Chapter Text
The fizzling sound of the SOS flare that was fired was long gone, leaving The Hunter worried as they continued to fight for their life.
Was no one going to come? Surely a fellow hunter was in the area, someone had to come to their aid.
It had been a foolish mistake, trying to take on such a strong monster completely solo. The Tempered Uth Duna roared before throwing itself forward once more, its clawed front leg swinging out to collide with their large shield, The Hunter staggering back slightly from the force of the attack.
They'd long run out of potions, barely hanging on. It was odd, to feel such fear standing before a monster, a feeling they were unfamiliar with. Every hunter took up quests knowing death was a possibility, it came with the job... yet, when you find yourself staring it down, suddenly, it feels like you were never brave in the first place.
The heavy water sloshed around their feet, rain pouring down like a waterfall, practically soaking through their armour. The Hunter struggled to catch their breath, they just had to hold out, someone would come, right?
Yet that hope felt faint as the Uth Duna continued its relentless attacks. It slid past The Hunter, its eyes staring them down like they were its new prey.
And that they were.
With another large roar, the Uth Duna began charging forward once again, before leaping into the air, spinning. The Hunter's eyes widened as they braced themselves, knowing no shield could block the weight of an entire monster coming from above.
This was it, wasn't it? The end.
As they closed their eyes, bracing themselves for the excruciating pain that would come with their death, they failed to hear the hurried footsteps rushing through the water.
Reality came flying back like a punch to the face as the cold water suddenly enveloped The Hunter, realising they'd been tackled out of the Uth Duna's reach by someone - a fellow hunter, someone answered their SOS flare.
"Stay back!"
As the person jumped to their feet, The Hunter watched as they crouched, allowing a brief moment for them to come to their senses and get up out of the heavy rushing water.
The Uth Duna was leaping once again after its first attempt, aiming to squish the two beneath it, to leave them as splatters in the forest floor.
A heavy arrow was dragged through the water, before being drawn, aiming directly up at the Uth Duna. Their saviour stared down the apex predator as it began to fall downwards-
before the arrow was fired.
The Uth Duna cried out in pain as the thick metal pierced through it, knocking it out of the air, crashing down out of reach of the two. The heavy waves that formed as a result of the sudden crash pushed them both back, The Hunter struggling to remain on their feet.
"Can you still fight?"
The person who'd saved them turned back, glancing at them, assessing the condition The Hunter was in. Battered, bruised, and exhausted, they still nodded. "Yeah."
Finally looking at their saviour's face, piercing red eyes stared them down, before the woman nodded. "Try not to die." She gave a slight smile, reaching into a hidden pouch to throw some lifepowder in their direction, helping give them that push to keep going.
As the woman ran forward to get the Uth Duna's attention, readying another arrow, The Hunter steeled themselves, ready to push onwards.
The Hunter's knife dragged through the now dead leviathan, allowing them to collect some materials to possibly make new equipment. Its hide was tough, difficult to cut through, but they got what they needed, stepping back with aching limbs.
"How are you holding up?" The woman who came to their aid stepped forward, her metallic legs sifting through the high water to come to their side. She assessed the extent of their injuries, able to tell it was likely worse beneath their armour.
"I'm still breathing, and in one piece..." She nodded at their reply, giving them a smile. "That's good." As she moved to get her own carves from the dead apex predator, The Hunter was able to take a moment to drink in her presence.
Her name came to mind after a moment of inspection, Lileas, a hunter they'd seen around in passing. She seemed to work with others a lot, usually always tailing after a man donning Guardian Arkveld armour, likely her usual hunting partner. It was a relief someone so used to fighting alongside others had come to their aid, and at the last minute no less.
"Right, that's that." Lileas rose to her feet, or lack of, glancing to The Hunter. "How about we head back to a pop-up camp for a quick rest, hm? You look in need of one." The offer sounded like heaven itself, every muscle ached and burned from the long, intense battle.
