"So, so many meow!" Looking at the swarms of Aptonoth before them, Sajji's tail went stiff.
Not just him, but Altaïr was also seeing such a massive herd of Aptonoth for the first time.
In desert regions, even within large oases spanning several square kilometers, the number of Aptonoth in a single herd rarely reached ten.
This was dictated by food resources; elderly Aptonoth would instinctively leave the herd to fend for themselves.
And when the population reached a certain threshold, the Aptonoth would consciously split the herd to prevent having too many mouths to feed in one area, ensuring everyone didn't go hungry.
Yet appearing before their eyes now was a super-herd of over a hundred Aptonoth.
Each Aptonoth, clearly much stouter than its desert kin, wandered while grazing on the golden grass.
Seeing the hunters, they didn't panic, simply passing by them with calm indifference.
Besides the slow-moving Aptonoth, agile figures about the height of an adult's chest could be seen leaping lightly among the herd.
Those were Kelbi, occasionally seen in desert oases but in small numbers; their Kelbi Horn could be used for medicine and were of high value.
At this moment, Altaïr felt that the number of Kelbi he saw in a single glance was more than all the Kelbi he had seen in the past decade or so combined.
This doesn't make sense... Altaïr muttered to himself. Even if food resources are abundant, Aptonoth and Kelbi shouldn't form such massive clusters. The target is too obvious; aren't they afraid of attracting Jaggi packs or other carnivorous creatures?
Sajji reached out a paw beside him and poked his thigh. "Boss meow, Mr. Jara and the others said before that these grasslands have been repeatedly cleared for over a month meow.
Dangerous carnivorous Monsters have either been driven away or killed meow."
"Uh." Altaïr finally realized.
From a certain perspective, the series of actions taken by the Valhabar Guild for the city's migration had, to some extent, disrupted the ecological balance of this region.
Perhaps this was also why Val Habar never stayed in one location for too long.
Correspondingly, the Valhabar Guild should also be reducing the number of herbivores on this steppe as appropriate, right? As for how they reduced them...
Val Habar jerky infused with heavy spices, specialty sausages, high-quality cheese, leather, and a series of livestock-related goods were exported overseas, famous throughout the continent.
He used to wonder how, at this rate of consumption, Val Habar's herds, no matter how large, could last more than a few years.
Now it seemed it was a gift from nature.
Glancing at the tracks on the ground, which were less "messy" and more "smeared into a blur," Altaïr turned to ask Isis, "We probably can't judge anything from these tracks anymore, right?"
Isis's expression was stiff. "I can tell there are a lot of Aptonoth here."
Altaïr rubbed his forehead. "There shouldn't be any dangerous Monsters around here, otherwise these herbivores wouldn't be so at ease.
What do you think our next move should be?"
Isis tried to use her brain. "Let's follow the water network formed by the streams and continue checking. The seniors have cleared this steppe many times; it's normal to find nothing."
Altaïr naturally had no objection, and the two humans and one cat continued their patrol across this tranquil steppe.
Wandering from morning until nearly dusk, it didn't feel like they were executing a mission in the hunting grounds, but rather like they were on a spring outing.
If not for the dogma of "staying alert in the hunting grounds" constantly reminding them, they would have wanted to take down an Aptonoth or a Kelbi to get some raw meat and have an open-air barbecue feast under the blue sky and white clouds.
The relaxed patrol continued until sunset. Walking back to the camp from here would take nearly an hour; if they didn't head back soon, it would be pitch black halfway there. They began their return journey.
Isis and Altaïr walked one after the other at a leisurely pace. After patrolling in such a peaceful atmosphere all day, their spirits had inevitably relaxed.
The two shared some attention to watch their surroundings and the sky, chatting idly. One second they were talking about how tracks in the Swamp couldn't have their time confirmed by edge desiccation, and the next they jumped to how delicious Popo tongues were.
Sajji didn't join the conversation. He tightened the portable turret on his back, which looked like an ordinary large barrel, his mind full of nothing but finding a chance to fire a shot.
Unable to find a suitable target, he felt uncomfortable all over.
Just then, an indescribable tension enveloped him, followed by the smell of blood drifting into his nostrils.
