Eclipse

Chapter 19

Eclipse's POV

I smiled and waved when Grant returned, him leading two horses over. I climbed on ones and said Akihiko could ride with me. Akihiko walking up to the horse before laughing awkwardly.

"Uh. How do you get on a horse." He asked, Grant helping him up as he sat behind me. Grant took a moment, but because he is taller, he had little issue getting up on his horse. I always knew how to mount a horse properly because my dads taught me when my dad's horse had ponies. 

Grant took the lead, so I just nudged the horse forward to follow him. We rode in relative silence for a while until I asked,

"Hey Grant. Do you think that vampires will really agree to helping us?"

"Maybe. They're known for their regality and pride. Perhaps we could use that to persuade the king. But, didn't your dads also know Oikawa before??"

"That's what they said. I've never met him or heard of him until the other day, but I'm sure neither of my parents could have left a poor impression." I said in thought. Grant nodded as I tried shifting again, asking Akihiko to loosen up his grip on me.

"S-sorry. But I'm scared I'll fall off..!" He said, making me giggle. I knew for sure that's exactly how I felt the first time I went riding. I must've hung onto that poor horse's main way to tight. Grant looked over and pulled his reigns to a stop.

"Hey, if that's bothering you, he can sit with me. I don't mind." Grant said. I looked at Akihiko to make sure I wouldn't like, offend him. He nodded his head quickly, Grant sliding off his horse to catch Akihiko when he tried to get off, and inevitably fell in the process. I waited patiently for the two to get situated, Akihiko hanging tightly onto Grant as we resumed our trip.

Akihiko's POV

"Hey, how long will it be until we reach the next kingdom?"

"Well, it's getting late. I say we continue for another few hours and then rest for the night. And then it should only take a few more days." Grant said with a sigh. I nodded and clung onto him quietly, resting my cheek against his back while watching the scenery go by. 

After a while longer, Grant said this was a good spot to camp. Grant got off first, watching me as I tried to get off properly this time, but I fell off again. Grant laughed as he caught me, making me blush.

"You need to work on that."

"S-shut up." I grumbled as he set me down. I brushed my shirt off as Grant got to work gathering some stuff for a fire. Eclipse and I helped him before watching him mess around trying to get a fire going. Eclipse laughed at his efforts and did it for him. Once there was a small spark, the twigs and leaves we gathered started burning. 

Eclipse scooted over by the horse she was riding who had decided to lay down to sleep. Grant and I warmed our hands while Eclipse used the horse as a pillow and drifted off. I smiled slightly, putting one of the blankets we had packed over her. It wasn't much and it was thin but it was better than nothing. 

After the blanket was over her, I moved back over by Grant. I must have zoned out while in thought and staring at the fire, because I startled when Grant gently shook my arm.

"Hey. Are you okay?"

"H-huh?? Oh.. yeah. I'm just kinda worried about all this. I mean. All my life all I did was work for my parents. I never expected any of this to happen.. Not to be 'prince'. And certainly not preparing for a fight. I'm scared.." I said quietly. Grant frowning and gently pulling me to his chest for a hug. I held onto him tightly as he ran his fingers through my hair.

"We'll be okay..I'll make sure to keep you and Eclipse safe, okay?" He said gently. I felt a million emotions well up in me. I was scared, and anxious.. But I was happy and felt comforted. I wasn't used to anyone saying they'd protect me or cared about me...

Without thinking, I leaned up and pressed my lips onto Grant's, though longer than I did last time. Grant looked at me surprised as I flushed in embarrassment.

"S-sorry, I-" I was suddenly cut off by Grant grabbing me and kissing me again. I blushed but slowly moved my arms to wrap around his neck. When we pulled away, my face felt warmer than the fire a few feet away from us. Grant smiled at me faintly before there was rustling in some of the bushes. We both turned our heads, Grant telling me to stay as he got up.

He grabbed the hunting knife he had brought and approached the noise. I watched anxiously when something jumped out and tackled Grant to the ground. Eclipse woke up quickly and looked over to see what looked like another werewolf on top of Grant. The werewolf's ears flattened as he climbed off of Grant.

"Sorry. Wrong person." He said calmly. Grant got up and rubbed his back, looking at the werewolf.

"Uh.. Who are you looking for? Hunting someone?"

"Nope, playing." The werewolf said as he flipped his tail. We all looked at each other before Grant made his way back to me and sat down. I smiled faintly and checked his back, seeing just a bit of a scrape but he said it didn't really hurt. Eclipse looked at the werewolf curiously when another appeared out of nowhere and tackled him now.

I startled to see two werewolves wrestling each other. Their fangs were larger than I thought, but they clearly weren't trying to actually hurt each other. The taller of the two pinned the smaller one down and declared himself the winner. Once they untangled themselves, they both apologized for intruding on our camp.

"Uh, are you Atsumu's brother???" I asked while scooting behind Grant a bit. He nodded with a smile.

"Yes, my name is Osamu. My brother informed me about you all."

"Eh? Already??"

"You'd be amazed how fast we can run." He said, the other werewolf introducing himself as someone named Suna. Osamu gently smacked Suna with his tail before grinning.

"So. Where are you all headed now."

"To see someone named Oikawa."

"Vampire huh. Well good luck with that."

"What do you mean."

"Oikawa isn't exactly the nicest vampire out there. So good luck you guys." Osamu said before running off quickly into the woods again with Suna. Grant looked at Eclipse and I with a sigh.

"Well, guess we'll have to take our chances."