Her fingers played against the skull with her mind lost to the memory of her story.
Days had passed without notice after she left the town she had met him in, but every night was accompanied by thoughts of him and ‘what-ifs’. She dreamt of if she had let him walk her home. She dreamt of if the two had run away together. No matter how impossible it was she couldn’t help but lose herself in the imaginative happiness, ignoring the hunger that was whispering at the back of her mind.
She heard the whispers speak of a creek nearby and the crisp water that would sate her growing thirst. She cleared her mind and began making her way to the creek. Each step drew her closer to relief.
A careless step swept her off the ground, nearly yanking her leg from its socket as she became suspended in a trap.
“That must be the din-....” the sweetly familiar voice was cut off by the swaying sight of her. Her raven locks danced as they faded into their vibrant blue ends. “What the…” he struggled to hide his amused smile as he tilted his head in an attempt to view the upside-down woman. “Let me get you out of that.” he hummed as he moved towards her frozen form, unable to tell that the red on her face was a blush and not just her blood pooling in the gravity of the situation. “Hold on to my neck.” he guided as he placed a hand on her back and aided her to curl upwards, and she hesitantly wrapped her arms around him. “Are you ready? I’ll keep you upright.” he gave an assuring smile as she looked away with a small nod. “Alright.” he hummed as he pulled a dagger from the back of his hip, making her heart pound until he merely cut the snare, and he kept his promise. “There we go!” he chimed in success, keeping an arm around her while she found her feet, and he secured the dagger back in its sheath. “Maybe I should start charging you for the rescues.” he teased with that same sense of familiarity as her nervousness quickly became apparent. “I’m only kidding. I don’t mind helping anyone in need out.”
“Th-thanks.” she mumbled while glancing up to him before blushing as she realized her arms were still resting around his neck, and she quickly withdrew them, nearly stumbling back, but his arm kept her in place.
“You’re welcome.” he smiled softly, “I’m Rob by the way.” he offered his hand while releasing her, and she looked at it nervously. “I’d figured I’d introduce myself before you run away this time.” he snickered before giving an amused smile, taking her hand and shaking it, “That’s what you’re supposed to do when someone offers their hand like that.” he teased while sticking his tongue out at her.
“I know what a handshake is!” she blurted with a furious blush, making him laugh the laugh that fluttered her heart while he held his hands up in surrender.
“You just looked really confused.” he hummed with a rather amused smile before looking to her expectantly, making her jump slightly. “What’s your name?”
“O-Oh! Re-Reena….” she stuttered nervously as she continued to blush.
“Re-Reena, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” he chimed as she raised an eyebrow.
“N-No…. It’s Reena…" she mumbled while gripping her arm.
“So Re-Reena what are you doing out here?" he smiled as she pouted slightly.
“Reena." she stated with a bit more confidence.
“Re-Reena." he huffed in amusement.
“Reena!" she exclaimed. “My name is Reena!”
“No no no! You’re saying it wrong now!" he teased, “It’s Re-Reena!”
“I-I don’t- Are you stupid?!" she snapped with a frown, making him laugh, setting her heart a flutter again, and he waved her off.
“You’re pretty far out here Re-Reena." he hummed, making her grumble. “Are you a hunter too?”
“No…" she mumbled while looking away. “I… I just needed a change.”
“Oh…. I see…" he held his chin in thought, “So are you living out here then?”
“Trying to…" she answered quietly while chewing her lip.
“Well… Then I guess we’ll be crossing paths regularly!" he gave a cheery grin as she blinked at him, “I live out here too. I’m a hunter. I really only go into town to trade and resupply, but since you’re living out here now we could always trade too. Do you forage or hunt?”
“Uh… I uh… I survive…" she mumbled shyly while staring at the ground.
“Hmm…. Where are you set up?" he questioned as she froze.
“I- I should go." she bit her lip, and he gave her an assuring smile.
“If you ever need help, I’m about a mile up this creek, alright?" he offered as her eyes widened.
“O-Okay." she nodded timidly. “Th-Thanks.”
“No problem Re-Reena!" he grinned as he started walking away.
“S-Stop calling me that!" she huffed while he waved over his head to her.
“Just watch your step out here Re! I’m not the only one leaving traps," he warned her with concern flickering in his voice.
