Running through the thick forest, I scratched my skin, not being able to cast away the various smaller branches getting in my way.
"I don't wanna die, I don't wanna die, I don't wanna die, I DON'T WANNA DIEEEEE! RUN RUN MY LEGS, RUN!"
I tried encouraging myself as my legs started wobbling, tired and hurt, as blood flowed down my cheek—and even more so from the bitten finger.
The cat looked up a bit, his black eyes showing a bit of questionism.
"Hey hyuman, it would be easier if you just threw me away."
"Hm? Because you're a cute fur—"
"No, I'm asking for real. We just met, like, well, hours ago—but you were unconscious most of the time..."
"While you were biting my nose... Grr, won't forgive you for that!"
"Tehee~"
"Hmm... well, you're my companion I called from a box, so it would kinda be my mistake if you died, right? And dying is crappy, painful, and not something you'd want to experience."
Ruby smiled a bit as he looked down, a hint of redness on his cute small black cat cheek.
"Pff... what is that... so dumb, idiot."
"HEY! Yo—OIIIII AGAIN!?" Ruby jumped from my arms once again, but this time quickly spoke, "Shut up and run. No matter what, do not look back. Or down—I'll be mad if you do."
Hu—what? Is he gonna sacrifice himself for me? Even after I told him all that? EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A LIE?
RUBYYY I UNDERESTIMATED YOU I'M TOUCHED!
"I DON'T DESERVE THIS KINDNESS! DON'T SACRIFICE FOR ME... THE TRUTH IS THAT BEAUTIFUL EMO GOTH GIRLS WITH BIG TITS LIKE CATS SO I DO TOO!!!!" I yelled out.
Something nudged me from behindA second later I was flying upwards.
"Eh?"
"WHAT!? I NEVER SAID I'LL BECOME A SAINT AND SACRIFICE FOR YOU!"
A second later I was sitting on something, going at unimaginable speed.
"AND REALLY? GOTH GIRLS?? I WAS TOUCHED FOR A SECOND... I OVERESTIMATED YOU, HYUMAN! GET OFF ME AFTER ALL!"
He started jumping around trying to throw me offI held his fur tight, eyes closed, remembering not to look up or down.
"WHA—NO NO WAIT PLEASE! I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY RUBYY!"
A second later I felt shivers behind me, then a swish of wind
"FASTER RUBY, FASTER! THEY'RE RIGHT BEHIND US!"
"EI, I TOLD U TO NOT LOOK BACK!"
"I AM NOT! I CAN FEEL IT! INSTINCTS!"
"HOLD TIGHT!"
The speed increased rapidlyI slowly wiggled my head to a place where it fell down a bit.
Alright, that's it. Not like it matters if I open them now...
Opening my eyesI just saw the road in front of us, the leaves flying around us in ecstasy, and the Genanas rapidly falling off the trees as we sped past them.
The steps behind us quickened, almost duplicated—no, even moreThe whole forest echoed almost as if an army followed us on horseback
But finally, the river was just there, in front of us. A couple more ste—
"I can't swim, hyuman."
"EH?"
We're fucked.
"Ruby... GO RIGHT! THERE SHOULD BE A BRIDGE... HOPEFULLY!"
"HOPEFULLY?"
"IT'S OUR ONLY HOPE!"
He quickly steered right, almost hitting a tree
Then out of nowhere:
=System=Mission failure in 10
Nine
Eight
Seven
"RUBY, THIS IS BAD!"
Six
"GO FASTER!"
Five
"I'LL GET YOU LOTS OF GENANAS!"
Four
I DON'T WANNA DIE!
Three
Ruby tried speeding up but couldn'tInstead, he stumbled and fell, making me roll on my backLooking at him—he had already turned back into a small cat
Two
"I'm sorry, hyuman," he barely mustered, his breathing harsh and rapidly increasing. "My power is fading... mmh—"
One