Monsters and those that hunt them.

Our young characters were sucked from the world they live in and transported to a world where monstrous wild animals with elements mixed with their biology. They were a mix of various animals from the world our young prospective couple came from. They came from different places on the same country and never met face to face before the portals dropped them in a forest so huge the cities of their world would be swallowed by the smallest trees.

The world was abundant with dinosaurlike creatures called monsters and many were meat eaters. He appeared in one area of the forest she in another. Seeing smoke in the sky they both head to it. On the way he sees deep tracks and glow flies around the tracks. Then he sees evidence of large animal activity that made him run cold to the bone with fear. He moved faster with less care for stealth towards the smoke and hoped he would find help. He had nothing on him. A t shirt sweatpants that were too hot in the humid air. His work shoes were soaked in pungent mud and his long hair was everywhere as his hair tie broke and was barely clinging on to a few hairs. The world was almost exactly like a game he played and that was what made him so fearful. The game gave him some idea of what to expect and how to survive but he knew he needed to find other humans.

She was in her work clothes and walking towards the same smoke he was. The forest plants and birds were much larger than she had ever seen in their world and she saw she was getting closer to the smoke. She saw the tracks but thought they were strange sinkholes or animal burrows. She hurried along and reached a small clearing. It had a tent in one corner with a pair of people there a man and a woman. The man had a gigantic weapon made of bone on his back and thick leather and bone armor. The woman was wearing a simple outfit and holding a massive book. They were recording their hunt and jump when a trig under her feet snaps.

"OH hi! Never seen you around here before. You're not with any of the fleets how did you get here?" The woman asks as the man watches silently.

"Th-through a portal.. it opened up under me and I found myself nearby. What is this place who are you?" Our young lady asks the two she discovered.

"OH another visitor from another world! This is not good first that weird hunter now someone from a city." The strange woman said and hurriedly writes down what she said.

"How did you know I came from a city?" Our lady asks.

"Your smell *giggle* you smell like a city and a strange one too. We have to see the commissioner and get her to the base fast. The other monster hasn't been spotted yet. Cmon partner" she said rushing to the exit of the clearing only for our young man to burst out of the brush panting and holding a stich in his chest. "WOAH! the strange woman said in surprise as our young man falls down.

"Giant lizard huge stomach" was all he could say as he shivered in terror. Seeing someone from her world scared like this mad ever nervous as the silent man rushed away. The strang woman picked up our young man and pit him on a cart a pair of large bipedal cats drag the cart away amd the strange woman grass our young lady's hand pulling her along.

"Cmon we gotta get to the base" she said panting as she ran

"Wait what about your partner?" Our young lady asks looking back.

"Don't worry about him he can handle himself run faster the base isn't far " they ran chasing the cart until they reach a large wooden barrier. It opened up into a large settlement built out of large ship hulls and monster bones so huge they could be dinosaurs

"Welcome to the base. We haven't named it yet but with everything going on its nit important. Let's go to the infirmary and get you checked out" pur lady nodded she was thinking about the man who rushed into the camp she found and how familiar his voice seemed. How could that tbe she hadn't ever met him did she?

The infirmary was little more than beds a strange green fluid was used to treat every wound severe wounds required 3 giant pills to be taken all at once and the effect was instantaneous. They recovered. She sat on a bed and was examined.

"Hmm yess less bone density and muscle mass substantially sub par suffering Mal nutrition as well not getting enough of the right foods and too many bad ones. Otherwise you're fine. " He old tiny doctor said as he inspected her. She felt upset to hear what she did and then she gasps seeing the doctor kick the man who passed out. He jumped up shaking and looking around before he relaxed and slowed down.

"OH than god!" He said and laid back down. "Good to be in a settlement."

Git out of here before I throw you out you pansey. Passing out from seeing a monster what sort of man are you?" The old doctor said turning his back on the man.

"Well that was rough... I'm Eric nice to meet you face to face" he said to her as they were escorted out of the infirmary and led to the meeting table.

"Uh huh and most would not freak out because of it." the doctor sighed looking to the human. However, her arms remained crossed seeing him sweatdrop hearing her tone. Either she was annoyed or maybe she was mad. No idea.

She recognized the man by now as someone she only spoke to over the internet she started to recognize his voice and then gasped as she figured out who he was. They had spoken for years on video calls and now here they were in another world together. Her annoyance with the doctor didn't fade and she didn't hear the questi9n because she had only just recognized his voice.

"S-sorry can you say that again?" She asks him and he sighs and repeats himself.

"My name is Eric. Its nice to finally meet you in person what is your name." He said for he had recognized her as well. But they hadn't shared real names yet. Until now that is. And since they were going to be living in this new world together he might as well know who she is.

"Hmmm.." she looks to him and yet he wonders if she'll tell her name to him.

"Erica." she said simply to look at him quietly.

"Wow that's a pretty name for a pretty face. Alot like mine " He said then he said her name and that hit her harder than she expected. She had know h8m online for a while but never told him her name till now. Nor let h8m see her face. It was good to be in this new world with someone she atleast knew and could predict.

As for him he was curious what the guild master would say he had many titles like commissioner and fleet admiral. When they saw his short white hair and gotee he saw them and he smiled waving his heavily muscled arms at them. In fact as she looked around everyone was heavily muscled even the women. It was very distracting. For them both.

