Monster Hunter Stories: The Adventure Begins!

Safe to say, Stay Home.

It had been a few days since our last encounter with The Nightmare, I was lying in my bed with my injured arm propped against my pillow. I stared at the wall deep it thought about what had happened back in Pondry Caves. Dan had said my arm wasn't broken, but the Nargacuga had damaged some of my muscle tissue. It would heal on its own, but could take a few weeks at least. I rolled over onto my back and continued to think about how Pn saved me and Navirou's lives. He was extremely exhausted and badly injured by the time we had finally made it back to the village. Maybe I just wasn't cut out to be a Rider. And seeing Pn in such an awful state kept coming back to haunt me. I was so frustrated with myself. I just wanted to scream, but I didn't because Navirou was sleeping in his hammock next to me. I thought being a Rider would be easy and that I'd bond with my Monstie instantly...but it turned out to be a huge mess on my part. Pn gave me his trust, and I failed him. I decided to stop thinking about it and go to sleep, I'd figure something out tomorrow. 

The next morning...

Navirou: "Wake up Pawtner! It's already morning! Not sure about you but I'm starving! I want some donuts!" Navirou said jumping on top of me. 

Yn: "Just a bit longer..." I sighed pulling the covers over my head.

Navirou: "That's no way to start the day! C'mon we need to get back out there!" he said bouncing on my bed.

Yn: "And what if I don't want to go back out there..?" I said wearily. 

Navirou: "But Yn! This was your dream! I know things went badly last time but that was your very first time with an actual Monstie! You can't just give up after your first day as a Rider!" he said trying to motivate me.

Yn: "B-but what if I injure Pn again? Didn't you see him after we got him back to the village? He was so badly hurt,  I-I...I don't know how he could ever trust me again!" I wailed tears forming in my eyes. 

Navirou: "Yn, that's not how the Kinship works. Pn is your partner for life now, we got jumped by the Nargacuga, it wasn't your fault! Even the senior riders haven't beat it yet! Pn probably knows this to, but if you never get back on the saddle, how will you ever fulfill your dream to be a Rider?" he said pulling away the blanket on my head. 

Yn: "I guess your right...fine I'll get out of bed, wait for me outside then we can go get something to eat." I said. 

Navirou: "Alright! That's the spirit! See you outside!" Navirou said running out the door and shutting it behind him. 

I slowly climbed out of bed, being careful not to injure my arm. I took off my pajamas and grabbed my Rider outfit out of my closet and threw it on. I looked in the mirror and saw myself, I didn't look like a Rider. I looked like a mess, scratches and cuts starting to form small scabs, mangled right arm, unbrushed hair, and to top it all off tiered eyes. Maybe Navirou was wrong, who am I kidding? I look awful, and that was only my first day! I couldn't do it, there was no way I could go back out there. Before I went outside to see Navirou, I made a plan. I would start making excuses to not go outside the village, going on "make believe" errands. And if it got bad enough maybe even run away, cliche but, I'd made a big mistake...being a Rider. 

I walked out of the house slowly, I saw Navirou waiting near the Cat-a-Van stand. I tiptoed behind my house with my huge sword, no weapon no Rider Duties. I quickly shoved it under the small gap under my house, I'd get it out later when the sun started to set. I rounded my house staying close to the shadows trying to pretend I just walked out the door. I walked over to Navirou who was humming a tune. 

Yn: "Ready to go?" I asked him.

Navirou: "There you are Pawtner! Now let's go get some food!" he said running off to the shops. 

Once we got some food, we made our way back to my house. 

Navirou: "Ready to get back out there Yn?" Navirou asked. 

Yn: "U-uh, sure! Let me go grab my sword." I said running into the house, time to put the plan in action. 

A few minutes later I ran back out to Navirou, no sword. 

Yn: "I can't find it." I bluntly said. 

Navirou: "W-what? I could of sworn I saw it in your room this morning...did you double check?" he asked skeptical. 

Yn: "Yes I checked like...three times. Nothing." I lied. 

Navirou: "That's so odd, I know for sure you had it when we got back to the village, so it must be around here somewhere." he said. 

Navirou: "Well either way, I guess we could head out to the foraging grounds and see what cool items we can scavenge!" Navirou said perking up. 

Yn: "Sounds like a plan! Let's get going." I said walking to the front gate.

Me and Navirou walked out the gate and made our way over to the foraging grounds path. It was a bright sunny day and the sun's warmth felt good on my face. I kept getting that nagging feeling when you lie and you really wish you hadn't, it took us a bit longer to get there because Pn was still back at Hakum Village resting from the Nargacuga attack. It would take awhile, and soon enough we had wandered to the edge of the forest.