As their seikrets trotted over to the two, Lileas followed a few paces behind them, watching their every stiff move. She already had a plan for back at camp, but they had to get there first, and even that looked difficult to the injured hunter in front of her.
The Hunter's armoured hands stroked their seikret's feathers before they attempted mounting the bird wyvern, struggling to properly hop up onto its back.
Lileas caught eye of this, moving over behind them as they tried once more. Suddenly, her large gloved hands grabbed their waist, lifting them up onto their seikret and making sure they were steady.
"There you go." She gave a pat to their back, leaving them to adjust as she approached her own mount, hopping up with ease.
The bird wyverns moved easily through the Scarlet Forest's rushing water, the rain having eased up slightly, still coming down in a light drizzle. Lileas led the way towards a nearby pop-up camp, leaving The Hunter's seikret to follow after her own, letting its injured rider somewhat rest during the journey.
It didn't take long for the tent to come into view, Lileas dismounting her seikret to make sure the area was clear, before approaching The Hunter and their own mount. She reached out, offering them her hand, waiting patiently as they took it, letting her help them off of the bird wyvern's back. Her other hand came to their back, making sure they were steady once they were back on solid ground.
"How about a lie down, hm?" The large huntress gave them a gentle push in the direction of the tent, the inside radiating a warm, comforting light. She allowed her companion to enter first, before slowly stepping into the smaller space herself.
The tent was small, yet managed to fit both hunters within its warm fabric walls, Lileas moving to set her folded-up bow aside, as well as reaching into the small chest the tent held to retrieve some items. Meanwhile, The Hunter sat down on the hammock, beginning to tug off their heavy armour, wincing as their bruised body disliked almost every movement they followed through with.
"Mind if I take a look at those bruises of yours?" Lileas lifted her head, setting down some bandages and ointments on a small table before following along with The Hunter's actions. As she removed her own upper armour, leaving her large armoured skirt on, every scar along her arms was put on show to her colleague. They were able to drink in the view as she approached, planning on assessing their injuries, having to tilt her head downwards to look at them.
She waited patiently for them to get their bearings, before giving a reassuring smile as they finally nodded. Lileas sank down onto one metallic knee, looking over her colleague's battered form. The bruises were already starting to blossom over their skin, her calloused hands running over them as she carefully applied an ointment to help speed up their recovery.
As bandages were wrapped around still fresh and sore wounds, The Hunter was able to finally relax, safe in the somewhat cramped tent, all because of the woman kneeling in front of them.
"If you're tired, I'll keep watch while you rest." Lileas' eyes met theirs, the piercing red somewhat comforting amidst the warm light of the camp.
The Hunter gave a reluctant nod, resting their head on the soft pillows laid on the hammock. Their colleague gave a soft smile, stepping out of the tent to sit upon the small wooden stairs, her eyes fixed on the sky above.
When they awoke, she guided them back to base camp, giving them a warm pat on the back, before disappearing from view shortly after. Something about her almost reluctant parting made the hunter feel like they'd be seeing more of her over the coming hunts.
Which was exactly what happened.
The Rathalos let out a loud roar as it swooped down, attempting to claw at the two hunters with its talons. The Hunter rolled out of the way just in time, readying their own insect glaive to charge in and continue attacking.
Lileas vaulted back up into the air, moving to slash at the Rathalos' wings, sending it falling down to the ground, wounds littering its back from her carving through it in midair. "Now!"
The Hunter dashed in to target the wounds now exposed on its back, the monster thrashing on the ground as the two took advantage of its struggle. Lileas' kinsect flew through the air, striking the Rathalos' already damaged wings and darting past The Hunter to return to its master, all while the other's own kinsect danced around The Hunter with their movements as they rose into the air with their slashes.
The flying wyvern let out a final pained cry before its head fell to the ground, dead. As The Hunter landed back on the ground, trying to catch their breath, Lileas began to approach them, her glaive being put on her back once more.
