A Hunter's Treasure

Red

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Third Person P.O.V

Maisie's anxious panting could be heard in the pitch black darkness of the Red Bluster's mouth, Jacob quickly lighting the lantern that was inside the boat.

His eyes move around swiftly, his shoulders relaxing when he spots (Y/N) in the boat as well in front of him, her hands clinging to the sides of the row boat as she looks around the area with wide eyes. Maisie was on Jacob's shoulders, her arms curled around his head tightly.

Jacob raises the lantern to look around, the light illuminating off the Red Bluster's teeth. He rises slowly as he turns to view the area behind him, the Bluster's growl making Maisie gasp fearfully as her grip tightens around Jacob.

(Y/N) rises to her feet as well, her legs a bit wobbly as she looks towards the back of the Bluster's throat with Jacob. She turns to look at Jacob, expression uncertain with a tinge of fear in her eyes. Jacob's heart hurts a bit at this, his face falling as he tries to think of something to comfort her. Instead of words, he gently takes her hand at his side, making her step closer to him and hug his arm silently in thanks.

"Are we gonna... die in here?" Maisie's meek voice gets the two's attention.

Jacob felt a sense of deja vu, recalling (Y/N) asking the same question when they were stranded at sea after the beast attack. (Y/N) releases his arm, Jacob offering his other hand up to Maisie. She takes it, slowly detaching herself from Jacob and climbing down off him.

He sets the lantern down and slowly sits, (Y/N) remaining standing as Maisie sits in front of the two.

"No," Jacob responds confidently, some fear leaving Maisie as she breathes out her mouth.

The Bluster growling makes the three look up, Jacob's confidence wavering as he winces.

"Well... yeah," he truthfully whispers, making Maisie's eyes widen as she hugs her arms close.

(Y/N) worries at her bottom lip as she sighs through her nose, her eyebrows furrowed in thought as she starts to pace around the boat.

"Is-- is it gonna chew us, or--" Maisie pauses fearfully, hugging her legs to her chest. "Will we get digested slowly... with acids?"

Jacob rests a hand on his knee, shifting in his spot uncomfortably, "I don't know, Maisie. This is all new territory for us, too."

"Haven't you both hunted these things your whole life?" she whimpers in response, voice breaking a bit.

"We kill 'em, lass," Jacob says, shaking his head. "We don't study 'em."

"Well..." (Y/N)'s voice gets their attention, Jacob's expression hardening with concern as she slowly steps out of the boat and onto the Bluster's tongue. "I guess now's as good as time as any."

"Where are you going?" Jacob demands apprehensively, rising as (Y/N) reaches into the boat and takes out some rope.

"I, for one, do not enjoy the idea of being digested by this beast," she responds, unrolling the rope with a sigh. "So I'm going to see if there's a way out of here. Wait back with Maisie while I scout further in."

"Wait," Jacob grabs the rope, shaking his head. "I'll go. You stay here until I tug on the rope."

"Jacob, I'm capable of doing this one simple thing," she deadpans, giving him a pointed look as she crosses her arms over her chest.

Jacob huffs a bit, glancing back at Maisie before leaning closer to (Y/N) and speaking lowly. "You're better with children than I am. You can comfort her while I go on ahead. All I've done is make her more frightened."