Red Snow [Monster Hunter Story] /english ver.

Chapter 1

The cold wind raged without remorse.

A thick layer of snow made the ascension to the top a real pain. And they weren't even close yet. They underestimated what they've gotten themselves into, as getting up here already took longer than expected.

None of the four Hunters had ever ventured so deep into the Snowy Mountains after all.

Still, they had enough confidence in their skills to take on this mission. The group had been hunting together as a team for quite some time now, so they knew they could count on each other, should something go wrong.

'Slay a Blangonga'

Brandon looked down at the piece of paper in his hands, making sure not to lose it to the storm.
This was the first time he ever heard of this creature, but he got some information from the locals in the nearby village. So he had at least a rough idea of what they were up against.

"So Brandon, what are we looking for exactly?" a female voice called out behind him.

He turned around to face his teammate, because it was rather hard to hear each other, due to the strong winds.

Just by purely looking at Brandon, it was easy to tell he was the leader of this group. He wore a relatively bulky armor and always carried his massive greatsword on his back.
What really stood out the most though, was his determination. A single gaze into his eyes and you knew this was a man never backing down from a challenge.
And he always made sure to push his comrades to perform the best they could.

"You remember our hunt against that Congalala in the jungle? Village elder told me Blangonga are supposedly pretty similar. Just that they have white fur and two oversized fangs," he replied to Tess.

Tess lowered her face in embarrassment. She wished everybody would just forget about that hunt. She had the great luck to fall victim to the rather unconventional means of attacking preferred by the pink ape.
She was never able to fully get rid of the stench on her armor so she had to get a new one.
Now she was wearing a light leather-cloth combo to keep her warm, but also grant her the mobility she needed to be efficient with her dual blades.

"Of course I remember that thing! Don't think I'll be able to forget about it for the rest of my life!"

She instantly heard a deep voice bursting into hearty laughter, followed by an iron glove patting her shoulder in amusement.

"Don't worry Tess. I'm pretty sure none of us will!"

"Yeah, thanks Donniel! Next time you better make sure to get to me in time!" she replied while trying to hide her embarrassment.

Easier said than done. Tess had the habit of getting lost in her attacks, so it was Donniel's job to keep her safe. But not only her.
With his massive plate armor and sturdy shield he basically acted as the protector of the group.
He was by far the biggest member of their team, only surpassed by the tip of his lance.

Donniel wrapped his arm around the neck of his annoyed huntress.

"Hey, are you saying you don't trust me?" he kept mocking her.

"I didn't say that," she mumbled "And now GET OFF ME!"

With a quick twirl she was out of Donniel's headlock, which only seemed to amuse him even more.

"I think you are doing a great job, Donniel."

Nobody turned around to answer Runa. She was just a few meters behind her group but the storm made it already impossible for the three to hear her soft voice.
Her words were carried away by the relentless wind around her.

She was the last member of their team and she couldn't be more different than the rest. Runa was essentially the very opposite of Brandon.
Being more of a reserved person she always had to deal with her insecurities. So naturally she was more comfortable in the background.

This part of her personality extended to her choice of weapon. As a bow user she was able to support her friends from afar without getting herself in danger.
And even if something were to happen, her team was always there to help her out.

Brandon, Runa, Donniel, and Tess – the four of them made a great team.
They only started working together about half a year ago, but they already had some noteworthy accomplishments to show.
Their most recent success for example. A few weeks ago the group managed to defeat an Azuros in the Misty Peaks not far from here.
They got some great materials from it and because Runa landed the final shot, the rest of the team decided she deserved to get some new armor made out of it.

"Brandon!" Donniel yelled to his leader, "What's the plan when we encounter this Blangonga?"

There was no precise plan in Brandon's mind. But for a very simple reason. He and his group were about to fight in unfamiliar terrain, against an unknown enemy on top of that.

"Since we don't know what we're up against, we'll run with our usual strategy. But we will go over it again once we reach the top."

Donniel adjusted the lance on his back.

"Alright, you heard him ladies. Keep moving!"

Tess rolled her eyes but didn't bother responding. She looked behind her and motioned Runa to hurry. She quickly caught up to them making her way through the snow.

Brandon once again called out to his team.

"Guys, look up! You can already see the peak!" he pointed towards the highest plateau of the mountain range, "It'll only be a few more minutes from here. Follow me and don't fall behind!"

Even though his partners sometimes thought Brandon to be a little too stiff and serious, it was undeniable there was a certain charm to him. Whatever it was, they trusted him enough to lead them into dangerous territory during a snow storm.

And while the weather was unforgiving and the climb had already drained their stamina, their biggest challenge was still in front of them.