It wasn't to be blamed that Sherwin had such thoughts, because the little fellow summoned this time wore a strangely shaped mask on her head, making it impossible for Sherwin not to think of the Gajalaka.
Moreover, in "Monster Hunter 3" on the Wii platform, the player companions had indeed changed from Felynes to Gajalaka...
Then, because their popularity was ultimately not as high as the cute Felynes, they were quickly changed back to cats in the PSP version of "Monster Hunter Portable 3rd".
"It a beautiful big sister Felyne meow!"
(=﹃=)
Right at that moment, Sanji Meow on the side had already cheered enthusiastically with glowing eyes and made a move to rush toward that Felyne who was suspected to be a Gajalaka.
Fortunately, Sherwin was quick and held him back.
However, it was precisely because of the yellow cat reminder that Sherwin noticed that although the other party wore a Gajalaka mask, the exposed parts of her body were fluffy, her palms were cute cat paws like small mangosteens, and there was a cat tail swaying leisurely behind her.
Well, it had to be Sanji Meow "beautiful cat radar"... even if the other party was covered so tightly, he could identify her at the first moment.
With such sighs, Sherwin also shifted his attention away from that prominent mask and looked elsewhere...
Her clothes were a simple white dress, which didn't look like anything special, but the spear, or rather the polearm, held in her claws was the second most prominent thing on her body...
Because that thing was gold, and Sherwin was quite familiar with its design.
The top of the long golden handle was not a common weapon shape like a spearhead, naginata, trident, halberd, or double-edged blade, but a ring also made of gold, and the specific shape of that ring was molded in the way a certain bird spreads its wings.
Seeing this familiar scepter, a famous line seemed to ring in Sherwin ears—
"Don't you still have your life?"
Just as Sherwin was looking at this cat—who suspectedly resembled Athena Meow or Saori Kido—with a complicated expression, she had already taken off the Gajalaka mask on her head.
Under the mask was a cute cat head that possessed a hint of elegance. In terms of shape and markings, she looked no different from an ordinary garden cat.
The slightly special features were an M-shaped pattern on her forehead and a fur color that was slightly purplish...
Yeah, it was definitely Athena Meow.
After taking off the mask and looking around, a surprised smile immediately appeared on Athena Meow face. A layer of mist welled up in her beautiful green eyes, looking as if teardrops might fall at any moment.
"It the Hunter! This is great! That mysterious voice was telling the truth. I finally don't have to pretend to be a Gajalaka anymore, meow!"
The little cat took two excited steps forward, appearing as if she wanted to throw herself into Sherwin arms, but she stopped abruptly, as if worried that doing so would be too impolite.
Such a sensible and lovable display caused Sherwin favor toward her to increase instantly. Sanji Meow, who was being forcibly held down by him, was even more instantly captivated.
"Ah~~~ what a perfect goddess! I am willing to give my life for you, meow!"
The little yellow cat held one paw high and brushed the other against his chest, expressing his love to the newly arrived beautiful big sister Felyne in an aria, as if performing an opera.
At the same time, Sherwin was suddenly startled awake...
The prototype of this Felyne was that black-bellied goddess and unscrupulous boss, Athena!
Despite the example of Kaido Meow, Sherwin was still relatively at ease with the Felynes, but he still couldn't help but keep an eye out.
There was no helping it the performance of a certain goddess in the manga was truly hard to describe.
Nevertheless, Sherwin stepped forward to pick up Athena Meow and gently stroked her cat head to comfort her. "Don't worry, it very safe here."
Judging from her words just now, before being summoned, she must have been blending in with other Gajalakas as one of them, rather than staying in a village or a Felyne settlement.
"Waaaaah—Hunter! Why didn't you come to save me sooner, meow! Waaaaah—!!!"
(=QДQ=)
Under Sherwin comfort, Athena Meow, who had been in a state of mental tension, finally burst into loud wailing.
After fully venting her emotions, Athena Meow crying finally began to subside gradually.
"Sniff—sniff—! S-sorry, meow... I lost my composure just now. I wasn't truly blaming you, meow."
(*/ω*)
After she finished crying, Athena Meow sniffed and covered her face with her little paws, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Big sister, big sister, my name is Klee, what is your name, meow?"
"My goddess, please do not be frightened anymore, because from this moment on, I, Sanji, am your most loyal knight. Anyone who wishes to harm you must first step over my corpse, meow!"
"Where were you staying with the Gajalakas before? Can you tell me about their living habits, meow?"
"What does it feel like to be summoned from another world? Can you tell me? And how were you summoned? Can you contact that mysterious voice? I want to visit your world too!"
Seeing that her mood had calmed down, Klee Meow, Sanji Meow, Haibara Meow, and Yamato immediately crowded around to chatter with her.
Facing these questions that were thrown at her all at once, Athena Meow... or more accurately, Sasha Meow, answered them one by one in a calm and gentle manner.
Indeed, the prototype of the Athena Meow before him was not Saori Kido as Sherwin had guessed, but Sasha, the previous generation reincarnation of Athena and Saori Kido predecessor.
Since Sherwin had not read the spin-off "The Lost Canvas," his knowledge of Sasha was very limited. He only knew of this character because he had once played a Saint Seiya mobile game where the SSR character given for signing in for seven days was Sasha.
Through Sasha Meow answers and account, Sherwin basically figured out her situation before she was summoned.
Like the underage Felynes such as Klee Meow and Jinx, Sasha Meow was still just an apprentice Comrade Felyne. However, the direction of her initial training was indeed as a melee-type Felyne primarily using a spear.
But unlike Klee Meow and the others, the reason Sasha Meow hadn't become a full-fledged Comrade was that several years ago, while out on a collective trial with other apprentice Felynes, she was unfortunate enough to encounter a Xeno'jiiva that had just hatched from its cocoon. During the escape, she became separated from the main group and ended up wandering into Gajalaka territory.
Fortunately, the Gajalaka were also in a state of chaos due to the appearance of the Xeno'jiiva. Sasha Meow took advantage of the confusion to take a mask from a dead Gajalaka, putting it on to blend in with the others.
As it turned out, the Gajalaka mask Sasha Meow stole was quite special, belonging to a priest-like figure.
Because of the special nature of this mask, the other Gajalaka proactively protected Sasha Meow, allowing her to successfully survive the Xeno'jiiva attack. Even the golden scepter in her hand had been crafted by those Gajalaka using materials dropped from Kulve Taroth.
However, because of this identity, she never found an opportunity to leave the Gajalaka tribe, and thus stayed in that tribe for several years as a Gajalaka priest.
Until she received Sherwin summons.
Emmmm... how should I put it?
This experience was very much in the style of "Athena," though it remains unknown if Sasha Meow had a group of her own "Saints" in that Gajalaka tribe.
...