Ninja_Onions
Junior Member
"Wow, that's so cool! Our own chef!" Aurous walked up and began to pet the felyne's head. "So, what exactly does an advisor do? The chef part is pretty obvious." He said, continuing the assault of pets and chin scratches.
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Path of a Hunter
- Thread starter Twizinator
- Start date
Ixidor92
Game master
Leceel raised an eyebrow at the short being standing in front of him. A chef and hunter advisor? That was not a combination that seemed to come normally. That and everything seemed to be moving way too fast. They just survived the assault of an elder dragon, now they were in the hunter's guild, and now they were suddenly going to be hunters? The young man sat down and let out a sigh, massaging his temples. Entirely too much had happened in the last 24 hours
Twizinator
One Thousand Club
"I will be helping you out a lot once you become hunters, nya!" Rico answered. "I'm quite nya-ledgeable about some of the beasties you'll fight, and a bunch of other stuff too! Yorin himself has said I'm better than any published guidebook, and I'm proud to prove him right! Before I can help you, though, you first have to actually become hunters, nya. But don't worry; Yorin has great expectations of you all, and I think you'll more than live up to them. First though, you've all had a super long day just from what I've heard, nya. The beds are prepared upstairs, unless you're hungry, in which case just give the order and I'll have a meal fit for kings!"
Ixidor92
Game master
Leceel was loathe to admit it after the events of the day. He just wanted to go and rest, try not to think about everything that had happened. But he was hungry. As if the thought and mention of food had awakened a monster of his own, a low grumbling sound echoed around the area. It took Leceel a moment to realize the source of the noise was his stomach
Twizinator
One Thousand Club
Rico wasted no time in preparing a meal fit for a royal court. Kelbi kebabs, Mosswine pork tenderloin, and even fried Gargwa wings for the meats. Garden-fresh tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, and the biggest watermelons the kids had ever seen. Baked potatoes, steamed corn, and tender green beans with bacon. Rico even brought out some Tanzian Ale, an ale from a distant land, and served everyone a small glass. By the time the meal was over everyone (Rico included) were stuffed full.
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The next day brought the first day of training. Rico woke them up around 9 in the morning and brought them to the Hunter's Guild. Yorin was waiting, along with James and Arya. They began learning hunting basics, starting with weapons.
"There are twelve different Guild-accepted classifications for hunting weapons," James taught the trio. "Your average hunter devotes much of his time mastering his chosen means of hunting, but it's not uncommon to select a secondary proficiency later in their career. For now, and likely for years to come, you will have a single weapon that belongs to you and you alone. You will make it an extension of yourself, and it will be your signature that you carve into a monster's hide!"
He briefly described the twelve weapon classifications. Greatsword, massive and powerful. Longsword, graceful and swift. Sword and Shield, versatile and elusive. Dual Blades, vicious and deadly. Hammer, brutal and stunning. Hunting Horn, the rallying sound of victory. Switch Axe, experimental and dual-purpose. Light Bowgun, for peppering a monster with punishing bullets. Heavy Bowgun, long-range and capable of devastating shots. Bow, old-fashioned but no less deadly.
"Every weapon has strengths and weaknesses," he said. "Also, they all differ in how they react to a hunter channeling his kei through it. We'll get to that later. Now, spend some time with each training replica here, and get a feel for whichever one you like best. Choose wisely - your chosen weapon will be your closest ally in a fight for your life."
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The next day brought the first day of training. Rico woke them up around 9 in the morning and brought them to the Hunter's Guild. Yorin was waiting, along with James and Arya. They began learning hunting basics, starting with weapons.
"There are twelve different Guild-accepted classifications for hunting weapons," James taught the trio. "Your average hunter devotes much of his time mastering his chosen means of hunting, but it's not uncommon to select a secondary proficiency later in their career. For now, and likely for years to come, you will have a single weapon that belongs to you and you alone. You will make it an extension of yourself, and it will be your signature that you carve into a monster's hide!"
He briefly described the twelve weapon classifications. Greatsword, massive and powerful. Longsword, graceful and swift. Sword and Shield, versatile and elusive. Dual Blades, vicious and deadly. Hammer, brutal and stunning. Hunting Horn, the rallying sound of victory. Switch Axe, experimental and dual-purpose. Light Bowgun, for peppering a monster with punishing bullets. Heavy Bowgun, long-range and capable of devastating shots. Bow, old-fashioned but no less deadly.
