"Okay, guys." I took a deep breath. "I know that we haven't practiced together yet, but try not to hurt each other."

Shiva tilted her head back and blinked her gentle eyes.

My heart melted and I couldn't resist giving her a hug. Oh, I missed her steady presence. Still petting her cool hair, I sat up straight on the saddle.

Levi eyed me from atop of Shiva's head. Unlike Shiva, he fully understood what I meant. Levi and I couldn't hurt each other, but Shiva was another matter. Shiva was trained to not hurt her companions, which was training that Levi didn’t have. He just did whatever he wanted, knowing that he couldn't hurt me with his magic. But if he acted like that around Shiva, she'd get hurt.

Hhhhhh... Levi sank down, his little body thinning out on Shiva’s head like a sulking child.

She felt him move and instinctively shook her head.

He coiled tighter around the base of the navy blue antlers and hung on, not budging an inch.

Shiva stopped shaking, as if resigned to her fate.

Levi glared down at her and lifted his tail to thump her on the head in annoyance.

"Levi, don't," I warned. It might or might not hurt her, but it wasn't fair for Shiva, regardless. "If you bully her, I won't teach you anymore letters. Shiva's your friend now. Be nice to her."

He stilled, tail ready to strike. With a disgruntled huff, he flopped down and played dead.

So much for a team rally, I thought bitterly. We were half a mile from our target, a flying ginkgo nest. Uncle needed two of them for a commissioned order. Since flying ginkgos were normally a low C ranked monster, I thought it would be great practice for us. Shiva was stronger than the monsters, while Levi and I were weaker. In a three to one fight, we should be victorious. But mostly, it would give me an idea of what we needed to work on to become a good team.

After past experiences with human companions – and unable to team up with Terre – I should focus on creating the perfect team with my monster companions. At least I knew Levi and Shiva had my back, no matter what.

I tapped Shiva's sides and urged her forward, gratefully to be riding through the forest again.

The Colorado pine trees slowly gave way to vibrant green, broad-leafed trees. Gradually, the dry reddish dirt changed to rich, deep brown soil. If Shiva wasn't any less light-footed, her hooves would sink every step she took. The heavy scent of wet soil filled the air, chasing away the original light pine smell.

We're definitely in the Rocky Rainforest, I thought while looking around the sudden rainforest in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. Although this location didn't get the hundred inches of rain like a normal rainforest, the pooled magic of the many monsters inhabiting the place kept it as wet as one. And it wasn’t just one kind of monster producing the effect – there’s an entire ecosystem, full of magical plants and monsters, most of which aren’t natural to Earth.

When the Gates closed, they — like other random habitats — appeared on earth. There’s no rhyme or reason to their locations, nor are they supported by the previously existing habitat and weather patterns, but kept going by magic. Which was why there was a rainforest in the middle of the arid Rocky Mountains. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the dry summer, or there were feet of snow piled up, the Rocky Rainforest was hot and humid, with luscious plants growing all year long. A perfect getaway — if it wasn't for all the monsters.

I paused and tapped my finger on Shiva’s saddle. Now that I think about it, there must be a magic spot here. Maybe even a few, considering how big the rainforest was. I mean, it was over three miles long. But the System didn’t tell me to go collect one, so I couldn’t prove my theory. Then again, it might be because the magic spot wasn’t compatible with me.

A shame, really. Cultivating magic spots gave really cool perks. I still needed to cultivate for the day. Maybe I should do that here.

With a flick of my wrist, I opened my map and zoomed into the area, examining the many streams and ponds in it. Hell, the ground was so wet, I could just plop down here and soak up the water essence between the soil. But that just felt too — dirty. The biggest question was, where was a safe place to cultivate? According to the Guide, there weren't any diurnal A ranked monsters in the area — just the nasty kipine that came out at night. But B ranked verdant gators who lived in the water system and walking shrooms everywhere — which weren't that strong, but they were poisonous and drawn to body heat.

I guided Shiva to a brook. I couldn't feel any monsters nearby, nor see a pink head from a walking shroom. The stream was too small and shallow for a verdant gator but there could be other monsters in it. Like razor leeches.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

I pushed my magic out and reached into the steam. The water welcomed my touch, flowing free and gentle. I couldn't feel anything moving inside.

Content, I hopped off Shiva. "Let's cultivate," I told Levi.

He perked up and jumped off Shiva.

She shook her head with relief.

Smiling, I patted her neck. "I need you to protect us while we're cultivating," I said, even though I knew she didn't understand half of it. After being with Levi for so long, I was used to talking like the monster understood me. Either way, she'd protect me.

I walked over to the brook. It was sunk into the ground, green moss growing down the shore sides and reaching for the gently flowing water. Smooth cream rocks littered the brook's bed, causing the water to ripple around them. Large ferns and broad-leafed bushes finished off the serene atmosphere. Hopefully, it stayed calm.

