Not much time had passed since Rhos realized that those monkey bastards had considered him a meal they could save for later and now a feral Nimra was trying to make it easier for them.
Rhos’s expression twisted, something about that just pissed him off.
When he looked into her glowing emerald eyes, there was no hint of recognition, just the overwhelming need to satiate her hunger. This was good because it made this much simpler.
He let out an exasperated groan. He was still falling through the air, though at this moment, time seemed to have slowed down, letting him take a good look at his impending doom.
As Nimra’s claws reached for his throat, he twisted his hips. There was no room to dodge or foot hold at this height. There were vines nearby but the obstacle standing between them and him was the feral woman.
"Hey, listen up..."
But he was not completely defenseless. Falling from such a height did have its advantages. For starters, momentum!
He rotated his entire body with the force of the fall and swung his right leg like a pendulum.
"Don’t underestimate me, you bastards!"
He declared loudly to the fleeing monkeys as his boot connected with Nimra’s face. The impact resounded through the forest while her body spun back uncontrollably before smashing at a hard tree trunk, knocking the air of her lungs.
The impact was so devastating her eyes rolled backward and the spirit energy cloaking her body scattered into countless glowing green particles. She became unconscious before she began falling.
Leaves and dirt exploded outward as a shallow crater formed beneath her.
Guilty as he should have felt for kicking her that hard, much less on her delicate face, the ground was rushing toward him, so he did not get the luxury.
Now with Nimra out of the way, the massive mound of tangled vines growing around the base of the nearest tree were in sight.
’Perfect!’
Using whatever remaining momentum he had left, he twisted his body midair. This allowed him to seize the vines with both hands at the last possible seconds. The violent force nearly ripped his shoulders out of their sockets and caused his chest wound to sting.
"Gah!"
Although the vines were able to slow him down, they were not steady enough to support his weight. They snapped immediately, forcing him to grab onto others which snapped as well. Each one that broke stole away another portion of his speed and by the time the last vine gave out, Rhos had already hit the ground with his back.
He bounced once before rolling several meters through damp leaves and exposed roots. Once he came to a stop, he needed a moment to let the burning pain spread evenly through the rest of his before letting out a small squeal.
’Everything hurts’
His shoulders in particular, but his chest wound felt as though it had reopened.
"Ow..."
Eventually he forced one eye open. A short metre away from where he laid, Nimra was spread across the ground face first completely motionless.
Thankfully...she seemed to be breathing so she was not dead. Her Totem Art had completely dispersed as she no longer had cat ears, tail, claws and the markings covering her skin were gone as well.
Rhos stared at her for a long while before letting his head fall back against the dirt, looking up at the canopy that kept out the full light of the sun from penetrating.
"You’re seriously..."
He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
"...more troublesome than the women I’ve met in Old Marn’s bar"
While he coughed a few times, the terrified screams of monkeys continued to echo through the forest.
***
When Nimra regained consciousness, the first thing she noticed was warmth. It was not the same as sitting by a fire, but rather the warmth of another person’s body, pressed against her chest.
The second was soft strands of hair brushing against her nose every few seconds. When she opened her eyes, everything looked blurry.
Towering trees drifted past overhead while patches of sunlight slipped through the canopy, briefly warming her face before disappearing again.
It took her several more seconds before her sluggish mind pieced everything.
"Red Deer...?"
She called out weakly to the red haired young man who carried her on his back. He had one arm hooked beneath her knees while the other was dragging something through the undergrowth.
When he felt movement behind him, he tilted his head and asked in a casual tone.
"Are all of you there now?"
Nimra blinked.
"Huh?"
"I mean... are you back to your senses now?
Nimra’s eyes wandered over his shoulder, studying the side of his face. He looked to be starting to reach his limit. There were scratches across his face, his uniform was torn and the bandages around his torso had fresh blood stains spreading through them.
With a foggy memory of what happened when she lost herself, she could assume the trouble he went through because of her. Even so... he was still carrying her.
Receiving no response from her, he took that as a maybe. He lifted a monkey’s torn arm he was dragging behind himself, its fresh blood dripping on the forest floor.
"I grabbed this before we left. You seemed pretty interested in them earlier. So here, you should eat"
He held it over his shoulder without looking and Nimra stared at it blankly.
"I can’t eat it. Meat tastes awful to me..."
He frowned while trying to find the right words.
"It’s weird, heavy, bitter, almost rotten. I don’t know how to explain it. Ever since awakening my Patron Spirit, I haven’t been able to taste meat the same. Leaves, fruits and things like that are tastier"
That was one of the downsides of awakening a Beast-type Patron Spirit. Even an aspect as simple as taste can get affected, because of it he was a vegetarian now. But it did not bother him that much.
He shook the monkey arm a little to get her to take it.
"You should probably eat before you lose yourself again. Preferably before the smell attracts more trouble"
The young woman did not reach for it despite his efforts. She buried her face against the back of his neck, causing him to stiffen.
"Red Deer...are you alright?"
Her fingers tightened around the front of his jacket and spoke in a voice so low he barely heard her.
"I didn’t hurt you...did I?"
There was hesitation in those words, fear too. Her tone sounded strangely fragile as well, almost as if dreading what he might say.
Lowering the monkey arm, Rhos was silent for a few more steps. Then, a small laugh leaked out of his mouth before getting loud and carefree.
"Hah! You might be of a higher Class than me, but you’ve got a long way to go before you can land a finger on me!"
He puffed out his chest proudly.
"I’ve spent two whole years getting beaten half to death. My combat experience is incredible. My survival instincts are unmatched. Of course I can’t forget about my handsome face and..."
"Pfft"
A small sound escaped behind him. Nimra quickly covered her mouth, trying to contain her laugh. Rho’s cheeks immediately turned red.
"H-Hey... that’s rude you know?"
He looked away while trying his best to ignore her shaking shoulders. After a few moments, he scratched his flushed cheek awkwardly.
"...Anyway, sorry about kicking you. It was a little excessive but it was either that or getting my throat opened"
Nimra absentmindedly rubbed her cheek.
"It’s fine. It barely hurts."
She smiled innocently.
"I think you just need to work on your strength. That kick was so weak"
Rhos stopped walking and let those words linger in the air a little longer. He wanted to give her a chance to take them back but she didn’t.
"I’m putting you down now"
When he bent, Nimra immediately retaliated by wrapping her arms around his neck, leaning herself even closer to him.
"Carry me a little longer please"
Rhos stared at the orange haired woman –who had closed her eyes– a little longer before sighing and focusing on the road again. His footsteps crunched softly over branches and damp earth.
After a few minutes of silence, Nimra suddenly asked in a serious tone.
"Red Deer....why did you become a Ranger?"