Monster Hunter I: Unite for Freedom

Scene 2.

[Text read:]
Four years later…

[Cut to a large town, known as Kimbolo. It is similar to Hisito - the shape and build of the structures and roads and the general layout and design share the same basic design and pattern - except there is much more of it. It reaches much further up the mountainside than Hisito and boasts a much larger area of agriculture. It is South-facing but this does not stop snow from covering the village in a thick blanket.]

[In one room in one hut on the Northern outskirts of the village sleeps a girl. Her name is Vonara. One of the windows to the room has been left open. A kestral swoops in through it and lands on one of the bedposts. It screeches loudly. Vonara stirs in her sleep. The kestral screeches again, then takes off and lands on the pillow next to Vonara. It pecks her head gently. Vonara jerks awake and the kestral flaps backwards screeching.]

Vonara: Whaaa..!

[The kestral screeches again as it lands on the bottom bedpost. Vonara notices it.]

Vo: Oh…it's you…

[She holds out a hand to it. It screeches and hops on. She strokes it's back gently.]

Vo: Do I need to feed you or have you already done yourself?

[The kestral screeches and opens its beak.]

Vo: I'll take that as a me…

[She lies her arm down on the bed beside her and the kestral hops off. Vonara slides herself out of bed and makes her way across the room, picking up and putting on a thick dressing robe and slippers as she goes, and through the door and into the kitchen next-door. The kestral follows her and lands on a perch in the kitchen. Vonara opens the grill to a large stove already full of logs and kindling and lights them with a firelighter from on top the stove. She closes the grill and makes her way over to the other side of the kitches. She opens a door in the wall, inside which are two compartments. She opens the one on the left. Inside, five small Ice Crystals line the floor, and various packages and boxes line the shelves. The hairs on her arms stand on end slightly as she reaches in and takes out a small box containing dead rats; one half is shaven, the other half is not. She takes the box over to a counter and puts on a glove, before removing one of the shaved rats and holding it in her hand. The kestral screeches and flies onto her hand and begins to eat. Vonara strokes the kestral's back as it tears away at the rat. As it does so, she puts the box back into the recess and closes the two doors, then heads back over to the counter and begins to get her own breakfast ready with her free hand.]

[Outside, the town teems with life. Through the town at the opposite end stands the Guild Hall, into which strides a group of three fully-armoured and fully-equipped hunters. One dons Diablo armor with a bow, the second a Plesioth armor set with an SnS and the third is in Blangonga armor with a bowgun. They make their way to the Quests Board and look over the section marked 'G Rank'. The hunter in Diablos armour takes down a quest slip entitled 'Desert Quest - P. Daim. Herm.' And reads it. The three of them make their way to the G Rank desk and the hunter places the slip down on the desk surface. The lady behind the counter stamps the quest slip, scribbling notes down in a book beside her and placing the slip in a tray behind her marked 'Active Quests'. She takes a slip of paper from another tray and begins to write things down before handing it to the hunter.]

Lady: Good hunting!

[The Diablo hunter takes the slip and all three hunters nod their heads to her and head off out the door.]

[Out the back of the Hall, a group of children is playing Tag. They race down a track towards and past a Supplies Store. A male villager is busy picking out fruits and vegetables.]

Villager: …and some Dosbiscus if you have any?

[He puts the last of his purchased produce into a large sack beside him.]

Shopkeeper: I'm sorry Tarro, we're fresh out today. Come back tomorrow and we should have some, Farlon and Meko are out gathering tomorrow and Gedon is due to harvest his crops today.

Tarro: Farlon and Meko? Won't they just spend the whole time snogging in the bushes?

S.k: Haha probably. Mind you, after that whole Vespoid nest incident last time I should think they'll be a bit more cautious before rustling round in the undergrowth.

T: Yeah. Well, I think that's everything. How much?

S.K: Uhh…[she works it out in her head] 54 Zen.

[Tarro counts fifty four from a small leather pouch and hands the coins to the shopkeeper.]

S.K: Like I say, Gedon is doing a harvest today so even if Farlon and Meko don't get anything you should get something from him.

T: Okay. I'll come back then. Take care Loran.

Loran: You too.

[Tarro picks up the sack and hoists it over his shoulder. He waves to Loran and heads off through the town streets. As he makes his way down a small hill, a falcoln flies past in the opposite direction towards the Training Hall. It swoops low and comes to rest on a pole in the middle of a small patch of grass that has been cleared of snow. Inside the building around it, a young man is practicing hand-to-hand combat with a punchbag. A woman enters.]

Woman: Good morning Rayasu.

[The man steadies the punchbag and stands straight to greet her.]

Rayasu: Good morning Sashje.

[He places his right fist palm down on the front of his left shoulder and bows slightly. She returns it.]

Sa: How are you today?

Ra: Oh not so bad. Same old. You?

Sashje: Pretty good thanks. In a bit of a hurry, I have a meeting with the Village Chief. I just stopped by to see if you're finished with the Dragon Journal I lent you.

