RED

Chapter 2

#Grace's POV

Swallowing the last of my alien fruit, I chucked the core aside, before looking up to the bright blue sky. I sighed tiredly, starting to wish that I never helped Red escape the labs. It's been two days we had, and we finally managed to find a hidden enough cave, far from the remains of said labs. And currently I'm alone, sitting on the outside ledge of the cave.

Red left an hour ago to go hunting, and since then, I've just been eating my left over fruit, and working on adapting the Yautja wrist blades for myself. You never know what might happen when my big red bodyguard is away. "That mightn't be nice...", I muttered to myself.

I continued working on the gauntlet in my lap, doing my best to block out all the outside noise of the thick green jungle. But then a loud crunch echoed from below on the jungle floor. I tensed immediately, slowly looking over the edge to try and see what made the noise.

Seeing the familiar glistening of red scales and fur, I relaxed, leaning back and laughing as the massive brute landed on the ledge after a jump, and dropped the mutilated corpse of an alien deer. I smiled as he tore off a chunk and offered it to me.

"Thank you, Red", I nodded, excepting the portion of dripping purple flesh.

He rumbled a 'your welcome' rumble from his chest, before diving in to eat the rest of it. With a yelp, I leapt from my spot on the ledge, and hurried into the cave, saving myself from the incredibly graphic eating habit he has.

"Don't come into the cave till you're cleaned up, okay?", I called to him, lifting the stone slab atop the burning coals. He growled in reply as I placed my portion over the coals, and set the slab back down. "Ten minutes, then flip it...", I muttered, turning my attention back to my work.

CRUNCH CRUNCH

Looking forward with an impatient stare, I struggled to keep myself from lashing out at Red as he chowed down on the bones of his kill. Rolling my eyes I flipped my meat, before beginning to work again.

CRUNCH

"Gah!", I yelled, whipping around to get the big guys attention. He stared in question at me from the bloodied ledge. "Please! Please be quiet", I practically begged him. A large half-eaten bone was in his mouth, as he continued to stare.

I frowned, turning back around, before yet again, continuing on with the gauntlet.

crunch

I smiled at the lower volume of his eating. "Thank you...", I whispered, knowing full well that he could hear me. He purred in reply, before continuing his quieter bone-crunching.

***
Walking through the jungle felt quite relaxing actually. The peaceful songs of the birds and the quite hum on the buzzing insects. A distant hush of the waterfall, and the steady breath of Red a few paces behind me. I smiled in content at this moment. You can't get it anywhere else.

We continued on our way towards the waterfall, fully aware that the both of us need to refill our water skins. I'm so glad we washed yesterday, and we don't have to do so again today. Gosh that was awkward. Red just staring and watching me as I blooming hell bathed in the chilly water.

I rolled my eyes at the memory, flicking some loose hair back over my shoulder.

'Though, now looking back, if he weren't there, I'd be a gonna,', I thought, remembering the red and gold tiger like creature, attacking me once Red had gone to get snack. 'Yeah...I'd be dead, if he hadn't of been there...', I finished my train of thought, just as we came to the waterfall and large basin of clear aqua coloured water.

We came to edge and cupped water into our mouths before finally filling the large skins. I sat down afterward as Red perched atop the fall, keeping an eye on our surroundings.

Looking down at my adapted wrist gauntlet, I couldn't help but smile at my brilliant work.

It's been two days since I finished it, and I couldn't be happier. Red's even allowed me further access to the jungle, and even a greater distance apart from one another. I've got much more freedom thanks to this awesome piece of work, and I couldn't be happier.

"Grrr....", Red growled in content as he watched my expression change from boredom to happiness. I smiled back up at him, waving cheerfully with my wrist blades extended. He seemingly smiled, before shaking his head in a manner like a dog, allowing his tresses to arch in the air. I laughed at his playful display.

He purred before jumping down, and landing beside me with a loud thud. He crouched, flicking his forked fur-less cat tail in a pleased manner, while his mandibles moved into a smile.

"Hah!", I laughed, retracting my blades, and punching his arm in a playful manner.

He rumbled again, stretched his wings up and out, showing the peaceful clearing the scars that covered them. He didn't seem to mind the scars, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He's been through so much, that he can't even talk or communicate with anyone.

His brutal 'enhancements' and even worse experiments, were just so cruel, from what I heard of the rumours. He was but a Covenant child when they brought him in. His people didn't even come guns blazing. They simply just let us have him, and it hurts so bad, that my heart is aching so.

"I'm sorry for all the horrible things you had to go through, Red", I apologised to him, shedding some tears as I did so. He turned to look down at me.

"Err...grr?...", he rumbled/growled in return. I looked up at him, wiping my tears away.

"I mightn't have been the one to do such things, but I do apologise for all that has happened to you", I said, kneeling up and hugging his bulky arm. He purred, before hoisting me into his lap, and hugged me close. I couldn't help but smile, as I felt the big hulk relax.

"Errgle...", he grumbled, nuzzling his mandibles in my hair. I laughed, nuzzling my nose into his chest. "Grr..Hrrr...", he chuckled, tightening his hold on me.

"You're a really good boy aren't you Red?", I asked him, leaning back to find his eyes.

Out eyes met, making me smile. I burst out laughing as I heard his tail wagging like a dogs, before he dropped me, and started bouncing around in a happy purring fit.