A hunting we will go.

[Dylan McNeil]

"Aw, come on, that'd be---" Dylan ducked again when the yeti made that return swing. "---boring! Besides, I'd like to see what you're made of!"

They managed to rid the yeti of its tree trunk weapon, a progress that could be considered...If it weren't for the icicles that came raining at him! Dylan had to run and dodge the icicles and took cover behind from thick trees when the yeti swung at him. "Dammit, the beast's after me!" Dylan hissed as he stuck low to the ground and crawled away.

"Hey, kid!" he called out to Nomine. "Try and distract him for me, will you? I need to get a clean shot!"

[Nomine]

Distraction huh? Nomine held up his sword. He charged straight at the Yeti and ran his sword into the Yeti's side. He managed to sink at least 6 inches of the blade in before the yeti's arm swooped down and grabbed Nomine by the leg. The yeti swung Nomine over his head and slammed Nomine against the ground. Then swung him over his head a second time. The snow somewhat cushioned the two impacts but still, this is going to hurt in the morning.

"Hey...Dylan?" Nomine had some trouble speaking. "Any time-"

The Yeti threw him towards the nearest spot of bushes before he could finish his sentence. The yeti roared again as Nomine's sword slowly slipped out of the yeti's side and fell into the snow.

[Dylan McNeil]

And a distraction he got. One he had no intention of wasting.

Once the coast was clear, Dylan quickly got up from his crawl and found Nomine charging towards the yeti. Well, there's no time for standing around to admire the fight...Besides, the view was horrible from where he's standing right now.

Most of the trees around them were either cut or torn down and it'd be difficult to find in a short amount of time a nearby suitable tree to get a clear sight of the beast. That didn't stop Dylan though; he just hoped that Nomine was tough enough to last until he could do something! Having Leifiel around at this moment would've been a good idea!

"I can't rely on that kid all the time though." Dylan scolded himself for thinking that. Not after what the kid had nearly gone through a few days ago. He looked up at a passing shadow and found what he was looking for.

Dylan climbed up a tall pine, not exactly the type he'd count on to hide him from the yeti's sight should the worst case scenario happen...He'd have to make this shot count!

"Hey...Dylan?" Nomine had some trouble speaking. "Any time-"

Dylan couldn't answer, in case the yeti might hear him. Instead, he concentrated on assembling his sniper rifle and made a quick calculation. He hoped the wind wouldn't pick up now of all times!

With his preparations complete, Dylan aimed for the yeti's head and fired.

[Nomine]

Nomine slowly looked up. Okay, the yeti looked like it was getting ready to charge at him again. Then he heard the sound of a gunshot. The side of the yeti's head was covered in its own blood from the bullet wound as it fell to its side. Nomine slowly stood back up, grabbing his side with his free hand as he slowly began to walk towards his sword. Two steps after doing so, however, the yeti got back up and gave another roar of pain. The bullet had shattered the side of its hard skull, but it didn't pierce its brain.

Nomine made a dive for his sword. He scrambled back to his feet as the yeti looked towards the direction that gunshot came from and raised its arm to fire another set of ice-cycle projectiles at Dylan. He swung his sword to fire a shockwave at the yeti's side, at the same spot he stabbed the thing earlier. A large gash appeared in the yeti and it fell forward just as it fired its ice-cycle projectiles.

[Dylan McNeil]

"Dammit!" Dylan hissed in disgust as the yeti, who appeared to have been killed by the headshot, suddenly got back up to its feet. However, considering the amount of blood that was coming out of the wound, he'd more than likely broke the beast's thick skull. Just not enough to break through.

That can be rectified by another shot...That is, if the coast was clear. The yeti had spotted him and was just about to fire icicles at him again. Something about that brought dread into Dylan's mind. Damn fangled magic creatures!

The icicles, however, came whizzing over his head as the yeti missed his aim, thanks to Nomine's interception. Dylan made a mental note to thank the kid later as he repositioned himself on the branch he was perching on and reloaded his rifle.

He'll have to shoot the same spot if he wanted to kill the yeti...No trouble, right? "Oh, boy..." Dylan muttered as he carefully took aim, taking advantage of the yeti's downtime, and fired.

[Nomine]

The second bullet hit, this time breaking through the bone fragments and hitting the creature's brain. The creature fell with a loud thud and collapsed on the ground.

Nomine got back up to his feet and looked at the damage around him. His bag had gotten damaged in the fight apparently, but it didn't look too bad. Then he looked back at the yeti. He walked towards it and poked it in the back twice with his sword. Then he gave another small stab just to make sure it was dead. When no response came, he wiped the blood on the sword off using his sleeve before returning the blade to its sheath.

He walked over to where his tattered bag was now lying and slung it over his shoulder again. He then looked at Dylan as he prepared to ask his next question.

"Your so called King won't mind that his forest is now going to be short one yeti right?" Dylan did sorta get onto him earlier about killing that stag from earlier, but now they sorta just killed another animal in this forest.

