Red Snow [Monster Hunter Story] /english ver.

Chapter 16

Brandon looked behind him.

Runa was still sitting up against the wall. She had no clue what was going on around her. The heavy blood loss dazed her senses.

Brandon thought about how to safe at least her life.
Was it possible at all? He didn't even know how to escape the monster on his own.

As he was looking around he noticed a small crack at the base of the wall, just big enough to squeeze through.

Maybe this was his last resort.

He rushed over to Runa and took her in his arms. Then he sprinted to the opening and carefully pushed her through. As he was following her between the gap he saw the Daora running towards him.

The dragon had seen them before they could hide behind the rocks. It was throwing its entire body against the wall and bombarded the entrance with wind blasts, but the sturdy stone did not give in.

Brandon made it inside safely. He took Runa and set her up, with her back against the inside of the small cave. While turning around he quickly realized that the entire space in here was almost completely used up by the presence of the two Hunters.

And with the entrance also being the only way out again, this made one thing terribly clear.

'Shit... We're trapped in here.'

Brandon sat beside Runa and tried to wake her up.

"Hey... Runa. Can you hear me?" he gently traced his fingers across her cheek.

She slowly started blinking her eyes open. It took some effort, but she managed to concentrate on the all too familiar sound of Brandon's voice. 

"B-Brandon..?" her words were nothing more but a faint whisper, "Where are we? D-Did we manage to slay the Blangonga..?" 

Brandon tried to swallow the lump in his throat. She clearly didn't realize what was happening. 

"Yes, the monster is dead, Runa. We did it..." he grasped her pale hand as he struggled to hold back his emotions.

"Ahh, finally... That really was a tough beast hmm..?"

He just nodded and removed a strand of hair from her face. 

"Where are Donniel and Tess? Are they alright..?"

Brandon lowered his gaze to the ground. He couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth.

"They're fine. They are preparing for our way back..." 

"Oh, what a relieve..." she even managed to put on a soft smile over her busted lips, "Heh, so it's just me again, getting all beaten up like this..."

Now it was finally too much for Brandon. He couldn't suppress his feelings any longer.

Runa looked at him in confusion, "Brandon? Why are you crying? What's wrong..?"

He squeezed her hand and looked deep into her eyes.

"I'm just glad I was able to meet you, Runa... I couldn't have wished for a better partner and friend..."

She tilted her head to the side.

"I'm also happy to have met you. Without you, I wouldn't be the Huntress I am today..." she stretched out her arm and wiped away one of his tears, "But... that's no reason to cry, don't you think..?"

She smiled again and Brandon's heart skipped a beat.

"Runa..."

Her arm suddenly collapsed and fell back to the ground.

"I think... I'll rest a bit... This was an exhausting day..." 

Her condition deteriorated rapidly and she got weaker by the second. She slowly closed her eyes.

"Wake me... when we're back in the village... okay..?"

He took her in his arms and tightly hugged her shaking body, "I will..."

With her last strength she returned his embrace and hugged him back.

"You promise..?"

"... I promise..."

He kept holding her for a long time, until fatigue finally overcame him and he passed out.

Now she was gone as well.

Runa, his quiet little archeress and longest companion, had vanished from his life.