MHD: Chronicle II - Discovery of What Lies Beyond

As the sun began to set over Mediatas Village, Vulcan returned from his old home, Magma Mountain, with a dead Aptonoth clutched in his great talons. Circling once over the village, he swooped down and dropped the Herbivore carcass at the entrance to a cave in the side of a cliff. This particular cliff formed the border between Mediatas Village and the Idyllic Ocean, and a precarious path on the side was the only available pathway for humans to access that particular region. Caution was a priority - if you lost your balance, it was a LONG drop to the ocean below.

None of this was on Vulcan's mind, however. Almost as soon as he landed beside his delivery, a Rathian emerged from the cavern. This particular Flying Wyvern was Vulcan's new mate, Reia. In the past, when humans and monsters were still warring, Vulcan had lost his previous family to a group of hunters who invaded the Forested Spring. He had managed to escape with his life, but the memory of his lost family stung him so much that he came to live alone in the Magma Mountain. When the war ended, just over a year ago, Vulcan met Reia on a hunting flight with Taka, and things blossomed from there.

Thanks, Vulcan, Reia said to him now. Honestly, if the war were still going on, and I lost you, I don't know how I'd be able to take care of our eggs alone. Vulcan's response was a modest flick of his broad wings. ''It's the least I can do. I want to make sure that our children grow up with a committed father. Not to mention that I have experience raising a family.'' The Rathian was about to reply when she suddenly glanced behind him and assumed a defensive pose between her and the nest she had made in the cliff.

Vulcan turned and saw his friend Zin galloping toward them. Zin was a Jinouga pup that had been resuced by Illeera in the Forested Spring just after the war ended. He had been orphaned not even a day before, and had accepted the human girl as his new protector. Now, they were inseparable companions and friends to the death. It's fine, Reia. Vulcan assured his mate. Zin won't do any harm to the nest. But he knew that nothing would calm her down. Nesting Rathians were notoriously edgy, sometimes bordering on hostile. Luckily, Reia wasn't the aggressive type.

When Zin reached the pair of wyverns, Vulcan immediately saw something was wrong. The young Fanged Wyvern was panting heavily and his fur stuck out haphazardly. Vulcan, he said, exhausted. ''Where's... Taka? I need him... right away! Vulcan frowned and said in response, Taka left with Relcia just a few minutes ago, I believe. Why, what's the matter?''

Zin paused before telling Vulcan and Reia, trying to catch his breath between words. When he had finished spilling out his story, the pair looked at each other worriedly. This is bad, Reia said, stating the obvious. ''Vulcan, you watch over the nest while Zin and I look for Taka. Zin, you'd better tell Ignatius to tag along too.'' Zin frowned, still panting although not quite as heavily. ''Ignatius? Why not Syrie? She's faster, and anyway, Relcia might be concerned too.''

Reia rolled her eyes at the pup's indignance. Fine, she told him. ''But hurry! We need to head to the Forested Spring right away and tell Taka and Relcia the bad news!''

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REST COMING SOON