"Every weapon has strengths and weaknesses," he said. "Also, they all differ in how they react to a hunter channeling his kei through it. We'll get to that later. Now, spend some time with each training replica here, and get a feel for whichever one you like best. Choose wisely - your chosen weapon will be your closest ally in a fight for your life."
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Ixidor92
Game master
Leceel's gaze fell upon several of the weapons, not sure which one would suit him best. When his eyes fell upon the dual-blades though, he immediately put them into his hands. Dual blades had been his mother's weapon of choice. They had been made primarily from barroth parts with a mechanism derived from a great Baggi's tranquilizer sack. Monsters would become drowsy as she continued to slice away. Hadn't had the opportunity with the Barioth though . . . Leceel shook his head quickly, before memories of that night overtook him. He swung the pair of metal tools a few times, just to experiment, hit the training dummies that were offered. They could slice through what was against him most definitely . . . yet it didn't feel quite right. His mother had been a quick fighter, and had skirted around the edges of battle while nicking at the opponent. That wasn't how Leceel wished to fight. He needed something larger, something that could really give a wallop to the enemy. The lance proved to be too much in the opposite direction. It weighed his body down too much to actually move effectively. Perhaps the hammer? A couple of swings proved devastating . . . but it didn't feel right. It was too clunky, with only one purpose. His eyes fell upon the blunt weapon that lay beside the hammer, a hunting horn. The haft of this weapon was a good deal longer than the hammer, yet it felt more balanced, able to easily rest across his shoulder. He smacked the dummy once--and felt something click inside the weapon. Leceel stopped for a moment and remembered what his mother had told him years ago about the weapon. The dummy was smacked twice more, and then a long, dull note reverberated through the area. This was the weapon that would serve him. It would replace his lost voice upon the battlefield, and it would smash his enemies where his mother had been lost.
Ninja_Onions
Junior Member
Aurous walked up to the massive rack of weapons, gazing in awe at all the different types of weapons. "Whoooaaaahhh..." He said, turning slightly to take them all in. He walked over and picked up the sword and shield, but the weight of the shield threw him off kilter more often than help him block. He tried the longsword next, but ended up hitting everything but the target dummy with its significant sweeping strikes. Hmm...I need something with precision. Something that is quick but strong. Something like... He thought as he looked over the weapons rack again. "This!" He said, lifting a quiver of arrows above his head. These will work awesome! He thought, strapping the quiver to his back and heading out to the training dummies. He took a semi defensive crouch, mostly to look and feel cool, and promptly drew two arrows from the quiver on his back. Steady...Steeeaaadyyy...Now! He mentally said, letting fly multiple strikes and slashes on the dummies with the arrows. "Haha! That was so cool! I want these!" he said, holding the two arrows victoriously in his hands, the bow still sitting on the weapons rack back in the practice room.
Torunne, watching the others, stepped up to the rack of weapons and began his own perusal of its arms. Immediately, he dismissed the hammer and hunting horn. Both much too cumbersome to stealthily track his quarry, and the melodies of a hunting horn ran against his nature as a trapper. Eying the bowguns, he picks up the light bowgun. Unfolding it, he examines all of the miniature mechanisms that allow its function. Perhaps... Walking out to the test dummies, he loads it with the supplied ammunition. Taking a few test shots to figure out its use, and how to aim, he fires a salvo at a dummy.
