One Equal Temper of Heroic Hearts

Hunted

Jack eyed Mahina reluctantly. "No."

"Jack, I know you like your hoodie, but there is a town just over that hill and people already think we're witches without us being dressed weird," Mahina said, holding up a faded, pale blue tunic. "I changed, and you better believe I'd rather be in my leggings right now."

"You got me a cloak, too, can't I just wear that over my hoodie?" Jack protested.

Mahina raised an eyebrow and put the shirt in Jack's hands.

He sighed. "Fine..."

Mahina gave him a radiant smile. "Thank youuu."

Jack grumbled and went to change shirts behind a tree, then clasped on his cloak as they started towards the hill.

"You look nice," Mahina told Jack. He shot her an annoyed look, and she said, "What? I mean that!"

"Mahina does make a good point," Rapunzel backed up the night spirit. "So far we've only been to one town to resupply and we got chased out. It's better not to risk it."

The girls were backed up when they reached the town, and discovered a sign nailed to the gate that read "NO MAGIC PERMITTED".

"Maybe you'd better stay outside, Jack," Hiccup pointed out.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Just me? Not Mahina?"

"She's much subtler than you. As long as no one looks too close at her eyes, she'll pass as human," Eugene agreed.

Mahina put her hood up, hiding the slightly unnatural bluish sheen of the sun on her hair. "Behold, a simple peasant with a predisposition for sunburn."

Jack rubbed his forehead, but conceded. "I'll meet you guys at the top of the hill outside of town once you're done, all right?"

"We'll be back in an hour. This place is tiny," Merida waved a hand casually to assure him.

***

"Alright, Sunny," Mahina said as she and Rapunzel split off from Merida and the boys, "where do you think we'll find preserved meats?"

"Sunny?" Rapunzel echoed, skipping over the question.

"You're a very upbeat individual, and I am not a creative nicknamer," Mahina shrugged. "So? Jerky? Meats?"

"Probably over by that guy yelling to the market about his cuts of meat," Rapunzel guessed dryly.

Mahina turned towards him. "Oh hey, look at that."

The duo went over and got provisions. Rapunzel chatted with the vendor, who was a kind if weary sort and happily discussed his two kids and his beloved hunting dogs. Mahina kept an eye on the street and stalls around them, and made eye contact with a woman over at a textile stand.

She went a little wide-eyed and pulled her gaze away from Mahina quite deliberately, and discomfort began to worm its way into Mahina's chest.

"I think we'd best get done and get going," she said in a lull in Rapunzel's conversation. "Thank you very much, sir."

He squinted a little at Mahina as they began to turn away, and the discomfort became outright anxiety.

"We gotta go," Mahina hissed. "I think someone looked too close and-"

A group of roughly-dressed town militia scrambled to get in their way, pointing old blades, torches and pitchforks, in proper cliché fashion. "Stop right there!"

Mahina raised her hands above her head. "I'll come quietly," she called to them. "Just let her go. I tricked her into guiding me and helping me."

One of the men squinted at Rapunzel, then made the universal "move" gesture with a pitchfork. "Off with you then. Get out of the way."