Chapter Text
They were at it again! Trudging though the vast desert that surrounded Hammerhead in search of a large bounty.
They had been picking up more hunts recently due to their dwindling expenses. Ignis thought it best to earn a few extra gil before heading any further in their journey, just in case the car needed repairing or they needed money for a motel. Or they needed to buy more potions!
Prompto heaved a sigh as he kicked a stone along the sand. Before leaving Hammerhead this morning, Ignis had mentioned that they couldn't afford to keep buying potions for small hunts. They ended up spending more then they earned on potions. Although Ignis had said this to all of them, he was looking at Prompto as he spoke.
Prompto knew he used more potions then the others. But he tried his hardest in battle, anyone could see that. It was a good job he was a ranged fight. Who knows what kind of state he would be in if he fought with a sword.
But he wasn't a swordsman, he was a gunner, so staying out of trouble should be easy right? He's just got to aim right and keep his distance.
"Up ahead" said an accented voice that brought Prompto from his train of thought.
"Right, what's the plan Iggster" said Gladio as he crouched next to the advisor who had taken up a position behind a small bolder. In front of them roamed a large pack of Sabertusks.
"This shall not be a hard target to dispose of! A simple task that should be over quickly" he replied. Not before turning around to make sure the two younger team members were close behind them. Noctis prepared himself for a warp strike, always a good way to surprise the enemy.
"Go get 'em buddy" Prompto off-handedly shouted while capping his friend on the back.
"Sure thing buddy" Noct winked back at him before disappearing in a flash of blue as he warped into the centre of the Sabertusks. His sword striking one down instantly.
Prompto watched in awe (he still couldn't believe his friend could do that and he couldn't) as the beast went down. Seconds later he, as well as Gladio and Ignis, were up and running to join the prince in battle. The shield and advisor ran straight to Noct's side, cutting down the creatures that were attacking them.
Prompto, however, run to the edge of the large group of Sabertusks, attempting to keep his distance from the predators. A skill he has learned quickly being out here in the wild. The beasts are focused on the other team members, leaving Prompto to pick off the weak and injured. He watched carefully as to not accidentally shoot one of his friends, aiming his gun away from them and hitting the creatures flocking around them.
He knows that this is a piece of cake for his three team mates, nothing but a minor inconvenience. However, he can still see them breaking into a sweat from the hot mid-day sun and the physical exertion. Gladio lifts his sword high, only to bring it down with twice as much force onto one of the dog-like animals. He swings his sword, taking four more predators down. Noct and Ignis are working as a team to bring down the other half of the creatures, using each other's momentum to bounce off one another. An art mastered by years of working together.
Prompto watched intently as his friends showed their true power in the heart of battle, all the while shooting the stragglers that his team mates didn't quite finish off.
He leaps off to the other side of the group to get a better angle, back to a large cluster of rocks. He squats low, resting on one knee to take aim of one of the animals that has wondered a little to close to Noct without him noticing.
He's just about to pull the trigger when....
"Aaaaahhhhhhhhh", he screamed as blinding hot pain exploded in his left shoulder. He was pushed forward on to his stomach as a large Sabertusk jumped on his back, his gun flying from his hard and landing a few feet away. Although, that was the last thing on his mind.
All he could think or feel was the pain of having two larger canine teeth lodged in the juncture between his neck and shoulder.
The beast shock his withering body, making him cry out again, this time loader as he felt the flesh begin to tear.
Just before he could fully comprehend the pain of what was happening, he felt a second set of jaws clamp around his upper right leg.
Screams after screams tore their way out of his mouth as the two predators twisted and tugged at his body to get it from the others hold.
Just as he thought he would loose consciousness, the grip on his shoulder went slack, then his leg soon followed.
He tried to push himself up but he couldn't lean on his right side as his leg was to painful to lie on, and there was no way his left shoulder could support his weight. So he settled for staying where he was, lying face down, trying to breath through the pain.
All of a sudden though, he felt hands on him, moving him from his semi-comfortable position on the sandy ground. He could hear voices, but they were mostly drowned out by his pulse beating in his ears. Though the beating slowly faded as he felt the cold press of a Hi-potion on his shoulder wound. He felt it flow through the injured area, clearing the teeth marks and deep scaring.
As the fog cleared, and he was able to focus on what was going on around him, he could see his friends leaning over his body, examining his injuries. To dazed to fully comprehend what was going on, he didn't even complain when Ignis pulled his leopard-print trousers down to heal the wound on his thigh.
"You alright, kid? Think you can sit up", Gladio asked in a slightly worried tone.
"Y-yeah, yeah, I think I'm good", he said as he attempted to push his body up from the ground. Noct was behind him in an instant to support his friend, leaning Prompto's back against his chest. Ignis helped Prompto pull his trousers back up, though the look on his face suggested he wasn't happy.
"Here drink this", Noct said as he handed Prompto an Elixir. Prompto took it hesitantly, watching Ignis cringe as he drank. "You feeling okay now? You need a minute? Or do you think you can walk?". Prompto stared up an Noct, then to Ignis who was standing, ready to walk away.
"I'm okay, but my leg aches like a bitch! Carry me, Gladio" he said in a light hearted voice. The shield rolled his eyes with a slight smirk.
"And he's back", he said as himself and Noct helped lift the gunner to a standing position.
"Looks like we shall be camping tonight", said Ignis as he began walking at a fast pace to the nearest haven.
Prompto watch him leave as the other two helped him walk on his injured leg. He couldn't help but feel guilty, especially after what Ignis has specifically asked of him this morning.
He could already tell the days to come were going to be rough.