A Bright Flame in the Dark Forest

What are you up to, Arty?

M-Meowning for ore.

Say, don't you have a bunch of good stuff on you? Lemme search your pockets.

M-Mrrow!

Hey! Hm, this one... aha! Maybe this would work.

You're right, this black powder could be used to mark the trail. Wait here, I'll try it out.

Yato...

I see you.

I see the mark on the ground too.

Another circle...

Mhm.

We got chased by a pack of rampaging beasts for whatever reason, then we lost the Rathalos's trail, and now we're trapped on some kind of magical hill.

All our positioning equipment is inoperative, no graphical displays... What the heck's wrong with this forest?

...I'll try again. We can't just give up now.

Calm down.

Listen, I think this is a natural phenomenon, rather than an active threat.

Let's just stay put for a minute and observe our surroundings. Maybe there's something we missed. There must be a way out of this.

Plus... Doesn't it feel like we forgot something?

Yato—

Noir Corne—

Smithy—

Where are you?

Come on, enough purr-actical jokes. Come out meow.

You're hiding behind that tree, aren't you, Noir Corne?

I know you're behind that rock, Smithy.

Get down from that tree, Yato.

No... nobody...

Oh no...

I was just observing some purr-tterns on the trees, then everybody disappeared.

But it turns out that those purr-terns were just useless scratches on the bark.

It's all their fault. They'll never find the Rathalos without meow. They should have res-purr-cted me more.

That'll show them how important I am. They must be going pawll-out to find me. Especially Noir Corne and Smithy.

Yato... she can be scary, but we have a purr-omise! She won't just leave me like this.

N-No need to worry! I'll just wait here for them to find meow.

Mrow! Help!

I-In the forest...

Biologist of the Scriveners, future authority on Terra... are all nine of my lives going to end here?

No! I-I'll—

I... I won't go off on meow own again...

I won't call Noir Corne stupid anymore... I'll purr-aise Smithy from time to time... I mean, all the time!

Somebody... anybody... help... meow...

What are you doing, Scholar?

Mrow?

I... Meow did you...

You idiot! Stupid Noir Corne! Hornhead!

Huh? What did I do?

You're interrupting the ecological research of the meow-vellous scholar furmerly of the Royal Pawleontology Scriveners!

Er... could you repeat that?

There's a time and a place, people. We've been trapped here for more than two hours.

The sun's about to set. We should be spending our time looking for a way out, not arguing.

...Talk, Scholar! What were you researching?

None of your business!

Let me see... Yato! There are carvings on the bark!

'Record of abnormality in the hills...'

'Visual references unreliable. Follow the wind. -Mirai'

Must be someone who came before us. The message is telling us to follow the wind.

Mrow? It was writing then?

You found this? Not bad, Scholar! Looks like I underestimated you!

I... Mrow! What do mew mean you underestimated me?

The wind...

We can see which way the wind is blowing by sprinkling that dust from up high.

Good idea. Let's try it.

Let me take another look at the carving. Doesn't look like it's been too long... What's this 'Mirai'?

Hey! Wait for me!

We're finally out of it.

It's a lake. No wonder the wind was purring.

Hold it. Looks like there's a camp by the shore. There might be someone there.

Stay here while I check it out...

Camp! Campfire! Barbecue! Let's get those paws moving!

Meow!

Finally got the fire lit.

This camp hasn't been used for ages. Must have been left behind by hunters. Good thing the stuff here still works.

...Alright, I guess it's harder to move at night, or spot the Rathalos's tracks.

We can rest here for a little bit, but after that we need to keep moving.

Alright, alright.

Hehe...

What are you laughing about?

Nothing... Well, just that you never change. You're always in a rush, like you're being chased by somebody.

We've been following the Doctor's orders for so long now, yet not a bit of their calmness has rubbed off on you.

They would want us to achieve our mission as soon as possible.

Fine, fine. You win.

Why don't you listen to me the way you used to, close your eyes, get some rest, and we'll set out again in the morning, fully refreshed?

I'll search the camp for anything useful.

Rest...?

Looks like the headman wasn't lying. There are no hunters left around here, other than old Kashiwau.

This must have something to do with that big cave that we went into. Maybe with old Kashiwau's temper too...