Of course, what Nomine didn't know about was that this beast was the one that utterly trashed that fence near that small body of running water he crossed over to get in the forest only one night ago. Or that these things were normally found in the mountains, except of course when they come down and visit some of the forests in winter.

If anything, the Yeti's remains would definitely fetch some more gold for Nomine then that stag would have at the nearest fur trader or hunting related stores.

[Dylan McNeil]

And the yeti was down for the count. Finally.

Dylan waited until Nomine made sure the yeti was really dead, a follow-up bullet on hand ready to be reloaded just in case. The wait was tense as Nomine stabbed the yeti, Dylan heaving a sigh of relief when the yeti remained still. "Oh, boy..." he muttered as he slung his sniper rifle over his shoulder and started climbing down the tree.

"Whew, glad that was over quick!" Dylan exclaimed once he and Nomine regrouped. "Oi, kid, you all right? No aching bones or cracked coconuts on you?" he asked, gesturing at Nomine's head.

He then snorted at Nomine's question. "Eh, I'm sure His Majesty wouldn't mind." he replied before muttering and scratching his head. "Dammit, first you, then the broken fence and now a yeti. This is going to be one veeeerrry fun report!" Despite what he'd said, Dylan didn't look too happy about it.

"OI, NEIL!!"
Dylan looked to the side and chuckled. "And here comes the cavalry~" he said as a squad of four men wearing the same uniform as him came running towards them. "By the way, kid...Stay where you are; I'll handle this." he told Nomine.

[Nomine]

Nomine checked himself over after Dylan's question. He then patted himself a couple of times.

"I don't think anything's broken. Just sore. Bruised even," he replied. "Don't have any money for a second doctor visit though."

He quirked an eyebrow at Dylan. "Report? What do you mean?"

Now more people were approaching. Nomine didn't exactly seem afraid of them. He didn't exactly know who or what they were entirely. When Dylan said he'd handle it, Nomine just stayed quiet and watched him.

[Dylan McNeil]

The 4-man militia squad met up with them; Dylan decided to hold off answering Nomine's question once their business is over.

"What in the blazes was that, Neil? We heard gunshots!"
Dylan sighed, waving his hand dismissively to the side. "That's 'McNeil'; it wouldn't hurt to get it right, sheesh you guys!" he replied with a playful shrug. "Well, as you can see, we kind of got into a little tussle..."
"'Little'?" the leader of the squad repeated in disbelief as he waved his hand to the side. "That was a freaking YETI!"
"Right. About that." Dylan started talking. "I think this beast broke the perimeter fence at either points E3478 and S2096. Better get that checked right away before the breach gets exploited."
"Briggs, Manson; go check it out." the squad leader motioned to two of the men and then returned his attention to Dylan. "We'll have to clean up this mess...And who's the newcomer?" he asked, suspicious eyes on Nomine.
"Oh, him?" Dylan placed his hand on Nomine's shoulder and said, "Our new recruit! Better nab him now before the Royal, private or otherwise, Army does!"
"You really should start watching your mouth, Neil." the squad leader reprimanded him. "You'll never know who's listening around here."
"Whichever works, Sir~"
"Gardner! Guard the yeti's corpse until I have a clean-up crew dispatched and..." He whipped up his index finger at both Dylan and Nomine. "You two are coming with me!"
Dylan didn't look too happy. "Yes, Sir." he said with a salute and then turned to Nomine. "Well, we ought to be going, kid. Got all your things on you?"

[Nomine]

"Yeah. I got everything," Nomine replied stoicly. He followed after Dylan and a guy Nomine assumed was Dylan's boss.

"That guy's your boss, right?" Nomine asked. "Where exactly are we going?"

He didn't understand exactly why anyone should guard the yeti's corpse, it wasn't going anywhere. Dylan said it isn't a problem that there's now a dead yeti in the King's forest either.

"...Don't suppose he's somehow associated with that so called "report" thing, is he?" he added.

[Dylan McNeil]

"Yes, and no." Dylan replied in regards to the boss question. "Let's just say he is. In a way. Ahhh, you'll see when we get there!" He started ushering Nomine to walk on ahead of him, following after the squad leader, all while keeping his hand on the half-elf's shoulder.

-----

Back at the militia's headquarters in Alfya, Dylan steered Nomine through the lobby, necessary as the lobby was particularly busy with militia members and there were all sort of things that were placed against the walls or lying on the floor.

"Oi, Neil!" greeted one blond man dressed in light armor that they'd met on the way. "You're back early! Caught one, eh?" His words were fast.
"That's McNeil." came Dylan's reply as he rolled his eyes. "How would you feel if I called you by your silly name instead of 'Gram'?"
Gram sneered as he answered, "I'd take it as a proposal, of course! First-name terms, oh, boy! Anyway, tell me about your latest catch over drinks later tonight, all right? It's a date~"
"Haha, right." Dylan replied unamused as Gram left for the stables. "If you have any questions, kid..." he then said to Nomine. "Save it until later." With a snort, they continued on.