"Ah our two guests. The doctor checked you out and was shocked that you survived the forest at all in your condition. No worries about that a few days of food and rest and you will be amazed at the difference. I've already set aside guest quarters and security to bar any onlookers or busy bodies. Only the palicos and people you invite will be let through." He said. It was quite a mouthful and his generally friendly and serious attitude said they were welcome he was happy to see them but he had big issues to deal with.

"Please enjoy your stay here feel free to explore the compound but be careful things can be dangerous here and anything can happen. Especially in the smithy and science areas. We will answer anrly questions you have after you've had a good night's sleep and we can both get answers." He said and they were escorted. Away

"If your name is similar to mine that why don't I call you something else?" Erica asks Eric and he nodded. He liked that idea and left it to her to name him since she would be using the name.

"That works for me. Why don't you pick I'm curious what sort of name you have picked for your fantasy." He said teasing her as he did sometimes. He had never seen her blush from it only her pretending she hated it. But here in front of him she couldn't hide her blush and her scoff.

"You aren't my fantasy. Any of these other people would be but not you. " she said burning red. He believed her mostly but maybe he could convince her otherwise.

"As you say. Now what are you gonna call me milady?" He asks. And smiles noting her blush and not rubbing it in. That could wait till another time

She blinks to hear this but she looks away, not showing her pink tint of her cheeks. This guy...well, at least he was fine and healing now thanks to it. For now, she was hearing that he was going to do something or maybe rest a while longer. "Hmmm...a name....what name.."

"How about derrik" she suggested and he smiled it was close enough to his name he could respond to it and she seemed to like it. They were walking to the canteen to eat before being shown their rooms and she was looking vleverywhere at the bipedal cats helping with the work. She even saw them cooking. It seemed half the population was these cats or palicos as Derrick had said previously.

The food they were serving were gigantic slabs of meat called aptonath. Along with veggies and fruit. Gingerly our two Erica and Derrick sample the food then dig in heartily as if they have never eaten in their life. It was so good and so filling that it made them feel stronger tougher and more fortified against the elements. After the meal many hunters left to go on expeditions and take job requests. Our two were led to their separate rooms.

"Here is where we begin our tour." The handler said she seemed to gesture as she spoke as if she was constantly boiling over with exexcitement "these are your rooms for as long as ypu stay this is where you sleep. You can decorate it however you like with endemic life you catch in yhe wild. Next we go to the heart and backbone of our lives here the smithy." She said as she led them down the wooden corridor towards a large ship hull that buned inside like it was on fire.

The master smith and his aprenrices were hard at work forging weapons that were ordered by hunters. They watched as monster parts bones ore and all manner of thing were used in the creation of a weapon. "Here is where our armor and weapons come from. These are what determine our abilities in the field. Make sure you pick a set that suits your style or you'll be in trouble out there." She said ushering them out and towards the bustling market area.

"Theirs a lot to choose from but I'm sure you'll pick something." Erica said to Derrik but it did leave her wondering about it. And the many other choices.

The handler pointed out the general store the specimen cultivation area...

"Specimen cultivation area what's that?" Erica asks when she heard it. The handler smiled and bounced on her toes in excitement.

"I'm glad you asked. If you can get the right fertilizers you get your own plot. There a member of the ecology survey group will cultivate any plant bug or fungus you want. We have missions that all hunters have to go on to raise their rank."

"Rank?" Erica was confused and the handler giggles.

"Yes rank all hunters have a rank based on your progress as a hunter. 1-50 are all beginning rank amd your quests will be fixed unless something unexpected happens." The handler told Erica. Derrik was watching and listening. For him he was amazed how close to the game this was and he already knew all this. He was already planning what monsters to hunt for the powers and abilities equipment from their parts makes.

"How long until we can register as hunters?" Derrik asks he had been silent while some of Erica's questions were answered. The handler turned to him.

"Well tomorrow at the earliest. Today is tour day and then we feats to celebrate your arrival with a feast then the night of rest." She said and Erica was still thinking. "Now where was i...? Oh right Specimen cultivation area. The next area that mountain of books is the ecology research department. No matter what the books will only show you information on things you have already seen. It's just how they work." She said and the handler takes them to a long tunnel. When they emerge they see a large arena built right into th3 base where hunters were training.

A group of 3 hunters was taking a challenge of hunting a monster with gear the arena chooses for you making it a challenge. The hunters were working as a team one was welding a lance and a shiled and absorbing monster attacks and stabbing it to keep its attention. Another weilded a staff with a large incect that would leap put of it and attack the monster with the hunter bearing it with the staff. The last hunters they saw was using a bow. As this one drew the bowstring and held it the shot grew in power.

They dart and roll around dodging attacks and attacked every chance they get. The monster was wounded badly and moved like it wasn't effected. It wasn't till the limb the hunters focused on broke did the monster stagger and fall kicking trying to get up as the hunters set in atracki g with their weapons. She thought they would finish it off but inspire of the wounds and broken limb the monster got up and started attacking again. It was a bit slower with it's forepaw wounded and it didn't attack as often with that limb. They focused another as the handler started to speak.

"This is the arena upstairs in the gathering hub is where you can take on special jobs for specific rewards. Some gear can only be authorized for crafting with marks from monsters slain in the arena." She said and Derrick's attention was fixed on the hunt. He was snorting in disdain and muttering about the weapons they were using and how they weren't good. Clearly he had a favorite weapon and none of the hunters were using it.

Erica was amazed watching the hunters and seeing the the monsters were much tougher than they looked and they looked tougher than most creatures she saw in games in her old world.