If it was Red it kinda seems like her hair is gray/white... and the war was like 30 years ago if I'm not mistaken. So Red should be like 55 years old or somewhere there. No idea how old Ruce would be since all we got is she's much older. I want to guess she's like 10 to 20 years older but no idea. I'm thinking she's close in age to Margot (the older Black dog from Red's childhood). That would mean Ruce could be around 60+ to 75years old. If she did die it could be of old age? Or maybe Red just wants to honour her close friends that may have died in the war like Edge and Bear? Ah well I can't wait to know more (▰˘◡˘▰)
I don't know why this didn't make sense to me before but now it does. In chapter 1, it is definitely Red telling the story without a doubt. First clue she's talking in first person "I" and we see her picture not Ruce's. Her fingers have the same cuts all over them... then she talks about the other woman Red says "she" as in Ruce liked the hot dry weather in that place but Red herself didn't because it was unbearable. Ruce doesn't do well in cold places whereas Red is always very hot.... so it makes sense for the person speaking is Red while Ruce is absent from chapter 1. Next is the suitcases shown in chapter 1... I hope this isn't a spoiler but Ruce left Red with both of their suitcases and it seems to be the exact same as the ones in chapter 1. Plus Red always liked to hold on to medals etc. Unlike Ruce who doesn't care about them at all and has only ever kept the ones given to her by Red.