Monster Hunter: Auros

His eyes snapped open. Sounds of wildlife were all around him, and they became rowdier as he felt his consciousness returning to his body. His back was propped on something hard and uneven. Reflexively, he sat up. His eyes were immediately scanning his surroundings in a slow motion, seeing only overgrown forest in every direction. His eyebrows raised majestically as he found that he was lying down in the middle of a clearing, vine-laden trees enclosing the space. A sudden premonition struck him. Patting his clothes and pockets, then his whole body, he sighed in relief. Nothing had happened to his body. His limbs were intact, as was his head. The thing he had stored in his pockets was nowhere to be found, but he was in one piece. Considering what he had gone through, it was a miracle that none of those things had eaten him yet. Checking his vicinity one more time and finding no immediate threats, he slowly stood up, eyes vigilant against movement among the trees and their branches that entwined the sky above. The air was full of the sounds of birds. The canopy swayed restlessly over him as those small creatures hopped from one branch to another. He recalled what they were: Anothraxes. They weren’t a threat when they were alone, but once they congregated on a single hunter, they became C-level dangers. He had to stay hidden as he moved if he wanted to avoid the critters. Fortunately the ground was endorsed full with lush undergrowth, some of the plants reaching heights that could hide his body even if he only slightly bent his knees. Deciding what he needed to do, he made to dive into the conevenient natural cover for hunters, when his feet struck something that was hidden under a bush. It made a dull cluttering noise, like metal striking against ground. As he looked at his feet, he saw a familiar handle-like object. It was only one part of an item, and the rest of it was gone. He crouched low to retrieve it but felt slight resistance. Comprehending, he used his free hand to break apart the bramble while the hand holding the broken item tugged on it. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”