I sat down, crossed my legs and twisted my fingers together. A System window popped up without prompting, displaying a twenty-minute countdown. Levi jumped up and joined as I started to cultivate.

The brook wasn't large, but the water was rich with magic and absorbing the water essence was like a big cool drink in the sizzling summer. Just like I expected, I could feel water essence in the soil all around, but I left that alone and focused on the fresh brook. As I did, my reservoir inside grew from the size of a hot tube, inching towards a home swimming pool. Power flowed through my body, rippling along my veins and flooding my muscles with energy. So wonderful. So heady. Although I knew I had a long way to go, I felt strong enough to take on the world.

In no time at all, the System's alarm went off.

I cracked my eyes open, not ready to stop.

Levi lifted his head, thinking the same thing.

Reluctantly, I stopped and untangled my limbs. Even though I wanted to keep cultivating, I remembered the System's warning. Too much of a good thing was still bad.

Levi grumbled and closed his eyes, but he couldn't cultivate without me. Instead, he played dead and made me carry him back to Shiva.

I plopped him on my shoulder and reached for the saddle-horn.

A man screamed in the distance.

I froze, startled despite myself. I mean, I was in the wilds, but cultivating was so calming that I momentarily forgot it was dangerous. Not to mention, I spent so long in the wilds that it didn't freak me out anymore. And I totally forgot there could be people around.

"Help!" the man yelled.

I gripped the saddle-horn as a pit opened in my stomach. Someone needed help. So I should help. But ... What if it was a trap? My gaze bore a hole into the new gloves and arm bracers that graced my arms. Even though they weren't fancy, they were undeniably excellent quality. I shouldn't have let Levi talk me into picking this armor.

"Someone! Anyone!" The distant man yelled.

I ... I knew Hunters were treacherous. This might be a trap. The fact that he was yelling was troublesome enough. Monsters were drawn to pitiful sounds, whether human or not. But I ... didn't want to lose a part of me. The human part. I became a Hunter to protect people. However, I was also included in that 'protecting people.' I couldn’t blindly risk myself anymore. I'll check out the situation and leave if it really is a trap.

Still uncertain, I turned Shiva towards the sound and tapped her sides to send her to a trot through the brush. We ducked under branches and steered around trees, getting closer and closer. A group of vampire parrots startled from Shiva's presence and took flight, their red feathers complimenting the green leaves.

Levi watched them fly away and grumbled in hunger. He didn't try to leave though. The man's calling set him on edge too, and he wasn't comfortable leaving my side right now.

"Ah! Help!" the man yelled, his voice crystal clear.

The trees opened up to reveal a waterfall cascading down a cliff. Moss hung on the wet rocks and colorful flowers clustered around the water, adding to the majesty of the view. The plunge pool around the rock was wide and obviously deep, the aquamarine water rippling and bubbling as the waterfall landed in it. And on a tall rock at the base of the waterfall, like a dirty smug on a priceless painting, was a Hunter in nothing but boxers.

The thirty-something-ish guy stood on the rock, shivering water splatter pelted his body, but his attention was focused on the water rippling around his tiny island.

A vibrant green shadow, over twelve feet long, ghosted under the surface. It curved around the rock, almost elegant looking, despite the frightening girth of the monster.

The man flinched away, and wobbled on his rock, whimpering.

My eyes widened as I stared at the water, recognizing the monster before the Guide popped up. Oh shit. That was a verdant gator. It was way out of my league. Trap or not, I wasn't qualified to tackle that thing by myself. It lived in the water, but it was actually a plant element. Which meant that water was weak against it. Ice would work fine, but according to the Guide, this monster was level forty. Stronger than Shiva.

The E ranked man looked up, his desperate gaze locking with mine. "Help!" he pleaded with a trembling voice. "Please help me."

Water exploded as the verdant gator's open maw breached the surface. The monsters flung its head to the side, trying to reach around the curve of the tall rock to the Hunter. Its head smacked into the formation, stopping its movements. The man screamed and wobbled, his bare feet nearly slipping off the wet rock. Its mouth clamped shut with a frustrated thunk just inches from the man's leg and the verdant gator slipped back into the water.

"Help!" he wailed, nearly crying.

My chest tightened. I should walk away. There was no way I could kill a B ranked verdant gator. For all I knew, this really was a trap and his cohorts were hiding in the trees, waiting for someone to take the bait then save their partner after they killed the target.

At the same time, the sight of the E Hunter pulled at my heartstrings. When I was stranded in the wilds, I wanted so badly for someone to rescue me. Now that another E ranked Hunter was in that position right in front of me, I couldn't just walk away.

*****