We'll know when we find the Rathalos. If you've got the time to worry about all this nonsense, then we might as well set out now.

Fine... Yuck, the box is covered in dust. The lock's all rusted through too. Let me see...

Hey, lots of hunting equipment... machetes, knives, traps, and some solid ropes.

Take everything that looks useful.

A spear, too. Looks like the same kind that old Kashiwau carries with him.

I've seen ones like that around here. The locals use them for hunting.

This one's broken, though. No spearhead in the box either. What do you think?

Hm...

What is it?

I'm surprised at how elaborate it is.

The core of the handle has been hollowed out. Is that a bowstring in it? It's made from animal hair, pretty solid.

I see... the switch on the handle controls the bowstring, allowing the spear to be thrown with great force, judging by the length of the string.

The broken part is a swivel. Seems like the spear can be turned in a certain direction, or locked, allowing the wielder to deal with different combat situations.

...The designer knew what they were doing.

Well, you're the expert when it comes to weapons.

Here, put it back. It's no use to us.

Hey, wait, there are words engraved in the handle.

Akira Kashiwau... is that the owner of the spear?

Old Kashiwau's given name is Yoshitaka. A relative of his? I'll see if there's anything else.

Corne... Huh? What's that on the ground?

What? Let me see.

A photo. It must have fallen out of the box when you opened it.

A gathering of hunters... there's a date on the lower corner. It's from nine years ago.

Is that the headman on the right? Did he use to be a hunter too?

I suppose so.

He looks completely different in hunter garb. There's a little girl standing to his right.

Hey, look at the guy over here!

Don't shout like that.

He's the only one in the photo carrying a spear. Looks like the one that's broken, too.

Akira Kashiwau... could it be him? He looks pretty young. Wouldn't quite be middle-aged, even after nine years.

But I don't remember anyone like him in the village. How about you, Yato?

Nope.

So it's a gathering of hunters, but old Kashiwau isn't in it?

Maybe he just wasn't there for the photo. Put it back.

Headman Takii looks so young!

Did he not get along with the others, even back then? But the younger Kashiwau in this photo looks pretty close to him.

There was a hunter statue in the village, but it hasn't been tended to for a long time. And the headman used to be a hunter... Could this all be because of Akira Kashiwau?

Corne!

Oh...

That's enough.

What does this photo have to do with our mission? Does it matter who's in it or not, or how many people or burdenbeasts there are in the Kashiwau household?

It means nothing to us.

Our missions take longer than they should because you always get distracted by these things.

Even if we could figure out what happened to the old man's family, what does it change?

Are you going to give him counselling? What about the others? Are you going to win them over with love and understanding?

You saw the people in the village... and that child...

The people here are unknowingly walking towards the abyss. The best we can do is save their lives, no more and no less.

And the faster we find the Rathalos, the closer we get to the truth, and the better our odds of stopping Oripathy from spreading in the village.

We must work harder... do everything we can to ensure their safety. That's our mission, our duty.

And you need to understand that, Corne— No, Operator Noir Corne.

I know, I know. Don't get so angry.

It's just that I can't help but think about old Kashiwau.

The things he said, the things he did... that inexplicable stubbornness, his insistence on facing everything on his own... It's as if he's running away from something.

Have you forgotten? It's just like...

No, never mind.

Anyway, I can't prove it yet, but I wouldn't be so sure that none of this has anything to do with our mission.

Very well, Operator Noir Corne, in that case I'm giving you an order, as captain of Operations Team A4.

You will refrain from concerning yourself with matters unrelated to the mission objective, until such time that there is evidence suggesting otherwise.

...Yes, ma'am.

Good.

...Yato.

I'm... I'm worried about you too.

......

I'll check the surrounding area for threats. We'll leave once we're rested.

Noir Corne is making me catch fish while he goes and purr-lays with the campfire!

They're called Fins.

Based on their appearance and my im-purr-essive knowledge, they're the same exact thing!

♪Throw a buoy, let it float, meow♪

♪Knock knock, meow♪

Remember what I said this afternoon, Smithy?

I looked through my notes on the ecology of Terra and I realize why something didn't seem right, mrow.

There are no meownsters in this forest!

Where we came from, there are always meownsters in the wild. What do the scholars say again...?