Ra: Ah, yes, it's in my bag. I'll just go get it.

[Sashje smiles as he makes his way to a bag on the corner. He rifles around in it. He can't find the book.]

Sa: [Appearing over his shoulder] Can't find it..?

Ra: [Still rummaging] Um…no…

[Sashje smiles.]

Sa: Ten years of trying to teach you to be organised and not a bit of it going in…

Ra: [Rifling through his other processions around the bag] Yeah…well…you know me…

Sa: Indeed. Well, just drop it off next time you're passing by.

[Rayasu gives up searching. He stands and faces Sashje.]

Ra: Will do.

Sa: See you later.

Ra: See ya.

[They wave to each other. Sashje leaves and Rayasu resumes his punchbag training.]

Voice [calling from further inside the building]: Rayasu!!!

[Rayasu stops his routine.]

Ra [Sighing and calling back irritated]: Yes..?

V: Where's my Iron Katana?!

Ra: Where you left it in the storeroom beside the bamboo canes!

V: I've checked there, it's not!

Ra: Oh, god…

[He turns and makes his way through to the storeroom. Another man, by the name of Haysu, stands in the doorway, arms crossed and looking quite cross. Rayasu walks past him into the storeroom and searches around the bamboo canes. Indeed, there is no katana.]

Haysu: Well?

Ra: Well don't look at me, I didn't take it, I haven't been in here since last week.

Ha: Well someone's taken it, and it wasn't me. And it can't have been Sentos, she's been over at the firing range all day.

[There is a pause.]

Ra/Ha: Kwenlan.

M: Oh I'm going to kill him…

[A woman appears in the doorway of the storeroom.]

Woman: What are you to up to? I could hear your shouting all the way in the firing range.

M: Sentos. It would appear your brother has been at my weapon cache again.

Sentos: Oh no…

Ha: Yes.

Se: I'm sorry for Kwenlan, Haysu. He's a bit…

Ha: …of a thief?

[Sentos scowls at him.]

Se: I was going to say over keen.

Ra: [To Hayasu] Smooth.

Ha: He took my katana without asking. That's theft.

Se: [Emphatically] He's twelve and he idolises you.

Ha: That's not the point. [Defiantly, off Sentos' scornful look] He's a thief!

Se: It's entirely the point! Urgh! I hate you.

[She storms out.]

Ra: You know, if you want her to go out…

Ha: Shut up.

[Rayasu does so. The falcoln outside screeches loudly.]

Ha: [To the falcoln] You can shut up aswell.

[The falcoln screeches a bit more aggressively. A large butterfly flies past which the falcoln catches sight of. It spreads its wings and flies up and over the building in pursuit of the butterfly. Back in the village, a large group of men hauls a cart full of fish up a track. Behind them, two Aptonoth pull a cart on which are tied several wyvern eggs. Two female hunters, both wearing Rathalos armour and carrying greatswords, follow behind them. Following in their wake some way behind out in the open fields, another two male hunters in Gypceros and Rathian armour with an SnS and bowgun respectively lead another Aptonoth with another cart of eggs. There are Hunters Acven and Hisu.]

Acven: …speaking of which, now I think about it didn't Kali mention something about wanting some eggs aswell?

Hisu: I don't know, he didn't tell me, but if he does want some he bloody well better look after them. [Gesturing to the cart behind them] It took a lot of effort to get those eggs. I ain't gonna see them let go to waste.

Ac: Especially not after what happened last time.

Hi: Urgh, don't remind me. Four hours hiding behind a waterfall with an angry Rathian trying to tear my limbs off, and all he did with the two eggs I did get back was drop them at the threshold!

Ac: Haha. That was quite funny though.

[The other hunter looks at him irritated.]

Hi: No it wasn't. I tell you, if he breaks these ones you won't be laughing. Mind you it would…

[But he is cut short by a shrill cry from overhead. They and the Aptonoth turn to look up. Wailing, the Aptonoth charge off in terror. In the sky above them, a very large Rathian is rapidly swooping down towards them.]

Hi: MOOOVE!!!

[The two hunters run and dive to the side as the Rathian swoops down and glides on to grab the cart with it's outstretched feet. The Aptonoth suddenly veer to the left, the cart tilting on one wheel. The eggs inside, already cracked from the cart's rough bouncing, break free of their ties and smash. The Rathian grabs the cart in it's talons. The harness on the Aptonoth snaps and it drops to the ground and immediately continues to flee. The two hunters rejoin on the track and are soon joined by the two hunters ahead of them, Julo and Garu.]

Julo: Are you two okay?!

Ac: Of course!

Garu: [To Julo] I thought you covered our tracks?!

Ju: I did! Clearly not well enough for this one.

[The Rathian calls out overhead.]

Hi: [To Acven] Maybe you're wearing her sister.

Ac: Ha! In that case…

[He draws his bowgun and cocks it.]

Ac: …better keep it in the family!

[The other hunters draw their own respective weapons.]

Ju: I get the head this time.

Hi: Not if I get it first.

[He draws his sword and shield.]

