Hunnt leaned against the wooden fence near the training grounds, wiping sweat from his brow after his drills. The Palico sat nearby, golden eyes sharp and focused despite his small, exhausted frame.
"So," Hunnt began, curiosity sparking in his gaze, "do you… have a name?"
The Felyne flicked his tail and tilted his head, pride shining in his expression.
"Nyaah. My name is Pyro," he replied with a huff. "And don't call me a cat, nyaah. I'm a Felyne, remember that."
Hunnt chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender.
"Alright, alright, Pyro it is."
Silence settled for a moment, broken only by the distant calls of birds in the trees. Hunnt studied him, noticing the way Pyro's tail twitched—controlled and precise—and the quiet strength in his eyes.
"…What will you do now?" Hunnt asked softly, sensing something deeper. "You're… kinda like me, you know. Alone. Trying to figure things out."
Pyro froze. His claws dug lightly into the ground, ears angling back.
"…What will I do, nyaah?" His voice carried a raw edge of pain. "That monster… Gorgawump. It… it took everything from me. My family. My home. I…" His tail lashed sharply. "…I want to kill it. I want to make it pay, nyaah. But…" He looked down at his small paws, trembling. "…I'm too weak."
Hunnt's chest tightened. He crouched to meet Pyro's gaze, voice steady.
"Then… do you want revenge?"
Pyro looked up sharply, golden eyes burning.
"…Yes. More than anything, nyaah."
A determined grin formed on Hunnt's face, boyish but fierce.
"Then train with me. Let's get strong together. So strong that nothing—no monster—can touch us."
Pyro blinked, surprised at first, then nodded, his tail curling upward.
"…Alright, nyaah. Let's do it."
Hunnt clapped his hands, laughing.
"Good! But first—we've got to build your foundation. Stamina, power, endurance—the basics. You've already got balance down; you're a cat, after all, hahaha!"
Heh, this could be fun, Hunnt thought, tightening the straps on his training gloves. I wonder how far we can push this…
---
The following days were relentless.
At sunrise, Hunnt sprinted laps around the training grounds, Pyro matching his speed with smooth, four-legged strides. His natural agility made the runs easy at first, but after a few rounds, the burn set in.
"Nyaah… you're insane!" Pyro panted during one particularly long run. "Why are we doing ten laps already?!"
Hunnt grinned, sweat dripping down his forehead.
"Because we have to push past our limits. Every day, a little faster. A little stronger."
This human… Pyro thought, claws digging into the dirt. He's not normal, nyaah… but I'll keep up. I have to.
Strength drills followed. Hunnt had Pyro climb trees repeatedly—not for balance, Pyro already excelled there—but for muscle endurance and explosive power. The little Felyne clawed up tree trunks, leaping branch to branch until his forelimbs ached and his tail lashed in irritation.
At night, after collapsing near the campfire, they rested in silence, the quiet satisfaction of progress warming them both.
---
Three weeks into training, the changes were clear.
Pyro's movements were sharper, his sprints faster. His claws dug into the dirt with more force, his legs carrying him farther in every stride. His once-lean frame gained subtle definition—still small, but undeniably stronger.
"Nyaah…" Pyro flexed his paws one evening, tail curling with a faint smirk. "I'm getting faster."
Hunnt, sitting cross-legged on the ground, nodded with a confident grin.
"Told you. Step by step. We'll both get there."
Pyro tilted his head toward the night sky, golden eyes reflecting the stars.
That monster… when we face it, I won't run again, nyaah.
Hunnt looked at him, fists tightening.
Neither will I.
Their shared determination burned silently between them. Two lives changed by loss, now walking the same path—one step, one punch, one sprint at a time.