"Didn't take you as the kind to use a glaive, good work as always though." Her smile was warmer, likely due to the recent hunts the two had done together.
The Hunter had recently found her coming along to every hunt of theirs. Everytime they fired that SOS flare, those familiar burgundy curls came into view. It was as if the huntress awaited their signal every waking moment.
"Thank you." The Hunter gave a nod towards the tall woman, who pat their shoulder in a warm gesture. She'd been even more touchy with every hunt...
"No worries, how about a good meal after that victory, hm? My treat." Lileas moved to go get her carve of their target, The Hunter watching her for a few moments. Lileas was quite open with them now, telling random stories of previous hunts as they travelled beside one another on their seikrets, standing closer than they expected she would, offering her hand to them a lot...
They shook off the thoughts, following her to get their own Rathalos rewards.
"Not gonna eat that?" Lileas' chin rested in the palm of her hand as she watched The Hunter, the two sat side by side within the Grand Hub. They gave a sheepish smile, Lileas' lips turning up in response. "Give it here, it won't go to waste."
The Hunter picked up their knife, stabbing the bit of fish from their plate and holding the utensil out towards Lileas. Instead of taking it from their hand, she leaned her body towards them, her hand pushing some of her hair out of her face as she took the food in her mouth.
Her eyes met theirs as she leaned back, noticing their surprise at her gesture, making her chuckle as she swallowed the food. "What?"
"I just... didn't expect you to want me to feed you." "Nothing wrong with it, is there?" Her head cocked to the side like a Palamute, making The Hunter shake their own in reply.
As Lileas sat back, her attention having moved to the scenery around them, The Hunter was allowed a moment to think.
"Are you this close with everyone?"
The huntress looked back in their direction, her eyebrows slightly raised in surprise. "Like what?"
"So... familiar."
Lileas sat in silence for a brief few seconds, yet those seconds felt like hours to the person beside her.
"I suppose not. Maybe you're special." Her hands came together under her chin, a rather smug look on her face as she laid her head against her hands.
"I doubt that." "Nonsense." Her reply was quick, her eyes glued to The Hunter's, drawing their gaze in like a magnet.
"I think you're plenty special. Just look at you."
Those words were like a warm blanket, wrapping themselves around The Hunter's heart.
"... what do you mean?" They felt their face warm up, was it the nearby torches, or was it her words causing such a reaction?
Lileas only smiled, her gaze softening into something that almost appeared loving, or perhaps it was just that.
"If only you could see what I see."
Silence overtook them both, not tense or awkward, but welcome, as if it was meant to be there. Unfortunately, The Hunter was unable to get a reply out, as when they opened their mouth, a familiar singing began to ring out through the Grand Hub.
Lileas lifted her head, having clearly been waiting for this, her eyes fixing on The Diva who stood upon her stage, her song beginning to carry across the hub.
The warm lightning from the torches hit Lileas' face in just the right way, the soft melody sung by The Diva making the moment feel almost romantic.
Had she planned this? To bring them here when The Diva would be performing? The Hunter's heart picked up slightly as they forced their attention on the singing Wyverian woman.
Despite their eyes being transfixed on her, their mind was on the strong woman sat beside them, their leg shifting to brush against her metal prosthetic, all to keep that closeness they found themselves enjoying and yearning for.
"Blizzard's coming in hard, huh?" Lileas raised her hand to shield her eyes from the heavy snow, looking out from the cave the small camp was set up in.
The Hunter had been on yet another quest when the woman came at their beck and call, the two now taking shelter from the sudden blizzard at a nearby hidden camp. They added another log to the ongoing fire, rubbing their hands to try and warm up a little more. "It probably won't get any better for a while... I think this is the worst I've seen it."
Lileas nodded in agreement, stepping back towards the campfire to sit down beside The Hunter, her armour slightly white from the snow. "Good old Frostwinds, huh? If it stays this bad, I might have to run along to Rimechain Peak and see if that Jin Dahaad needs a smack or two..." The other hunter looked towards her, noticing how she stared off at nothing, likely deep in thought. "If you plan on doing that, take me with you."
