ℌ𝔢𝔯𝔪𝔦𝔱'𝔰 ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔣𝔢𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔗𝔥𝔯𝔢𝔢

Mizuki's POV
I knew she would panic, but having Ena leave was my only good idea. But apparently ideas aren't good or bad...they're just ideas. Nobody knows how they turn out because the idea won't stay good or bad, they end up being a regular idea, and that is what is happening to me. Good idea I said...I never realized how stronger these hunters were getting. I wasn't even processing my idea, I just wanted to keep Ena safe.

I started to lose some stamina as I kept most of them on the ground. One of the hunters sliced my arm with his sword, which caused me to wince in pain. I panicked about my blood lost and hit the hunter a little too hard. All of them stood still as they saw the crying hunter's body go numb and lifeless. He's dead...I killed him. That's not supposed to happen...I'm just supposed to knock them out and run! Holy shit.

"You killed him," one of the hunter's gasped as they all turned towards me with a angry look.

"No need to remind me. You guys were trying to kill ME!" I made an excuse. No, I didn't want to kill him. They are all like brothers to each other, I had no chance against them now. I may be the first hermit, but my fighting wasn't really advanced like others. I would just run and hide. I'm a coward.

Like I said, I had no chance. They were all pretty hard to push on the ground, so my panic began to increase. Eventually, I felt some hit my head. Something snapped and I ended up fainting.

Ena's POV
It's been a while since Mizuki has came back. A while...more like almost three hours. I'm starting to get really worried. I feel like I should check, but Mizuki told me to stay...NO. I have to go look for them. I should've went back for them a while ago. UGH. Here I am wasting time..!

I quickly leave the cabin, leaving the lantern. It was already pretty light outside, so there's no point in bringing it. Gosh..Mizuki must be freezing right now! I ran back to our spot and looked around for Mizuki. Not here. Not here..?!?!

I turn left. I hope that's where they are. I keep running until I trip over something and fall on the snow. It was covered in snow, so I presumed that it was a rock. Then I saw some light pink hair strips. My heart dropped.

"Mizuki..?"

I rubbed the snow off of them and held them. They were freezing cold. Their eyes were closed and they looked beat up.

"Mizuki!" I shook them. I could feel tears forming in my eyes. "Mizuki, please!"

"Mmn?" Mizuki mumbled.

I gasped. I was going to shout how they were alive but they seemed to be knocked out and could only make small noises. I decided to take them back to the cabin. No other choice anyway.

"Where did the hunters go?" I looked down at Mizuki, struggling to carry them.

"Rnmh.."

Nothing. Guess talking to them wasn't going to really work. I was guessing that they went right. I finally made it back to the cabin and dropped Mizuki onto the couch, setting the fireplace and giving them a blanket.

I started to rub the face with a warm rag to help them from shaking. I frowned, kind of guilty. As I was warming them, I noticed something off about them. It wasn't personality, more of looks. My heart dropped again as I saw that half of their horn had been cut off. I covered my mouth in fear. Is that what made them faint? What else did they do to them? Why didn't I help..?! I'm so terrible..

I could feel myself crying again as I crawled into the couch and laid next to Mizuki, hugging them. Somewhat another way to warm them up; and it gave me comfort. I sobbed silently until I ended up crying myself to sleep.

<Afternoon>
"Ena," called a voice when I woke up, being shook awake. I looked up and saw Mizuki looking down at me. I slowly sat up.

"Huh..? What happened...?" I mumbled, tiredly. Mizuki smiled. Reality came back to me.

"OH MY GOSH! M-Mizuki!! Are you okay?! Y-Your horns!! They...I'm so sorry! I forgot to patch you up last night, I'll be right back..!" I got up to get our spare med kit, quickly before Mizuki could assure me that they were fine. They always said they were, but they're not. I came back quickly and gently grabbed Mizuki's arm, but also forcing it towards me so that they wouldn't pull away. I started by putting some disinfectant on the wounds and then bandaging it up. It was silent until Mizuki spoke up.

"I'm sorry I—"

"Why are YOU apologizing, idiot?! I'm the one that left you there!" I interrupted. I was pretty furious, but mostly at myself for listening to Mizuki's stupid sacrificial idea.

"I told you to leave! So it's my fault," Mizuki looked away. I headed to bandaging their other arm.

"Yeah but...yeah...BUT I could have not listened! I knew you would get hurt..!"

"Y-Yeah but I was kind of forced it," Mizuki looked down, still looking away. Why did that make my heart crack?

I sighed. "It's not your fault. I understand that...if I hadn't stayed they wouldn't have gotten your..."

I felt Mizuki's hand ruffle my hair. I guess that was their own way of comforting me. Or just trying to shut me up. "It's not your fault either. They were more stronger than usual so I don't think the both of us would be able to take them."

"What happened?" I finally asked, moving to their legs. I grabbed a different colored bandage, since we were running out of the white ones.

Mizuki hesitated. "U-Uhm...I killed one of them."

I looked up at them. I was shocked but not bothered either. I guess Mizuki was serious about killing the hunters, even though they tried to harm us multiple times. I mean...they always would just run away. "That's not bad, what are you ashamed for?"

"Yeah but..—"

"Mizuki. They harm us all the time. They've killed multiple of our species. It's fine to kill one. Besides, they got what they deserved for trying to harm us...for harming YOU. They could've..."

My voice started to break. I didn't want to cry in front of them, but I had to continue. "...k-killed you.."

Mizuki looked down. I wanted to cry, but not now. God, don't they know how hard it would be without them?

"Look. I'm just glad you're alive but I am NEVER leaving your side again!" I scolded. I meant that, never again.

Mizuki smiled. I could see some tears forming in their eyes, despite them trying to hide it. It was somewhat adorable. I hugged them softly, trying to be a little gentle since they are hurt.

"Ena.."

"Hm?"

"Can we stay like this for a while?" Mizuki hugged me tighter. "And save the rest of the nagging for later..?"

I blushed, kind of surprised but then smiled.

"Mhm, of course."