'Not quite,' he thought, 'I'd have to carry way too much spare ammunition to make this worthwhile.' Walking back inside, he replaces the lightbowgun on its stand. Passing over the heavy bowgun, he walks the length of the weapon racks. Lance and Gunlance were equally bulky and cumbersome as the Hammers, perhaps even more so. The bows, he felt, would suffer from the same issues he saw in the bowguns, and were also passed over. He paused at the sword and shield, thinking it over. Picking them up, he tried to get a feel for their weight, and found them to be comfortably light. With a grin, he threw out a couple of swings of the sword, liking the feel of the blade cutting the air. Yes, this might be it... that is, until an overextended swing led him into a wooden column. Shield between him and the column, he was none the worse for wear as he rose up from the floor where he had fallen, yet he realized that for all that he was not hurt, the shield was perhaps too light. While a strike from a monster might be blocked or deflected, he had been well warned by his father to keep his footing around wild animals. There's not much you can do to defend your self while prone. Slightly disheartened, he put down the weapon, and continued his perusal of the weapons. He passed by the dual blades quickly, barely a thought towards them, and was slightly awed by the size of the great swords before passing them by too. Just next to them though, were blades of incredible length, yet surprisingly thin. Picking it up, he was again surprised by its light weight, as he drew it from its sheath, he was enamored by the wave pattern on its blade. Giving it a few experimental swings, he was flung about by its force, but as he stopped, he was grinning with a mad smile. While he needed to work on control, the force of each swing felt so satisfying. As he walked out to the dummies to practice with his new weapon, he never noticed the weapons that resembled so much the tool he and his father had spent so many nights creating...
'Not quite,' he thought, 'I'd have to carry way too much spare ammunition to make this worthwhile.' Walking back inside, he replaces the lightbowgun on its stand. Passing over the heavy bowgun, he walks the length of the weapon racks. Lance and Gunlance were equally bulky and cumbersome as the Hammers, perhaps even more so. The bows, he felt, would suffer from the same issues he saw in the bowguns, and were also passed over. He paused at the sword and shield, thinking it over. Picking them up, he tried to get a feel for their weight, and found them to be comfortably light. With a grin, he threw out a couple of swings of the sword, liking the feel of the blade cutting the air. Yes, this might be it... that is, until an overextended swing led him into a wooden column. Shield between him and the column, he was none the worse for wear as he rose up from the floor where he had fallen, yet he realized that for all that he was not hurt, the shield was perhaps too light. While a strike from a monster might be blocked or deflected, he had been well warned by his father to keep his footing around wild animals. There's not much you can do to defend your self while prone. Slightly disheartened, he put down the weapon, and continued his perusal of the weapons. He passed by the dual blades quickly, barely a thought towards them, and was slightly awed by the size of the great swords before passing them by too. Just next to them though, were blades of incredible length, yet surprisingly thin. Picking it up, he was again surprised by its light weight, as he drew it from its sheath, he was enamored by the wave pattern on its blade. Giving it a few experimental swings, he was flung about by its force, but as he stopped, he was grinning with a mad smile. While he needed to work on control, the force of each swing felt so satisfying. As he walked out to the dummies to practice with his new weapon, he never noticed the weapons that resembled so much the tool he and his father had spent so many nights creating...
Twizinator
One Thousand Club
The three teachers looked on as their new students took their chosen weapons, each with different expressions on their face. Arya watched with a calm focus as Leceel tested the horn, and she couldn't suppress a grin when he sounded the horn on the third swing. It took most an average of twenty to even get a squeak out of that old and battered training horn. This mute kid would prove interesting indeed.
James, meanwhile, stood with mouth agape, blinking repeatedly as if that would erase what he'd just witnessed. That boy, Aurous, had seriously chosen the quiver of the bow. He ignored the ranged potential of that elegant weapon, choosing to skip the middle-man and take arrows in hand to deliver death in a similar fashion to dual blades. The arrows, though, were much longer and more unwieldy than the twin weapons used in dual blades. They were long, razor-sharp, and pointed, fine for slashing and excellent for stabbing, while most dual blades focus on rapid slashes. James had no idea if this choice of weapon was even allowed. He glanced to Yorin, who wore a calm grin as he nodded in approval.
Yorin had been observing Torunne, and was mildly surprised at his choice of weapon. Though, the boy's choice was not completely surprising. He had guessed that, if he had not chosen the switch-axe, he would most definitely find the longsword to be in his favor.
"Alright, looks like everyone has a weapon," Arya spoke up. "Now for an easier, but no less important choice: armor." She beckoned the group over to three sets of armor. "Armor is classified based on weight. Simply speaking, more weight equals more armor, but less movement. Choose the type of armor you and your weapon can perform the best."
The first set of armor was the light class. It was leather, with metal studs and even metal plates in less-moving spots like the forearms. Compared to the others it was very light, allowing easy movement and a great range of motion.