Yes, balance. They balance the environment, mrow.

But we haven't seen any creatures like that here. It's so strange.

And those rampaging hornbeasts. They stripped the bark clean off the trees wherever their paws took them. Do you realize what that means?

Mrow?

Silly Smithy. It means things were not always like this, otherwise the trees couldn't have grown.

The ecological order of the forest was destabilized at some point.

Something... went meowssing.

But not to worry! With you and I here, they can deal with the Rathalos, even if they're not so strong!

Hey, are you listening, Smithy?

♪Knock knock, meow♪

I shouldn't have had you do this!

♪Knock knock, meow♪

The fincatching buoy isn't moving at all! Are there really any fish in this pond?

Did you catch any Fins, Scholar?

Purrfect timing! Sit here.

Take this.

The fincatching rod? Why?

Don't meowve.

Stay!

...What are you doing?

Watching you fish.

Why, you—oh!

The buoy sank!

It's so heavy! What do I do?

Pull! Pull hard!

Argh! W-Why...? It happened so long ago...

Noir Corne!

Four turns! No more than that!

Look, I was watching this whole time, and it hasn't changed color at all... whoa!

Okay, now it has!

And now it's burnt...

Your own fault for not listening! You eat it!

My fault? It's all because you distracted me...

Mroaaaw!

Hey! Stop scratching my horn!

*Sigh*...

Mrrow...

Shouldn't you be saving your strength for the Rathalos? Don't let me catch you running away as soon as we get a glimpse.

I told you, I know purrcisely how to deal with the Rathalos. I've noted its weaknesses in my notebook.

It's just that your weapons are too weak. Good thing I had the purresence of mind to tell Smithy to meowke stronger weapons.

Rathalos... I wonder what its meat tastes like...

I tell you, Rathalos liver is pawsitively delicious! Nothing is tastier!

*Huff*...

—! Who goes there?!

Yato? Where are you going?

I saw a shadow in the corner of my eye. It went this way.

Who's there? Come out!

I know you're there.

(Where did they go?)

Meow...

(Over there!)

I'll give you one chance to show yourself.

(Approaches slowly)

You...

Show yourself right now!

Meow! It's Yato!

Artisan? It was you?

Mrow?

No, it couldn't be... the one I saw was...

Are they gone?

Yato—

Y-You're too fast...

Did you see something?

Yes, but I lost them.

What are you doing here, Arty?

Knocking on meowterials.

You're making... armor and weapons? For the fight against the Rathalos?

Don't touch it!

No stone! Use this instead!

Is that really something that can be swapped just like that?

Click! There.

Equipment for two!

You want us to put them on?

Purrt them on! Better against Rathalos!

It's worth a shot.

Well, I for one can't wait!

...You change over there, Corne.

How do I... put this on?

Does my arm go through here?

And why is it so...?

I've never... worn anything like this before.

Am I wearing this right? I can't tell.

The helmet's so heavy... and stuffy... is this right?

Ouch! And why are there spikes here? They're even longer than my horn.

Is this really meant for wearing?

(The material is light, but surprisingly tough.)

(Arty said they made it using Rathalos parts they brought with them. Not even Yato could cut through it...)

(But something feels familiar about this material.)

(Where have I seen it before? I just can't remember.)

Yato? I'm done over here. Where are you?

I'm coming! Whoa—

Ow, I hit my head... And now I can't see anything.

Did it go like this? Finally got it on right.

(Looks at Yato)

Oh...

Its showing so much skin... Is this really supposed to be protective gear?

But... I do feel a strange tingling on my skin. And my discomfort from the light is gone.

Look at that, Kirin set!

Kirin set? Is that what this is called?

Mrow.

...I suppose I should ask Leizi about it.

Terra meowterial's not bad! Good substitute.

(Whisper) ...Thanks, Originium slugs.

My new blades need to be tested in battle... Corne?

What are you doing on the ground?

I... I tripped. Not used to this new gear.

Wait, your mask...

I took it off. Doesn't seem like I'll need it to block out the light with this gear, and it's extra weight I don't need.

What... What are you staring at?

Nothing!

...Get up. We can't afford to be caught off guard out here. Get used to it quickly.

O-Okay!

Yato! Noir Corne!

That strange old man came!

He took your gear!