However, before the squad leader could take them to his office, they crossed paths with a large fierce-looking man. The man took a glance at them before an incredulous look took over his scarred face. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded in a rather calm manner.
Both Dylan and the squad leader immediately stood straight and saluted. "C-Commandant Mikhail!" the squad leader greeted. "I was about to take Neil and this stranger in for questioning. Sir!"
"Questioning?" Even with the calm tone, Mikhail's eyes almost came alight in what looked like annoyance. "I'll take it from here, captain."
"But, Sir...There's a dead Yeti in the King's forest---"
"Yeti? What the hell did you do THIS time, McNeil?!" Mikhail demanded, his steel-cold eyes boring through Dylan's head, who just shrugged his shoulders in reply. "Ugh. Captain, retrieve the corpse and send it to Gilford's department for research. You're dismissed!"
"Sir, yes, Sir!" With one last salute, the squad leader left to carry out his orders.

"As for you two, get in. Now." Mikhail ushered Dylan and Nomine into the squad leader's office. looking impatient and cross.
"Oh, boy." Dylan muttered under his breath, enough for Nomine to hear. "Just go with whatever I say. Don't worry; we'll be fine." Once they were in the office, the door shut after them.

[Nomine]

Well if there was one thing Nomine was thinking about his first impression so far...busy and chaotic. It seemed Dylan also didn't want to talk any more regarding the odd way Gram was addressing him either.

Now it seemed they were inside the office of someone else whom Dylan was saying not to worry about.

"I'm not worried. So that guy with the marks on his face," Nomine said out loud, in a stoic yet inquisitive tone of voice, pointing straight at Mikhail, with no subtlety at all. His eyes however were focused on Dylan as he continued asking his questions. "He's also your boss like that captain guy, but also the frightened captain guy's boss as well?"

His head turned straight to Commander Mikhail, not giving either man a chance to speak. "I'd like a job, and any information you might know on any good doctors within the city."

[Dylan McNeil]

Dylan facepalmed. That was his immediate reaction.

"Oi, oi, kid..." he said, heaving a sigh that sounded rather weary, along with his now-signature shrug. "One at a time, all right?" He took a glance towards Mikhail...and gulped rather audibly. "Ah, well, Commandant...You see---"
Mikhail's little cough interrupted Dylan, who quickly quieted down. His steely eyes went from Dylan to Nomine and appeared to be silently scrutinizing him. After a few moments (although it seemed like forever to Dylan) of silent scrutiny, Mikhail ignored Nomine and returned his attention to Dylan. "All right, let me have that report, McNeil."

This is it. Dylan was hoping he'd have enough time to write up a report. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't have that. "Yes, Commandant!" he said with a quick salute. "During my patrol, I heard a loud crashing sound. Turns out a Yeti had managed to breach the perimeter fences of the King's Forest and that's where I found him." He gestured to Nomine. "The Yeti might've had him for lunch if I hadn't arrived."
"And so the two of you fought it off?" Mikhail asked, his expression unreadable.
"No. It kicked the bucket." Dylan replied. "It was a tough battle; I needed to snipe it twice at the head."
"Oh, really?" One of Mikhail's eyebrows lifted slightly. "You managed to snipe it?" He sounded skeptical.
"Yes, with adequate distraction!"
Mikhail glanced at Nomine at that. "I see." Returning his attention to Dylan, he said "McNeil, you know my policy: I will have to see it first before I believe it. Now..." Mikhail looked back at Nomine and said, "That means, before I answer any of your questions, show us what you can do."

[Nomine]

In the back of his head, Nomine recalled someone a few towns ago mentioning it was rude to ignore people's questions. At the same time though, the person who said that was a member of a couple of bandits trying to harass him. So if what they said was true or not remained up for debate.

He stood there as the two militia men talked back and forth. Then he blinked when the scar faced man told him to show them what he could do.

"Okay," he replied as he slowly reached to pull out his sword.

[Dylan McNeil]

For some reason, Dylan was expecting Nomine to do that. What he didn't expect was Mikhail, who quickly held his hand up just as Nomine was about to grasp his sword and said, "Hold it, boy, not here. There's a proper place for that." Dylan was relieved to know that he wouldn't be rebuilding the squad captain's office.

Mikhail wasn't finished. After stopping Nomine from unleashing havoc in the poor office, he said rather loudly, "And how nice of you to volunteer, Baker."
The door to the office opened slowly, revealing Gram who appeared to be eavesdropping into their conversation. "Anything for the Commandant, Sir!" he replied with a salute, although it was evident that he looked a little flustered at being found out.
Dylan hid a snicker at the Pegasus Knight, who shot a dirty look back at him.
Mikhail massaged the bridge of his nose with his thumb; these boys are really a handful! "Normally, I'd have you sanctioned for eavesdropping on a private conversation, Baker, but you're fortunate I've a use for you." He then turned to look at Nomine. "Try and defeat Gram in a sword duel. That is your test, boy. Any objections?"