Lileas glanced to them, surprised by their words. "I'll be fine." "We don't know that for certain, better to have the help." The Hunter glanced back at the fire, rubbing their own forearms. "Besides... think of it as me returning the favour, for the Uth Duna stuff..."
The mention of their first hunt together made Lileas smile, her hand coming to grab the stool she was using, moving it right beside The Hunter's own.
Her warmth pressed against their side as she sat adjacent to them, her armour pressing against their own. "You don't need to pay me back for that time, you've saved my hide plenty of times since then." Lileas' gloved hand came out to touch their cheek, as if trying to warm it up. Unfortunately, the leather was cold, making them shiver.
"Ah, here." Lileas pulled her hand back, using her teeth to remove her glove in a quick tug, her bare left hand coming to touch their cheek instead. It was surprisingly warm. "Is that better?"
The Hunter leaned their cheek into the palm of her hand, their eyes falling shut at the gentle way she held their face, like they were something precious. That response made Lileas smile, ignoring the cold air against her hand in favour of focusing on the person beside her.
"Better to share body heat, right?" Lileas' right arm slowly wrapped around The Hunter, pulling them against her chest, letting their head rest over her heart. They could feel the metal of her armour, unfortunately blocking out the sound of her heartbeat, yet the gesture was still nice. Their body relaxed against hers, almost pulled off of their stool by the woman now embracing them.
The moment was ruined as the blizzard picked up, a cold breeze entering the cave, making Lileas curse. Her sweet expression turned sour, as if she was cursing the very weather with her mind. The Hunter shifted, grabbing her hand that laid over their cheek. "Let's go to the tent, it should be warmer."
Watching as they stood up, Lileas nodded, letting them lead her into the small tent, her body already warming up at the idea of them being so close.
Within the tent, they settled down on the hammock, The Hunter choosing to be brave as they moved to hug Lileas. She stiffened briefly before wrapping her strong arms around them, letting them settle against her as she leaned back against the tent's fabric wall.
"You're warm." The Hunter mumbled into the fur on her left shoulder, nestling their head into it as the snow stuck to it melted away. Lileas' head turned to rest against their own, her eyes closing as she finally lowered her guard. "That's because you're here."
Her hand absentmindedly rubbed their back, silently wishing their armour wasn't keeping her from truly appreciating their closeness. Nevertheless, she took what she was given, keeping The Hunter close to her.
As the two remained in each other's arms, The Hunter glanced to the woman holding them. She looked so at peace, as if all weight was off of her shoulders in this moment, purely because they were in her arms. It made them feel special, she made them feel special.
Perhaps she was right, they were special, all to her.
"Lileas."
Her eyes opened the moment they said her name, she looked happy that they were calling on her, her head tilting down to look at them, only inches away. "Yes?"
The Hunter's hand found her cheek just like hers had done, tracing her cheekbone with their thumb, their fingers shifting to trace the line of her jaw. The huntress allowed them to do this, feeling every brush of their fingertips against her scars and faint freckles that dotted across her skin. The way they looked at her made her feel like she was truly in heaven.
"Please don't stop looking at me like that."
The Hunter met her eyes, holding her gaze. "Like what?"
"Like you feel the way I do." Her face seemed to get closer, allowing them to faintly see themselves in the reflection of her eye, caught by the light. Her breath was warm, almost held back as she waited to see if she could continue. Yet, The Hunter beat her to it, crossing the tiny distance between them, pressing their lips against her own in a gentle kiss.
Their eyes fell shut as she held them as close as she possibly could, as if trying to stop time and keep them forever in this tender moment. Her heart was in their hands, and it never wanted to leave.
The tent's fabric walls kept the blizzard out, the snow unable to reach the loving warmth as their souls truly melted together into one.