ᵗʰᵃˡᵃˢˢᵒᵖʰⁱˡᵉ

🪼⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

[ night on the island ]

𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐥, 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐭.

He yelled loudly as he was swung about, before smacking into the Red Bluster's underbelly. Jacob panted, gripping onto the indents of the hide. He took out his dagger, about to plunge it into the creature, but was pulled back again, flying higher and higher until he was face-to-face with the beast. Jacob was only there for a moment before he dropped back to the ground with an exclaim, landing on the beach in a flurry of sand.

He barely opened his eyes as he regained his breath, but they widened when his dagger descended straight towards him. "Oh!" Jacob lifted his head just in time, the dagger falling with a stiff wobble, where his head was.

Again, he was ripped back, and he grabbed the dagger as he flew backwards. He spun in the air, arms out like a starfish. As he zipped past a palm tree, he wrapped himself around it. He dug the dagger in to hold himself, before looking back with a scowl.

The Bluster growled deeply as it slowly leaned towards the 'thing' that had come from its nose. Jacob looked at you and Maisie, finding you still holding onto the spear. "Jacob!" you called, gripping Maisie tighter as the beast sniffled. 

He furrowed his brows, then heaved himself up, somehow squatting on the dagger as he held the rope. "Hold on, lassies," he advised. Jacob began pulling the rope with haste, but the Bluster was a smart animal, slowly lifting its fin up, where the long spindle of rope was draped across it. Jacob watched, perplexed. "Huh?"

The beast pulled on the rope, and though you tightened your hold, the spear flung out, you and Maisie going with it. "Jacob!" the young girl yelped, but he missed the both of you as you zipped past. Because he had leaned over to try and catch you both, he had lost his balance, falling again.

You swiftly pulled Maisie up to you, and the second she could, the girl hugged her body around your torso, pressing her cheek into your collarbone. 

But you soon regretted the decision as you came closer to the Bluster. You careened back, and for a moment, you thought it was fine, until the beast bit into Maisie's shoe. It was a delicate bite, not at all causing her any harm, simply keeping her there.

The two of you panted lightly as you stared into the glowing yellow eyes of the Red Bluster, as it did the exact same. You and Maisie gasped as it softly huffed on you, your hair flying back a bit. It snorted again, causing your grip on her to tighten. Maisie exhaled gently, and you found yourself fixated on the creature before you. You and the young girl were in sync as you tilted your heads to the side, and you let out a short breath when the Bluster mimicked the movement. You tried it again, and the creature reciprocated the action. 

Unbeknown to you, as you were far too transfixed on the beast, Jacob staggered up the palm tree, his teeth clamping on the knife. His hair was a disarray of green leaves, as he spun around, glaring at the Bluster, ripping the dagger from his mouth and holding it out.

Maisie glanced around you first, and then you turned. Your eyes widened as you saw the dagger, and Maisie yelled, "No, wait!"

But he didn't listen, instead opting to jump off the side of the tree and diving forward as the rope hoisted him to the animal. He yelled loudly, like a battle cry, and Maisie was quick to act, shoving off her boot. The two of you fell free, flying backwards. As Jacob passed you, his yelling came to an abrupt stop as he simply fell to the sand again.

You and Maisie let out a scream as you twirled in the air, before landing together on the same palm tree. You chuckled slightly at the sight of the two of you in the same, exact position; hands outstretched and dipped forward. She looked up as well, a smile breaking out on her cheeks.

Jacob raised his head with a groan, sand coating his face, before he frowned, leaping up, eyes zeroing on the long spear ahead. He panted heavily as he ran, and you looked down, stammering, "W-Wait, Jacob! No!"

"Stop!" Maisie pleaded, but he continued his fierce course. 

You shared a nod with the girl, before you took your knife from its sheath, starting to cut through the line. Maisie was untying it, but it was no use. At the sound of slicing, she turned her head, finding you with your knife. She rolled her eyes, thinking your way was incredibly easier, and began to do the same.

Just as Jacob reached the spear, he stopped, looking up at the Bluster, who was glaring down at him, waving his fin through the ocean. "Oh, bloody hell." The huge wave crashed through him, and he held his breath as he flailed around the rushing water. His body slammed into one of the palm trees, and he looped his arms around the trunk.

"Whoa. Whoa," Maisie trembled, and the two of you steadied ourselves on the swaying tree.

Jacob gasped for air as the water settled, coughing and spluttering. A starfish was latched onto his head, but he didn't seem to notice. He breathed heavily as he tilted his body around, watching the Red Bluster walk off into the island. The creature glanced back at him, before continuing its path.

"You could've killed us!" 

He looked up to the palm tree, finding Maisie puffing and you with your hands on your hips. 

"Wha...I could have killed you?" he questioned in disbelief. Jacob huffed in annoyance as he scaled down the trunk, glaring at the girl. Just as you and Maisie dropped from the tree, he continued, stomping over to you. "You got it backwards, lass. I had it dead to rights, and you bollocks'd it up."