The medium class armor was a set of chain mail with leatherwork around the joints to give as much movement as possible. It was heavier than the previous set, but clearly provided better protection.
Lastly, the heavy class armor was a gleaming set of full plate mail. It was heavy like its classification suggested, but practically impenetrable compared to the other two outfits. Unless you were a mountain of muscle your movement would be hampered in this metal suit.
James, meanwhile, stood with mouth agape, blinking repeatedly as if that would erase what he'd just witnessed. That boy, Aurous, had seriously chosen the quiver of the bow. He ignored the ranged potential of that elegant weapon, choosing to skip the middle-man and take arrows in hand to deliver death in a similar fashion to dual blades. The arrows, though, were much longer and more unwieldy than the twin weapons used in dual blades. They were long, razor-sharp, and pointed, fine for slashing and excellent for stabbing, while most dual blades focus on rapid slashes. James had no idea if this choice of weapon was even allowed. He glanced to Yorin, who wore a calm grin as he nodded in approval.
Yorin had been observing Torunne, and was mildly surprised at his choice of weapon. Though, the boy's choice was not completely surprising. He had guessed that, if he had not chosen the switch-axe, he would most definitely find the longsword to be in his favor.
"Alright, looks like everyone has a weapon," Arya spoke up. "Now for an easier, but no less important choice: armor." She beckoned the group over to three sets of armor. "Armor is classified based on weight. Simply speaking, more weight equals more armor, but less movement. Choose the type of armor you and your weapon can perform the best."
The first set of armor was the light class. It was leather, with metal studs and even metal plates in less-moving spots like the forearms. Compared to the others it was very light, allowing easy movement and a great range of motion.
The medium class armor was a set of chain mail with leatherwork around the joints to give as much movement as possible. It was heavier than the previous set, but clearly provided better protection.
Lastly, the heavy class armor was a gleaming set of full plate mail. It was heavy like its classification suggested, but practically impenetrable compared to the other two outfits. Unless you were a mountain of muscle your movement would be hampered in this metal suit.
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How was anyone to hunt in such cumbersome attire?' he thought, 'Any beast worth its pelt would hear you long before you approached.' Memories of the village attack flashed through his mind, as he realized that these were no simple beasts. Unarmored, even the smallest might cleave him in twain, much less a monster on par with what destroyed his village. Perhaps... "I'll take the light armor, maybe if I layer a bit cloth over the metal bits, it won't make too much noise." Dubious of his ability to muffle what noise he could, he was practical enough to realize that they would be hunting prey much larger than a simple kelbi, and far more deadly than the massive aptonoths.
Ninja_Onions
Junior Member
Aurous eyed each of the armors cautiously as he approached, passing the heavy armor immediately and looking intently between the medium and light armors. "Hmm...This one is pretty much all leather and looks really mobile, but this one has all this metal and looks like it could take a better beating." Aurous pondered over the armor, weighing it, comparing how different pieces looked when he wore them, until he found the one thing that made the decision for him. He gasped as he went to put the leather back and noticed he hadn't tried on the most important part of the entire set: the goggles. "Ohhhhh yeah. This is what I'm talking about!" He played with the zoom on the goggles for a bit changing between near and far rapidly before he became dizzy. "Yep. I chose light armor." He said, beaming slightly at his discovery of the glorious accessory to complete the set.
Ixidor92
Game master
Leceel looked at the armor sets, the other two trainees picking the light armor more immediately. It was true, the light armor would allow one two move faster on the battlefield . . . but would it protect one from the claws of such a beast. For once, Leceel closed his eyes, and allowed his memories to turn back to that Barioth he had seen. It's claws, fangs and tail. He needed to move, but he also needed to block. His eyes opened back up, and picked up the medium armor without hesitation
Twizinator
One Thousand Club
The rest of the day, and the following four months, saw the three young men being trained rigorously to be hunters. In addition to conditioning their bodies, they gained much practice with their weapons of choice. There was more to the training than working their bodies, too. They learned some of the crafting basics, like making potions and traps (something Torunne already knew well). Rico personally instructed them on cooking meat over an open flame. As the weather began to grow cooler, they were deemed ready to get out into the field.
