hunter and her Viper Kadachi, Tinker and Zay were on a quest in Coral Highlands and Sean is with Recon. Bloom, however, was still sleep deprived due to working on the book of monsters overnight and Jerry is more worried about Bloom. He was in his room, sitting on the bottom bunk bed concerned for his friend. The doors open and Bloom enters, still looking extremely sleep deprived as always. Jerry is surprised that he still hasn't fainted on him from lack of sleep but still worries for when that happens.

"Jerry, are you okay?" Bloom asked when he noticed Jerry looking at his feet. He looked up to stare at Bloom.

"Oh, no, I'm fine! I'm just...worried for you." Jerry said, putting his hand on the back on his own neck.

"Don't worry, I'm still okay! Just-." He yawned. "Just that the commission really needs this done and they picked me for the job." He said with a rather tired smile on his face.

"No, you aren't okay!" Jerry yelled, standing up.

"Jerry, my guy, I'm clearly okay. Now, like I said, I'm fine." Bloom said. This made Jerry a bit frustrated.

"Haven't you looked at the mirror?! YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT TO FAINT!!" Jerry argued. Bloom sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"C'mon, you know how important the book is. Even if the universe were to end I'll still keep writing!" Bloom argued back, not with an angry tone, a stern tone.

"I'M SERIOUS!! THAT BOOK ISN'T AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR LIFE!" Jerry yelled, tears forming in his eyes.

"It IS important. You just don't get it." Bloom yelled. The argument ensued before slowly but surely transitioning from english to wyverian. They were pretty loud, so loud that their neighbours next door might have heard the commotion. You can't really understand what they're saying due to a bit of ancient wyverian being mixed. Jerry clenched his fist and all of a sudden, going out of control and punching Bloom in the face.

"I HATE YOU!!!" He yelled before running out of his room, sobbing. Bloom was in shocked, staring at Jerry in the process. Iris was walking in the hallway when she saw Jerry run out with tears flowing down his cheeks. She became concerned and walked to their room, opening the door slightly. She saw Bloom inside, touching where Jerry punched him. His expression turned from a shocked one to a regretful one.

"Bloom, is everything....alright?" Iris asked with a concerned tone and a more worried look. He looked at Iris before looking at his feet.

"I....don't think so." He replied. She then turned her head to the direction of where Jerry ran off.

"You should go apologize to Jerry. He seems very upset." Iris suggested.

"I-I guess so." Bloom said before exitting, Iris shuffling out of his way so he could exit. He walked for a bit before exitting the hallway into the coldness of Seliana. Despite the slight cold breeze hitting his face and numbing it a bit, he can still feel the sting of where he got punched. He heaves a long sigh before walking, calling out Jerry's name.

"Jerry?? JERRY!!!" He yelled as he walked. he got worried when he couldn't find him anywhere.

"Hey Bloom! You're looking for Jerry?" A voice asked. Bloom turned around and saw Ruby, along with Tommy.

"Oh, hey guys. Also yes, I am." Bloom answered. Ruby looked at Tommy and Tommy looked at Ruby with a concerned look. On the other hand, Bloom was extremely confused

"What's happening?" He asked.

"You really want to know?" Ruby asked.

"Yes. Where is Jerry?"

"Well...Tommy and I saw him run out and to the departing gates. We tried to stop him from calling a wingdrake but failed to. I don't know why he would do this out of impulse." Ruby explained. Bloom had a, well, shocked expression.

"Where did he go?" Bloom asked.

Meanwhile...

Jerry was walking around in Hoarfrost Reach, still sobbing. After much walking, he reached area 4 before breaking down completely. Suddenly, the scoutflies turned red and went back to Jerry.

"W-wha?" Jerry was confused on what happened. Tears were still rolling down his face. A shadowy figure towered over Jerry. He looked around slowly before seeing a Viper Kadachi. Its long slit-eyed pupils stared at him. He screamed and got up, attempting to run but failed and fell. He turned around and slightly got up, now seeing the creature slowly walking towards him. It then opened its mouth, about to bite Jerry. He closed his eyes and shielded his face with his arms which wasn't much of help, bracing for impact. All of a sudden, he felt something or.....someone grab his arm, causing it to miss. He opened his eyes and now sees himself...floating away? He was confused but then looked up to see Bloom, grappling a wingdrake.

"B-Bloom?" Jerry asked.

"What were you doing? You could've gotten yourself killed!" Bloom yelled but in a sympathetic and concerned tone.

"I-I don't...I don't know." Jerry said, before looking at the area he used to be in. The Viper Kadachi started at him, its eyes still fixated onto him.

"I'm glad that you're okay. Now then, let's go back." Bloom said. Jerry was just, silent.

"Also, I'm sorry. I'll take a break from writing." Bloom apologized.

"It's okay. I'm sorry too for...y'know?" Jerry apologized too. Bloom chuckled.

"No worries, It'll go away. Don't do that next time, alright?" Bloom asked, smiling. Jerry looked at Bloom again before smilling.

"Alright, Bloom. I won't do something crazy like that next time." Jerry promised. the wingdrake swooped down.

"Ah, we're here." Bloom said. The wingdrake flew down enough for Bloom to ungrapple from it. They landed, without falling.

"I guess I'll see you at the gathering hall for dinner?" Jerry asked.

"Yeah. I will." Bloom said, before yawning.

"I better get some rest. See ya!" Bloom said, waving before going back to their room. Jerry waved back, wiping the tears off of his face with his arm. When he did, he felt a numb sensation before it didn't move. Jerry looked at his arm and realized that it had been slightly bitten. His eyes widen.

"Oh no." was all he could say before collapsing, now paralyzed. {Insert electric effects here to actually tell that he's paralyzed because 𝓥 𝓲 𝓭 𝓮 𝓸 𝓰 𝓪 𝓶 𝓮 𝓵 𝓸 𝓰 𝓲 𝓬}

All of a sudden, he felt something hit him, causing him to send him a few meters away from where he collapsed.{lol videogame logic}

He got up, confused about what just happened before seeing a palico. It seemed....familiar. It had white fur with orange spots. Just then, he realized.

"Ghosti?" He asked. The palico stared at him before walking away, disappearing from view. Jerry was, well, confused before he got himself up.

"That was....strange. Why was the Sapphire Hunter's palico here?" He asked himself before shaking his head.

"No no, that must be my imagination! But then again...." He looked at the direction of where it disappeared.

{ae, shoulder pain}