halo2

It's past midnight, again... gotta finish my report on Kjeragandr...

I can't believe the day would come when I wrote the word 'Feranmut' in a report...

Hm...?

Oh, Director Muelsyse! What brings you here?

Well if it isn't Elena! I knew you'd still be here this late.

You've spent an entire month cranking out reports since coming back to the station. You don't hafta push yourself so hard.

It took forever just to put the data together. Then there were experiments I had to replicate in the lab to—

Science will survive you taking a couple days off, girl.

Speaking of which, the station's scheduled break starts tomorrow.

I think you applied to stay in Kjerag?

I did...

Lemme guess—

D-Don't look at me like that! I know, I know, I won't use it to put in extra time.

I hardly ever left the station before the Catastrophe.

I did take a trip down the mountain after it happened, but as you know, it was... er... not exactly a sightseeing trip.

That's one way to put it. Hehe...

That's why I wanted to take a good look around Kjerag during the break.

Now we're talkin'.

I just popped in to remind you that every researcher choosing to stay in Kjerag gets a local volunteer guide, to help you settle into the place.

Yours is coming first thing in the morning. So hurry up and get to bed, don't wanna oversleep.

Alright... after I'm done with this one! I only have a few hundred words left.

Fine, fine, have it your way.

Make the most of tomorrow, Elena, and don't forget to try the fondue.

Of course. I'm not missing it for anything this time!

It's you—

What? You don't recognize me?

The young huntress brushes the snow off herself, while the Rift Cloudbeast yelps excitedly at Elena from her left shoulder.

(Whisper) It's okay, Rift Cloudbeast. Elena can be a bit dumb, but not dumb enough to forget us after just a few days.

Hey, I heard that!

...Never mind. The Director said a local guide would be coming to help me acclimate. Don't tell me—

Yeah, I'm your guide.

I was on my way to pick up my siblings when I saw the posters your people put up looking for volunteers, so I signed up.

The lady who did the interview was really excited. She said I was as local as it gets.

Well, you certainly look the part...

Okay... should we go and find Enya?

The Saintess can't go outside so easily. Besides, she must be busy with things at the Vine-Bead Court—

You don't believe me?

No, I never said that...

Then we're good. Tell me where you want to go, and I'll take you there.

Let me think...

It'll almost be noon by the time we get down the mountain, and I haven't even had breakfast yet.

You got any recommendations for a good fondue place?

A what place?

You've never heard of fondue?

Are you even from Kjerag?

One of us is from Kjerag, and it's not you.

Of course I know fondue, but only city folk eat it. My roast meat and sausages at home are so much better.

But all the Columbian guidebooks list fondue as one of the top ten foods you have to try before you die!

Pfft, you Columbians know nothing about food. The best cuisine in Kjerag is wild game from the mountains.

What's your plan, then?

We don't have enough time to hunt, and I don't have much in store to spare.

But hunters who live on the mountains always save some game. We can join them for lunch, if we leave now.

Don't worry, everyone's really nice and pious.

My fondue...

You can get that anytime!

We'll go into the city tonight. Come.

Wait up—

...Promise me you'll walk slower, and I'll go with you!

We finally reached the bottom of the mountain. Look this way, Elena.

Huh?

I didn't come to have a snowball fight with you!

What are you talking about? It's a Kjerag tradition to paint the forehead with snow and pray for Kjeragandr's protection.

I wouldn't describe what you just did as 'paint'.

Close enough. We don't really care for ceremony here in Kjerag.

You can't fool me! I'm sure all those books in the Hall of Writings—

Now let me get the right side of your forehead.

Joanna—

Haha!

Get back here!

Whoaaaaaaa—

Hold on tight, Elena, or you're gonna get thrown from the sled.

Is this why you prayed for Kjeragandr to protect the two of us? For this crazy ride through the forest on this run-down wooden sled—

(Purrs)

Two of us plus the Rift Cloudbeast!

What are you calling 'run-down wooden sled'? So many people who want to ride the sleds of Kjerag don't get the chance!

Let's go even faster! It'll feel really good!

Whoaaa—

Whew—

Good to have a nice sunny day like this after the disaster. The Rift Cloudbeast looks much happier.

(Purrs)

...Elena? What's the matter? Keep up!

How am I... supposed to... keep up... when you're... faster than a fowlbeast *cough* *cough*—

Tired too soon? But we climbed Mount Karlan together.

That's because... E-Enya stopped to wait for me from time to time! But you *cough* *cough*—

I'm supposed to be going out for lunch, not for a hike...

Well, you can sit a little while. I can wait.

*pant* H-How long do we have to go...?

Almost there.

Over this hill, and then we're only half an hour from finding someone.

Whoa!

The Rift Cloudbeast climbs onto Elena's shoulder, like it did back on Mount Karlan.

It does not realize that it would be the last straw that 'breaks' the scientist.

Oh... R-Rift Cloudbeast—

Joanna and her pet look at each other in stunned silence at the sight of Elena lying motionless on the ground.

L-Look what you've done!

You killed a Rhine Lab researcher!

(Purrs)

Y-You're right! Elena isn't dead! We've made it through worse. She even saw Kjeragandr with her own eyes!

Elena? Are you alright? Please don't be dead!

If you die—