"Frankly, its way early to be sending you lot out," James had told them as the airship they rode flew high above the clouds. For the next year, they gained invaluable experience in the wilderness. In the hunting zone called the "Forest and Hills," they were assigned the "training" quests, missions all hunters are given at the outset to give them necessary field experience and knowledge. They hunted, killed, and cooked Aptonoth, the large herbivorous creatures that are plentiful in that area. They fended off pesky Bullfango, swatted annoying Vespoids, and even witnessed a pack of Jaggi take on an Aptonoth themselves. As they watched, Rico had warned them not to underestimate the Jaggi. "They're small, nya, but in a group they can be surprisingly nyimble. Especially if their boss is around, nyaaa!"
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Today, the trio stand in the Guild Hall before Yorin. "Good work, young ones," he said. "You seem to have a good grasp on the basics of survival. I have two gifts for you today. The first, are these..."
Yorin hands each of them a metal rectangle, an official Guild Card. Each has their name and a single star. "You are definitely still rookies, but you are hunters nonetheless. This card now proves that. Never lose it. Keep it on you at all times. Your second gift is a new quest, and I mean an official one, not another training bout. Many hunters are little more than mercenaries, taking on requests of the people. This is a noble undertaking, but I have better use for you three. You are destined for much more. You will be doing official Guild business. I need you to venture once more into the Forest and Hills and track down that pack of Jaggi you saw. I need you to find out if they have a leader. The area you saw those Jaggi in is outside of their normal territory; only a leader of the pack, a Great Jaggi, could cause them to be so brazen. If you find one, do not engage it. One of those may be out of your league, I fear. You will report your findings to the Guild. Good hunting."
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Accompanied by Rico, the trio returns to the Forest and Hills, and have just arrived at base camp, located in a clearing deep in the woods. A large tent with beds and a furnace is the centerpiece. Just outside the tent is a large wooden chest for storage. A stone ring sits on the ground for a campfire, though it is currently empty. A short ways from the camp is a stream for water.
"Home sweet home, nya!" Rico said. "I always liked base camp, its cozy in a rustic way, nya. Well, lets get started. Time to find those Jaggi!" he cheered.
"Frankly, its way early to be sending you lot out," James had told them as the airship they rode flew high above the clouds. For the next year, they gained invaluable experience in the wilderness. In the hunting zone called the "Forest and Hills," they were assigned the "training" quests, missions all hunters are given at the outset to give them necessary field experience and knowledge. They hunted, killed, and cooked Aptonoth, the large herbivorous creatures that are plentiful in that area. They fended off pesky Bullfango, swatted annoying Vespoids, and even witnessed a pack of Jaggi take on an Aptonoth themselves. As they watched, Rico had warned them not to underestimate the Jaggi. "They're small, nya, but in a group they can be surprisingly nyimble. Especially if their boss is around, nyaaa!"
----------------
Today, the trio stand in the Guild Hall before Yorin. "Good work, young ones," he said. "You seem to have a good grasp on the basics of survival. I have two gifts for you today. The first, are these..."
Yorin hands each of them a metal rectangle, an official Guild Card. Each has their name and a single star. "You are definitely still rookies, but you are hunters nonetheless. This card now proves that. Never lose it. Keep it on you at all times. Your second gift is a new quest, and I mean an official one, not another training bout. Many hunters are little more than mercenaries, taking on requests of the people. This is a noble undertaking, but I have better use for you three. You are destined for much more. You will be doing official Guild business. I need you to venture once more into the Forest and Hills and track down that pack of Jaggi you saw. I need you to find out if they have a leader. The area you saw those Jaggi in is outside of their normal territory; only a leader of the pack, a Great Jaggi, could cause them to be so brazen. If you find one, do not engage it. One of those may be out of your league, I fear. You will report your findings to the Guild. Good hunting."
----------------
Accompanied by Rico, the trio returns to the Forest and Hills, and have just arrived at base camp, located in a clearing deep in the woods. A large tent with beds and a furnace is the centerpiece. Just outside the tent is a large wooden chest for storage. A stone ring sits on the ground for a campfire, though it is currently empty. A short ways from the camp is a stream for water.
"Home sweet home, nya!" Rico said. "I always liked base camp, its cozy in a rustic way, nya. Well, lets get started. Time to find those Jaggi!" he cheered.
