𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 | 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝

𝐱𝐯𝐢𝐢𝐢.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐲'𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐝'𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐮𝐠.

The hunter of the group tugged on some rope as he had finally fixed the mast, looking over to the two other castaways as they pulled spears out, a small smile growing as he watched the princess stand over Maisie, both their hands on a spear as they worked together to pull it out.

One by one, spears fell off the Bluster's back, landing in the ocean as Red's tail propelled them through the Dregmorr Sea.

Evening rolled around sooner than expected, little drops of rain falling down as they landed in the sea. The seagulls squawked, landing on the tarp-covered boat, Jacob using the sail as a covering as the rain got heavier.

He tugged at the rope, making sure it was held down properly before stepping into the boat. Maisie smiled, offering one half of a fruit as Jacob gently took it, sitting down by her right. Lilia smiled at his gentle nature, sitting on Maisie's left before drinking out of the fruit's shell.

The silence was interrupted by Blue, the small beast leaping into the air as he opened his mouth to catch water in it. Maisie smiled at his actions, Lilia giggling softly as Jacob watched along, warming up to the small creature.

Eventually, when they were done, night had arrived, the moon peaking through the clouds. Maisie yawned, Lilia walking over to the girl as she sat beside her as Jacob stood at the other end of the boat, keeping a lookout for any nearby ships.

"Tired, kid?"

"I guess," She shrugged. "Today was busier than I thought."

"Same here... but hey, you go rest, alright? Holland and I will keep a lookout," Lilia smiled, pushing Maisie's hair back.

"Why? You can't wait to be alone with your boyfriend?" Maisie teased, grinning.

Jacob tensed up from where he was, overhearing their conversation as he felt his face warm, glad that his face wasn't visible to the princess from where he stood. Maisie grinned, seeing Lilia's widened eyes.

"And where'd you get that idea from?" She poked the girl's cheek playfully, smiling. "We barely know one another. Believe me, we're new to the friend thing."

Ouch. Jacob almost visibly winced from her words despite knowing that it was true. He couldn't help but feel a sting, and he tried his best to ignore it, but it was hard with Maisie's constant pestering on the topic.

"Uh-huh... And I didn't just make friends with two sea beasts," She smiled, crossing her arms.

"And you so weren't the one that was yawning a moment ago, weren't you, Ms Brumble?"

Maisie groaned, as Lilia gently pushed her shoulders to the bench, smiling softly. The princess then intertwined her hands with the girl, Maisie fidgeting with the woman's fingers.

"You need rest, Maisie. I'll wake you up if anything big happens, I promise," She hummed.

"Fine," Maisie huffed. "Night, Lia."

"Night, kiddo."

Jacob glanced back, seeing that the girl had gone to sleep. He sat down on the bench as Lilia walked towards him, calming himself down as she sat by his side.

"Hello, stranger," She smiled as he nodded.

"The lass finally asleep?" Jacob glanced over to her as she nodded.

"Yup! Oh and uh... sorry about what she said..."

"What're you talking about?" Jacob tilted his head, pretending to play dumb.

"I saw the way you froze from the corner of my eye, Holland," She shrugs. "Don't worry, it was just as awkward for me as it was for you."

Jacob glanced away before nodding.

"Sorry about that," He muttered.

"No it's alright, you don't have anything to be sorry about. Maisie's a kid, she'll assume things so I don't think she fully understands things, you know?" Lilia smiled softly down at her hands. "Funny how different our lives are and we can still find common ground because of the very thing we were brought to hunt, huh?"

Jacob hummed before nodding.

"Well, that's one way to put it," He smiled, Lilia gasping a little.

"You smiled at me," She said in surprise, Jacob rolling his eyes with the same smile.

"Oh, get over it, princess."

"I told you to call me by my name, Holland," Lilia raised her eyebrow. "We're acquaintances, friends now... if you'd like?"

Jacob looked at the woman in slight surprise, eyes widening before he relaxed, hiding his happiness with a nod.

"Friends sounds good to me."