The cold night wrapped around you like a shroud. The fire you had built crackled nearby, its warmth a fleeting comfort. You huddled closer, trying to keep the cold at bay.
A small shadow of a bird flew as a hummingbird fluttered nearby. It had been a month or so since you had encountered Pancake in the forest. The two of you had grown quite close, trying to survive.
You honestly didn't know why the little bird kept following you everywhere but you were just thankful that it did.
"Wouldn't it be funny," you mused aloud, breaking the comfortable silence of the night, "if I shoved like a shit ton of glitter on a very strict guard? Just imagine the angry face they'd make with pink glitter stuck all over it."
You laughed. It was absurd, but absurdity was better than despair. Pancake chirped in response. It shook its tiny head, as if disapproving of your reckless humor.
"But it would be funny, wouldn't it?" you insisted, grinning at the bird.
Pancake's tiny black eyes seemed to roll in exasperation, as if to say, Yeah, funny until you get caught and beaten up for your own stupidity. Despite its tiny size, the bird had a knack for making its feelings clear.
You picked up a stick and carefully skewered a large, strange-looking fruit you had found earlier. It had taken you a lot to get it, especially with that damn red python guarding it.
You glanced up at the sky, its inky blackness dotted with stars.
"The sky is really beautiful," you murmured, "but... sometimes I wish I had a roof over my head and a comfy bed to sleep on..."
Pancake fluttered down from its perch and landed softly on your shoulder. It chirped in agreement, its tiny body warm against your skin.
"Did you even have a home before?" you asked, turning your head slightly to look at the bird.
Pancake didn't answer, of course. It simply nestled closer to your neck, its gaze lingering on you. For a brief moment, you felt as if it wanted to say something, to tell you something important. But the moment passed, and you shook off the odd feeling.
The scent of the fruit roasting over the fire filled the air, and your stomach growled in response. You grinned and took the fruit off the fire, blowing on it to cool it down.
"Aaaand it's ready," you declared, your mouth watering at the thought of finally eating something other than dried rations.
You took a bite, savoring the sweetness that burst across your tongue. "You know," you said between bites, "once I become powerful enough, I'll have a bank of snails under my control, and I'll buy us every kind of food imaginable."
Pancake chirped, and you laughed. "Sure, sure. I'll buy you any food you want."
Tweet! Pancake's wings fluttered excitedly at the promise.
"Stardust peaches?" you guessed, offering a piece of fruit to the little bird.
Pancake pecked at the fruit eagerly, perched on the log next to you. You smiled at the sight, feeling a rare sense of contentment.
"Mmmm... this is really delicious," you sighed, savoring another bite. "I should bring some of these to Raine and Hunter. Gee, that royal pain really doesn't know what real food tastes li-"
You stopped mid-sentence, a sharp pain shooting through your temples. You clutched your head, the half-eaten fruit slipping from your fingers to the ground. You groaned slightly.
"Who is... Hunter?" you whispered, the name unfamiliar yet strangely significant.
Pancake gazed at you with an expression you had never seen before-a look of pity. It was as if the bird was trying to tell you something, something you couldn't quite grasp.
YOU ARE READING
The Atrocious Bard and The Little Princeling | Hunter TOH X Gn Reader
FanfictionAnnoying - a word you and the notorious golden guard would use to describe each other. Hunter finds himself stuck with a sadistic and poetic prankster. Though, through thick and thin, he finds your behavior weirdly endearing. You had a way to make p...