Ninja_Onions
Junior Member
Aurous looked around at the makeshift camp and smiled. "I can definitely see that Rico. Looks like it has everything we could really ask for." He chuckled slightly. He unfolded his bow, checking the string and the limbs before refolding it and pulling two arrows from his quiver, which he hooked in slots on his belt, next to a few potions, some ivy, and a bag of paintballs. "Well guys, the jaggi won't find themselves!" He said, clapping his hands together before heading over to the wooden chest and giving a look inside, not entirely sure what to expect.
Ixidor92
Game master
Leceel gave a smile at the cat before pulling his hunting horn up above his head and into the specialized sheath on his back. He gave a short and low drone in recognition from the weapon as he did so. Over the years, he had taken to using short bursts of noise from the hunting horn, along with basic hand signals as a form of communication. He had several flash-bombs, paint-bombs, and tranq bombs on his person, along with a few potions. He believed in being prepared for any eventuality. The one thing that bothered him about their current assignment was that they specifically had been told not to engage a great jaggi should they happen upon one. Leceel was all for caution, but even after several years of training, were small carnivores all they were good for exterminating? He shook his head joined Aurous by the supply chest
From his pack, Torunne pulled a long, leather-wrapped cylinder. Pulling off an end cap, he slides out a large, furled map, which he quickly unrolls and lays on the ground. With a small stick of charcoal, he examines the various notes and notations already placed upon it. Markings indicating Aptonoth herd migration patterns, Bullfango territories, and various other minutia that he'd marked down on the map over the course of his training. He was currently trying to orient himself with where the mark indicating the jaggi pack they had seen was. Sitting in front of it, he slowly packed his gear securely, least urgently vital gear like food and water at the bottom. Whetstone, rope, and the few pieces of machinery packed in tightly, to avoid any unintended sound. First-aid supplies and and few chemicals at the top: to remove the human scent from his traps, send a weakened beast into a comatose slumber, etc... Other various supplies strapped securely to his armor, he stands up again donning his pack and tightening the straps. Sliding his map back into its case, he waited for the others to finish their preparations by the supply chest.
Twizinator
One Thousand Club
The supplies in the chest could be described as "Spartan" by some. Those same people would say that the given supplies were the bare minimum, and a hunter was trained to be accustomed to such, as they could get everything else they could need off the land.
Others would just say the Guild was cheap and didn't give its hunters hardly anything.
Either way, the supply box was pretty bare. A few paintballs for marking important creatures, some basic first aid supplies, trail rations and water, some small whetstones and oils for weapon maintenance, and some empty bottles and flasks for holding whatever the hunter deemed to put inside.
Others would just say the Guild was cheap and didn't give its hunters hardly anything.
Either way, the supply box was pretty bare. A few paintballs for marking important creatures, some basic first aid supplies, trail rations and water, some small whetstones and oils for weapon maintenance, and some empty bottles and flasks for holding whatever the hunter deemed to put inside.
Ninja_Onions
Junior Member
Aurous bent down and picked up a few of the first aid supplies, trail rations, and some of the flasks. "Well, no time like the now, right guys?" He said, putting the supplies in his pack and flashing his 'always a bit too eager' smile. "Though I do wonder what could go in these bottles. Maybe a liquid or a salve... any ideas Rico?" Aurous said, holding the flask towards the felyne as he finished packing.
Twizinator
One Thousand Club
Rico shrugged. "I say as long as it fits, you can put whatever you want in there, nya!" he replied. "Field researchers usually put samples in. A lot of hunters use them to store medicinal potions and salves, like you mentioned. Now come on!" he beckoned as he ran ahead. "We've got work to do! Those Jaggi aren't going to find themselves!"
Ixidor92
Game master
Leceel picked up a set of trail rations as well as a few paint balls. He needed to make sure that he kept his strength up along the trek. He pulled the hunting horn off of his back, tapped the handle a few times to listen to the echo within, then followed the small Felyne. As he did so, the mute hunter pulled out a small notebook from his pack, marked in very neat handwriting that was clearly not his own. It had been his mother's, and documented all the creatures she had hunted. He flipped over to the page about Jaggi and their breeding cycles
