The night air was restless.
A soft wind swept through the canopy, carrying the distant cries of beasts and the rustle of shifting leaves. The forest had mostly healed, but its heart still held shadows.
Hunnt moved silently between the trees, his steps barely whispering against the roots. Pyro padded close beside him, ears twitching at every sound. The moon hung low, veiled by clouds — perfect hunting light.
They'd been following a trail for hours. Broken branches. Scattered pawprints. The faint scent of smoke and iron.
Hunnt crouched, pressing a hand to the dirt. "Three sets of tracks. Small… light. Felynes."
Pyro's fur bristled. "Nyaaah… little ones? What are they doing out here?"
"Running," Hunnt said quietly. "Something's chasing them."
Pyro's golden eyes narrowed. "Then we chase faster."
Hunnt nodded once. They moved.
---
The forest blurred around them.
Hunnt's movements flowed like wind and precision — Soru in perfect rhythm. Pyro followed, using short bursts of speed to keep pace, his small frame weaving through gaps and branches.
Observation Haki spread outward like ripples in still water. Every motion, every heartbeat within range echoed in his mind.
There — ahead. A cluster of small, panicked heartbeats. Three together.
And surrounding them — heavier rhythms. Growling. Hungry.
Hunnt's jaw tightened. "Lesser monsters. Six, maybe seven."
Pyro drew his sword. "We're not late yet, nya."
---
They broke through the treeline into chaos.
In a clearing lit by fractured moonlight, three young Felynes huddled beneath a fallen log — their fur matted, eyes wide with terror. Around them circled a pack of Lesser beasts — wolflike, scales glinting faintly along their backs.
The monsters snarled, pacing closer.
One lunged.
It never landed.
Hunnt appeared between them in a blur, gauntlet flashing. His fist met the creature's snout mid-leap with a sharp crack, sending it tumbling into a tree.
"Pyro!"
"Already here, nya!"
The Palico darted forward, shield raised, sword gleaming. He intercepted a second beast, deflecting its claws with a metallic clang before rolling beneath its belly and slashing upward.
The clearing erupted into motion.
---
Hunnt's Observation Haki sharpened the battlefield into rhythm — movement, heat, and intent. He could feel every twitch before it came.
Two monsters lunged at once. He dropped into Kami-e, his body flowing like paper between their strikes, then countered with explosive precision. One blow shattered ribs, another cracked jawbone.
Pyro fought beside him in perfect sync, smaller but just as fierce. He darted behind Hunnt's shadow, using the openings his master created to strike weak points.
When one monster tried to flank, Hunnt kicked off the ground — Skywalk activating in a burst of motion. His foot struck the air once, propelling him upward.
The beast leapt to follow — and met a downward strike it couldn't evade. Hunnt's gauntlet crashed into its skull, the impact echoing like thunder.
He landed smoothly, dust rising around him.
Pyro blinked, momentarily awed. "Nyaaah! You actually used Skywalk mid-fight!"
Hunnt smirked. "Felt like the right time."
Pyro grinned. "Then let me try too, nya!"
He sprinted forward, dodging a claw swipe, and kicked the air beneath him.
His first attempt barely lifted him — but it was enough. He flipped midair, shield-first, and crashed down onto the beast's back, pinning it.
The creature howled, writhing, but Pyro's short sword flashed once — clean, precise.
Hunnt nodded approvingly. "Not bad."
Pyro panted, tail flicking proudly. "Still need practice, nya. But feels good!"
---
The last two monsters hesitated, circling warily. Their packmates lay motionless around the clearing.
Hunnt's gaze hardened. "Leave."
For a moment, the beasts held his stare. Then, sensing something deeper behind his calm — that quiet pressure of will — they turned and fled into the trees, yelping into the dark.
Pyro exhaled slowly, wiping his blade. "They actually ran. Guess they're smarter than they look."
Hunnt's eyes softened. "No point in killing what's already broken."
He turned toward the log. The three young Felynes peeked out, eyes wide. Their fur was dirty, one limping, another trembling so hard their bell jingled faintly.
"It's okay," Hunnt said gently, kneeling. "You're safe now."
They hesitated, then one whispered, "T-Thank you…"
Pyro knelt beside them, tail curling softly. "You little furballs had us worried, nya. Where's your village?"
The eldest of the three — a small tabby with a torn scarf — pointed shakily north. "A few valleys away… but we ran when the monsters came. Everyone scattered."
Hunnt and Pyro exchanged a glance.
"We'll take you back," Hunnt said firmly. "Stay close and keep quiet."
---
The journey back took all night.
The forest was calm again, but the air still held danger. Hunnt moved ahead, every sense alert, Observation Haki flickering outward in a constant wave. Pyro walked behind the three Felynes, guarding their flank, tail swaying rhythmically to keep them calm.
When one stumbled, Pyro caught them gently. "Easy there, nya. Step where I step."
Hunnt smiled faintly, hearing the softness in his partner's voice. "Didn't know you were good with kids."
Pyro huffed. "I'm not. They just listen better than you do."
Hunnt chuckled quietly. "Fair point."
---
As dawn approached, light painted the treetops gold. Smoke curled faintly in the distance — not from fire, but from chimneys.
The sight brought relief to their tired faces.
"There it is," Hunnt said softly. "The village."
The Felynes perked up, tails lifting. "Home!"
They broke into a run.
Hunnt and Pyro followed close behind, but as they neared the settlement, their steps slowed. What they found waiting made both of them stop.
The village wasn't whole.
Several huts were half-burned, claw marks gouged across walls. The scent of ash and blood lingered faintly. But there were survivors — Felynes emerging cautiously from shelters, eyes widening as they saw the three young ones.
Cries of joy filled the air.
One elder approached Hunnt, bowing low. "You saved them… thank you, Hunter."
Hunnt shook his head. "Don't thank me. Thank your courage for surviving."
The elder's gaze softened. "Still, we owe you a debt. Our kin will remember this."
Pyro grinned. "Just promise to stay out of trouble, nya. My paws are tired."
The younger Felynes giggled, clinging to his legs. "Thank you, mister hero!"
Pyro's tail puffed slightly. "Mister—hey, I like that!"
Hunnt laughed quietly. "Don't let it go to your head."
---
Later, as they left the village, the morning sun cut through the mist.
Pyro walked beside Hunnt, arms behind his head, humming. "Feels good, nya. Saving others instead of just surviving."
Hunnt nodded slowly. "That's the point of it. The hunt isn't about killing — it's about balance. Protecting what can't protect itself."
Pyro smiled faintly. "You always say things like that when the light hits just right."
Hunnt smirked. "Maybe it's the sunrise. Makes philosophers out of everyone."
Pyro laughed softly. "Or maybe you're just dramatic."
Hunnt didn't deny it.
They walked in silence for a while, the breeze carrying the scent of smoke and new beginnings.
Then Pyro said quietly, "Master… those little ones — they looked at you like you were something more than human."
Hunnt's expression softened. "I'm not more. Just older in mistakes."
Pyro chuckled. "Then maybe that's what makes you a real hunter."
Hunnt glanced at him, smiling faintly. "Maybe that's what makes us Wanderers."
The wind shifted gently through the trees, whispering like distant applause.
Above them, the sky stretched wide and bright — the same one they had trained to reach, now reflecting on the ground they had chosen to protect.