Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt: Hunter x OC

A Storm on the Shore, Part 1

Omega got in the habit of working on her internship materials after school for a little while, which led to Hunter somehow finding himself in Lyra's presence more often. Leaning against the doorway of her office or sitting in a corner of the study hall, they seemed to fill every minute with either quiet conversation or contented silence. There was a kindred appreciation of the comfort they'd been able to create, where no one was being mocked, advised, or held to expectations of any kind. Awkward moments popped up here and there, with questions that weren't ready to be answered or attempts at jokes that fell flat. But Hunter was growing quite fond of the space they shared, casual and periodic though it was.

Lyra began to visit his shop a bit more regularly, too, either as a starting point for their walks or to exchange garden produce for meat; they'd struck up a trade that worked quite well for each. When Omega wanted to walk home alone, Hunter would work late, catching up on the organization or cleaning that he'd otherwise do more quickly when he had places to be. Lyra would sometimes come in after work, offering to sweep the floors or polish the glass case while they talked. He was grateful for the company as well as the help, and they were often unable to resist a short walk afterward.

One morning, as they ventured through The Forest, winding their way down to one of the many small inlets of beach that surrounded the base of the island, the low tide had revealed an enticing rock formation that would otherwise be beneath the surface. Lyra had insisted on exploring it, unable to resist the little treasures of nature that could be found. However, it had required quite the hike down a steep cliff that was quite treacherous at times; the path would crumble beneath their feet, leaving them grasping for nearby trees and bushes to avoid slipping down to the sand below. It was a gloomy, foggy morning with gray skies and a light mist that sat above the sea, giving everything a somewhat mystical sense of calm.

Once they reached the sandy beach, she made a beeline for the large, flat area of dark rock that was full of small tide pools. Hunter followed, scanning the horizon and inspecting the occasional puddle. They were silent, reveling in the rhythmic whoosh of the waves upon the shore and the occasional call of a sea bird. He could hear Lyra muttering to herself in wonder and delight, picking up small stones, tiny pieces of driftwood, and other random bits that struck her fancy. His heart warmed in his chest, a stark contrast to the cold ocean breeze that nipped at his cheeks and neck, and he pushed some rocks around with his foot, scattering them across the bumpy surface.

Something caught his eye, and he bent down to look, discovering a small piece of the sea glass that she always seemed to pick up. She'd informed him that it came in all different colors, some more common than others, and he held this piece up to the light, revealing a light lavender hue in its smoothed oval shape. He didn't mean to be paying attention all along, but he realized that she'd likely be quite excited about this one, recognizing that it was a relatively rare color and a perfect shape, and he tucked it into his pocket, scanning the area for more.

"Find something?" Lyra called, her hooded head turning toward him from where she crouched near the end of the rock formation.

"Just looking," Hunter answered, rising to his feet. She nodded, following suit and coming to join him, opening her hand flat to reveal the day's haul. There was a somewhat large spiral shell that was nearly black except for the small streaks of iridescent pearl color, a small stick shaped like a Y, and a selection of rocks with intriguing patterns. A few other shells were scattered throughout, boasting intricate ridges or shimmering colors in their flat or spiral shapes, along with some green and white sea glass.

"This one is my favorite," she said quietly, picking up a long, thin piece of the frosted glass. It was almost rectangular in shape, but so thin it could fit in the space between her fingers without much notice. She rubbed a thumb across it, satisfied with the smoothness, and offered it to Hunter, dropping it in the palm of his gloved hand.