Hunters will always be hunters...

Chapter 3

The walk back to the village was spent relaxing as I talked to Kaiyo about her experience.

"I'm going to check up on my armor to see if its going well, got anything to do or coming with me?" I asked as I walked to the blacksmith, Kaiyo just shrugged and followed.

"Hey Raiden, how'd the quest go?" Hark smiled.

"Uneventful... No deviljho and nothing got in the way." I yawned. "How's my armor doing?"

"Actually its already done! We was expecting more requests for armor and weapons but none, other than yours."

"Great because this helmet is near useless now..." I took the armor and went in a back room to change into it.
"Fits perfectly but its a bit... Exposed? Its light and I wear shirts on under anyway." I muttered as I came back.

"Is that all, Raiden?"

"I could do with a new weapon... How about... You got anything like glove weapons?" I asked thinking back to the tigrex.

"Maybe brachydios materials could make some heavy hitters if you have any. Other than that just give me some materials and I'll see what I can do." Hark explained before looking at Kaiyo. "Anything for you?"

"Something like this!" She gleamed as she lifted a great sword fashioned like the jaw blade but larger.

When Hark saw her lift it his jaw dropped. "Take that one! No one could even lift it right so your a first."

I then placed some barroth, tigrex and brachydios materials on the desk. "Anything you can make with this?" And to that I got a nod as he took the materials and I left with a wave.

"So what now?" Kaiyo asked putting her new blade on her back.

"I could do with just going out to relax..."

With that I grabbed a brachydios longsword and headed out.

"How come you was using barroth armor when you have brachydios materials?" Kaiyo asked quirking an eyebrow through her jaggi helmet.

"The barroth killed the brachydios so I took the brachydios stuff and the barroth stuff." I explained before having someone in ludroth armor fell on me.

"Damn qurupeco..." They muttered as they dusted them self off.

"Well since you fell from the sky, care to join us?" I sighed.

"I guess... I'm Shinmai but most just call me Mai." She laughed as she walked with us.

Mai had long grey hair, black eyes, around 5 foot 8, has quite a slim build and used a long sword.

The walk there was tiring but they finally got to a clearing in the woods with a small cabin in the middle.

"Welcome to my house!" I grinned as I ran in. "What are you waiting for! An invitation? Come on!" I shouted from the door.

Then Kaiyo ran over as well then Mai.
"Take your boots off, don't want a mess do we?" I smiled as I took my boots off before entering my house.

My house was really just a log cabin in the woods but it was nice, it had a dining area, bedroom and guest bedroom, bathroom, stove and a lounge complete with soft chairs and fireplace.

"This place looks way better then I thought it would..." Kaiyo muttered as she looked around.

"Take a seat!" I sighed as I sat in a chair by the fireplace with a book by my side.

We all relaxed in the chairs chatting and just relaxing, the life of a hunter is a stressful one and doesn't often provide breaks or relaxation.

"I'm going fishing for some dinner your welcome to stay here for as long as you like!" I smiled under my mask but they still understood my friendly tone. "Its been too long since I relaxed here..." I hummed as I fished in a nearby lake.

I was just heading back with a bucket full of fish when I heard a slight squeaking sound and I stopped and climbed through the bushes to investigate. When I saw what was making the noise I saw a baby malfestio surrounded by jaggi and I had to help, I can't just leave it to die.
"Hey! Pick on someone your own size!" I taunted as I kicked one in the face and slammed another's head into the ground, after that they ran off.
"Let's get you some where safe..." I then slowly scooped the malfestio up in one hand and carried the bucket with the other.

"Hey I'm back! And look what I found out there." I grinned as I put the bucket down and showed them the abandoned malfestio. "They were going to be jaggi food if I didn't save them." I then pet the malfestio softly and while it squirmed at first it then relaxed.

"Are you going to keep it?" Kaiyo asked.

"Maybe... When a malfestio this young is out of the nest it gets abandoned... Sad but that's nature I guess..." I sighed as I put the malfestio on a chair and wrapped it in a blanket.

I then went to prepare the fish but wondered if the malfestio would eat the fish to. "Here ya go little guy." I then tried to feed the malfestio but it turned its head. "I'll just leave this here then."

"Would you even be allowed to have it?" Mai asked lifting her head from laying on my sofa.

"Sure I would! I'm high ranking and trusted that alone allows at least three large carnivore creatures without lots of paperwork and inspections." I explained while placing two plates full of fish on the table. "Ok, foods ready!"

"Aren't you going to eat?" Mai asked suspiciously.

"I... Don't like to eat around others." It wasn't the most believable excuse but it wasn't really a lie...

"Just go with it." Kaiyo muttered a she dug in.

I relaxed in one of the chairs before Mai asked a question.

"So... How old are you two? If you don't mind me asking."

"Twenty one." Both me and Kaiyo answered a the same time.

"Wait but that would make you older than Toby?" I laughed in confusion.

"Don't remind me... Its a little odd but my mother was born before him by years and there's only a few months difference..." Kaiyo explained in a slightly annoyed tone before eating again.

"You two planning on staying? I don't mind the company." I sighed closing my eyes.