Ac: With that toothpick? Good luck!

[Their attention is caught by a cry from the wyvern. It lands a few hundred metres away and inspects the remains of the cart and the eggs. It noses around the cracked eggshells and lets out a low anguished cry. After a few seconds of silent brooding, it raises its head and stares angrily at the hunters, black smoke beginning to seep out of its mouth.]

Hi: I think we might be in trouble…

[The Rathian glares at them in pure anger, taking a step in their direction and letting out a loud cry that deafens one of the greatsword hunters. It fires three fireballs at them. The hunters dive out of the way of the approaching flames. But the deafened hunter is too slow, and is hit square on by one of the fireballs. She is sent rolling along the track in flames. The other two narrowly miss claiming two of the other hunters.]

Ga: Julo!!

[She can tell even from a distance that there is very little life left in her companion.]

[The Rathian roars again and charges at the hunters. Garu unsheathes her Greatsword and charges towards the Rathian. As the two draw near, she veers off to the Rathian's right and swings her sword horizontally at the back of the Rathian's leg. The sword slices across the wyvern's ankle and it stumbles with a pained cry to the ground. It writhes around for a few moments. As Garu charges again, it rises to its feet and swipes it's tail. The hunter blocks the swipe with her sword, but the force of the impact sends her flying back. The Rathian turns to face her and roars. Two bowgun shots strike the Rathian in the head, a third just missing it. It staggers, and another three shots strike its head, and then soon after another three strike it's belly and leg. The wyvern collapses in pain. The Greatsword hunter rises and is joined by the other two.]

Ac: Are you alright Garu?

Garu: I'm fine. But Julo isn't. Tend to her. She needs medical care. I'll take care of this beast.

Ac: Are you sure?

Ga: Yes Acven, I'll be fine.

Ac: Alright. Hisu.

[Hisu pats Garu on the shoulder, and alongside Acven goes to pick up Julo and carry her up to the village. Garu stares at the Rathian at it rises. It scrapes a foot along the ground. Garu sinks into her stance and readies her sword at her side. Garu charges at the Rathian and the Rathian charges at Garu. Garu raises her sword to strike downwards on the wyvern's head, but the Rathian raises it's head and leaps over Garu, bringing it's tail round underneath. It strikes Garu to the ground and she loses grip of her sword. It spins to her side as she falls flat on her back. The Rathian lands behind Garu, turns and charges again straight away. Garu dives for her sword and Guards as the Rathian's chin spike comes within distance. The spike chips away the surface of the sword and again knocks Garu to the floor without her sword. The Rathian tries to impale Garu again, but she rolls to one side for her sword and the spike bores into the earth. Before the wyvern can recover Garu rises and swings her sword hard at the chin spike and smashes it clean off. The Rathian cries out and thrashes around in pain. It staggers and falls over again. Garu runs to the Rathian and readies the sword behind her preparing to strike. The Rathian lashes out and catches Garu with its wing and knocks her off balance. The wyvern jumps up to its feet, mouth wide open. As it prepares to bring it's mouth down around Garu a Thor's Dagger shield flies overhead and lodges itself in the Rathian's chest. The Rathian cries out louder than before and thrashes madly. It stumbles backwards and falls flat on its back. Garu turns round to see another two hunters racing down the track towards her. One wields the Thor's Dagger in a Teostra armor Set, the other a Quickcaster+ in Lunastra Armor. They are Basolo and Sashje.]

Ga: Nice throw!

Basolo: Thank you!

Sashje: What would you do without us?

Ga: I dread to think.

[The three hunters watch the Rathian.]

Ga: I take it you want your shield back.

Ba: It would be nice. But I'll take care of that. Keep me covered.

Sa: Absolutely.

[Sashje readies her bowgun and loads it. She fires Para Shots at the Rathian's head and at its wings to stun it as Basolo runs forwards. He dodges the tail, jumps onto the Rathian's stomach and wrenches the shield out its chest. He leaps off the wyvern beside its head and dives and rolls out of the way of the wyvern's feebly snapping jaws. Sashje fires another two Para shots at the Rathian's wings as Garu runs up the Rathian's chest and brings her sword down on the wyvern's head, smashing and cracking the hard protective plates. As she reloads, Sashje runs round the Rathian to join Basolo as Garu leaps off the Rathian between its head and opposite wing. Sashje fires two Tranq shots at the Rathian's head. It falls still, save for its slow gentle breathing. The three hunters congregate around the Rathian's head.]

Ba: Another fight well fought.

[He pats Garu and Sashje on the back.]

Ba: You should go see Julo now. Sashje and I can take it from here.

[Garu nods her head a few times as Sashje joins them.]

Ga: Yeah. Yeah…thanks.

Ba: We'll see you later.

[Garu smiles at the two hunters, then runs towards the town. Basolo approaches the Rathian's head, taking a Tranq Bomb from his belt and pulling the pin.]

Ba: Hello beastie.

[He throws the bomb at the Rathian. It explodes in a bright lilac cloud of smoke.]