"Meow!"
In an instant, all of Sajji's fur stood on end, making him look like a pincushion.
"What's wrong?" Altaïr and Isis quickly cut off their chat and looked toward Sajji.
"I, I don't know what Monster's aura it is meow! Anyway, it's just very bad meow! Also, the smell of blood is drifting over from that way meow!"
The two turned solemn. Isis raised her shield slightly and whispered, "Let's go take a look. Keep your footsteps quiet. If we find anything abnormal, be ready to hide or retreat at any time."
Altaïr nodded, took several Flash Pods from his Item Pouch, and mounted them onto his Slinger.
This was one of the things he found most convenient about the Slinger: in an emergency, there was no need to rummage through items; just raise your hand and fire.
After calming Sajji's emotions, the two humans moved forward cautiously.
They hadn't gone far when Altaïr and the others smelled the blood Sajji had mentioned. The scent was terrifyingly thick; before any corpses were in sight, the smell of blood rushed straight to their noses. There were likely more than just one or two bodies.
The hunters slowed their pace further. At Isis's signaled gesture, they lowered their bodies and crept forward.
Walking over a gentle slope, the scene before them turned their bodies rigid.
Blood had dyed a large patch of the grassland red, and even the water in the stream had turned a pale crimson.
This was the place where they had encountered the large herd of Aptonoth before. At least twenty, no, over thirty corpses were scattered haphazardly around.
In the center of that massive pile of corpses, a terrifying beast with scales entirely stained red by blood was tearing at the carcass of a juvenile Aptonoth.
Its blood-filled maw, packed with sharp teeth, bit down on the Aptonoth's thigh. With a violent jerk of its thick neck, it tore the leg away along with a large chunk of loin meat.
After tilting its head to swallow, it seemed to lose interest in this corpse and stepped over to another. It used its sharp claws to rip open the Aptonoth's abdominal cavity, thrusting its head inside to feast on the soft internal organs.
Over a hundred meters away, hidden in the grass, Altaïr's breathing became heavy.
Tigrex.
Though it wasn't the specific individual from his childhood, it had the same pungent smell of blood, the same dull yellow scales flecked with indigo stripes, and the same blood-stained sharp teeth and fangs.
The scene before him, full of déjà vu, brought his thoughts back to that night ten years ago.
Perhaps the bodies of his kin and companions in the tribe were just like these Aptonoth, being...
A palm pressed against his shoulder, startling Altaïr out of his memory. Beside him, Isis shook her head at him very slowly.
Taking a deep breath of the blood-heavy air, Altaïr steadied his emotions. He gave his companion a slight nod of the chin, indicating he was okay.
Not to mention he wasn't the kind of crazed vengeful person screaming "I want to kill all Monsters," even if he were, with his current strength, there was no possibility of dealing with a Tigrex.
No matter how one looked at it, showing himself now would be an act of ultimate stupidity.
Exchanging a look, the two lying in the grass retreated inch by inch.
The steppe terrain was open. When they discovered the Tigrex, the distance between the two parties wasn't too close. Combined with the pungent smell of blood from the corpses all over the ground, they should have been able to retreat safely.
But just then, a crosswind blew from behind them, carrying a scent that even a Felyne would find hard to discern, blowing toward the feasting Tigrex.
The Tigrex paused its movements, its nose twitching twice, and its yellow-green vertical pupils turned toward them.
(Translated by yourtl.app)
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TL NOTES: LORE SECTION
Some terms and creatures referenced in this story may be unfamiliar to readers new to the Monster Hunter universe. The following entries provide additional context.
MONSTERS
Aptonoth — A large, docile herbivore found across a wide range of biomes, often described as the "sheep" of the Monster Hunter world. Aptonoth are a primary prey species for most large predators and a common food source for human settlements. Their population size and health are frequently used by hunters as a passive indicator of ecosystem stability in a given region.
Kelbi — A small, deer-like herbivore valued less as prey and more as a resource animal. Their horns, harvested without killing the creature, are a key ingredient in many medicinal compounds used by hunters. Kelbi are skittish but generally harmless, and their presence in an area typically signals low predator activity nearby.