"Dead to rights?" she repeated, ripping off her rope. "I must have been watching a different fight."

"Well, we wouldn't have been fighting at all if you hadn't cut them lines."

"We cut them lines. And may I remind you, Y/N was in danger!"

"No, you cut them lines. And yes, I did know she was in danger. I was the one that saved her!"

As they argued, Jacob grabbed her shoe from the ground, and she dragged his dagger across the sand. You watched with a bored expression at their childish bickering. "You didn't stop me, did ya?"

"That's- not the same thing."

"Isn't it?"

The two stopped in front of each other, wordlessly handing over the other's item. "No, it isn't."

The argument was cut short at the faint growling from the forest, before another louder one followed it. There were all sorts of unfamiliar and horrifying noises, from squawking to snarls deep from whatever throat. Maisie latched onto your arm as Jacob held a hand in front of you. 

"We'd best find shelter," you said. You then glanced up at Jacob and giggled softly. As he looked down at you in confusion, you raised your hand to his hair, plucking the starfish from his blonde locks. He smiled at you in thanks, before leading on, as Maisie followed you with a hop, as she put her boot back on. 

A couple of hours later, rain peltered down Jacob, who was holding some food and supplies he had found, which were strapped to his back as he held the long spear in his other hand.

Inside your home for the night, which was a large, hollowed out pink shell, you sat against the wall, with Maisie sitting in front of you on the other side. She was reading her monster book, and the two of you glanced up at the sound of footsteps. 

Jacob entered with an exhale, sitting on the ground. He tossed two fruits at you both, and you caught yours with one hand. "Get your strength. We're leaving in the morning," he stated.

The girl observed you and Jacob as you stabbed your knives down the center of the fruit, which then broke in half. Jacob drank the juice whilst you bit into the tangy outside.

Maisie had a soft, sad look on her face as she looked at him, before prepping her fruit. "Me book says the beasts used to come up to shore. That nowhere was safe. Is that true?"

She tried to cut the fruit, but the knife split to the side, clanging against the rock. Jacob saw, and stood, walking over to you. You scooched over, sitting in between them as he sat down in your original spot. "Of course, it's true," he confirmed.

"You saw it?"

He broke the fruit in half, continuing, "It was before my time, but everyone knows it's true." Jacob got back up as he placed the fruit in her palm, plopping down on the floor again.

"What if them things ain't as bad as they say?" Maisie proposed timidly. "I mean, the sea is their home. We went after her, didn't we? What if we just left 'em alone?"

"We kill them because they kill us," Jacob retorted. "Do I need to remind you that one of them things took your parents?"

"Jacob," you scolded, and he turned his glare to you. 

"Y/N, if anyone should be killing them things, it's you!" You snapped your mouth shut, closing your eyes and sighing, but he continued, "Should they have just left the monsters alone?"

"I... don't know," Maisie replied. 

"Oh, you are lost, girl. Your parents died heroes."

"I want to believe that" she said after a moment. "But maybe you can be a hero...and still be wrong."

"You're not making-." Jacob was cut off by monstrous growling in the distance, and Maisie caved closer to you as you all looked around. "You're not making any sense!" he hissed lowly.

"Why did Red swallow us?" she whispered back.

"Oh, 'Red', is it?"

"She, not it. I think it's a she, and I think she was protecting us from Crow."

"You're giving that beast way too much credit."

"He was pointing a gun at you, and he-."

"He was pointing it at you, through me. Because you cut them lines. And I don't wanna argue about it, alright? Cause I don't want to attract any of the multitude of monsters on this island, that- that I wouldn't be on if you hadn't cut them lines!"

"So, you're not arguing?" you voiced, and the two looked at you. "So, what are you doing?"

Jacob's glare softened, and he looked down at his forearm, where the tattoo for the Hunters was. "I'm going to gather supplies. I'll take you to Guelston, and when Y/N and I get back to the ship, we'll finish what we started."

As he walked, Maisie called softly, "Don't... get killed out there."

"I won't make any promises."

"Jacob." He turned his head to her. "Promise."

He looked from me to her, and you raised your brows at him. "Alright. I promise," he vowed.

He left the shell, and you stood, turning to Maisie. "I'm just gonna talk to him."

She took your hand and placed your dagger in it. "Please, please, don't you die as well."

"Of course," you smiled, then ventured out the shell. 

Jacob was a little way's ahead, and you called his name, though you lowered your voice. He spun around, eyes wide. "Lass, get back inside!"

"Jacob, do you forget I'm a hunter too? A better one as well," you questioned, and he scoffed, an amused grin making its way to his face. "Ah, there's that smile."

He chuckled, and you bit your lip as you smiled, walking over to him. "Maisie doesn't know a lot about this world. The least we can do is ease her into it." He sighed, tilting his head to look at the stars above. You held onto his arm, and he looked back down. "Be safe out there."

You then kissed his cheek, causing him to stiffen, and you turned, ears turning bright red. You didn't see the crimson blooming across his cheeks as his wide, brown eyes watched your figure walk into the shell.