She held her bottom lip between her teeth as she watched him disappear into the trees, feeling intoxicated by the smile she found herself repressing without thought. Such a simple joy in the concern of his voice and the playful interaction he held for her. She found herself waiting for the next encounter with bated breath, finally understanding the racing hearts in her books that were not for fear.
She counted the days as they passed, hoping to see the eyes that seemed to bear the sun itself within them. It was nearly a week before she stumbled upon him again, and her heart jumped into her throat as she ducked behind a tree, pressing her back against the bark with her hands clasped over her mouth. Her heart raced as an excitement flooded her that she thought might be fear until she could feel the way her lips tugged at the corner of her mouth. She quickly shook her head, and quietly peered around the tree at him. He was knelt beside a deer that was killed cleanly with the bow that was now secured to his back. The sleeves of his tunic were rolled up with his bracers tucked into the back of his mud-brushed trousers and caked boots while he skillfully prepared the deer.
“You can come closer." he hummed with amusement lighting his voice, and she jumped, clutching the tree slightly. “Or you can hide. Either way." he shrugged while continuing his work, “Get stuck in any good traps lately? Or are you about to need me to rescue you again?" he teased while glancing over his shoulder towards her again to see her about to say something, but she retreated behind her tree. “Come on Re-Reena." he snickered as she huffed.
“It’s Reena!" she frowned as she stepped out from behind the tree, and he looked to her.
“You keep pronouncing it wrong." he poked his tongue out her as she blushed, and she wrapped her arms around herself while looking away. “Are you hungry?" he questioned while looking her over for a moment, and she paused, “Good. ‘Cause I could use the help getting this back home.”
“Oh, ok." she nodded as she took timid steps towards him, and he offered her a warm smile.
“Thanks, Re." he hummed, and before long the two set their way to his home. “Alright. Here we are!" he smiled as they arrived at the small cabin, “Home sweet home." he beamed before nodding towards a nearby shack, “Let’s take it over there, and then you can go rest inside while I set it up.”
“I-Inside?" she gulped trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach.
“Yeah. I asked you if you were hungry." he gave a friendly smile, “And I think I owe you a decent meal after you helped me lug this deer back here.”
“But… the sun." she mumbled as he looked to her, “It’s going to be dark soon…”
“You can always go home in the morning, or I can walk you back, but I’d really like if you’d eat with me." he hummed with a protectiveness flaring in his voice. “Come on Re-Reena!" he teased, and she stuck her tongue out at him before looking away with a blush. “Go on, Re." he sighed in amusement, “Go rest for a bit.”
She hesitated for a moment before making her way into the cabin. It was simple, with a hearth at its center, and a cooking pot above it. A couple of wooden chairs with a table to match rested in front of the hearth along with a rack of wood and kindling beside it. Tucked in the corner was a bed covered in warm furs, and a wardrobe stood caddied in the opposite corner. A few rugs warmed the floors, but little else adorned the room. There were no trophies of kills, and a few portraits hung on the wall with one of them of a woman that bore an uncanny resemblance to him. She studied the portrait for a moment before shaking her head, then she began glancing between the bed and the chairs, attempting to determine where to rest. After chewing her lip for a moment she made her way to the hearth, and she set to work starting a fire.
“You didn’t have to do that." his voice was soft and thankful as he joined her by the roaring fire.
“Don’t uh… Don’t mention it?" she assured him questionably, and he huffed in amusement before setting to work on preparing a venison stew.
“How are you doing living on your own?" he hummed in question as she paused. “It can be a struggle. I know when I first started, I ended up missing a few more meals than I should, and it wasn’t until I managed to get this cabin built that I finally seemed to be able to get some decent sleep." he went on as she glanced around before realizing that everything was handmade.
“Did you make all of it yourself…?" awe laced her voice.
“Yeah. It took a lot of work." he smiled proudly, “Blood, sweat, and tears, you know?”
“That’s… impressive." she mumbled while glancing to the window to see the sun setting, “I- I should really go…”
“The door is open." he replied softly, “I’d like you to stay for dinner though. If you do, I’ll walk you home after, but you look like you’d really appreciate the food." his words were gentle as she shifted in her seat before giving a meek nod, and a smile graced his lips. “My cooking may not be the best, but it’s not bad.”
She sat quietly as she watched him put together the stew, and the sun continued to make its way to bed for the evening while the ingredients mingled. Eventually, the food finished with only a few comments from him, but he asked nothing of her as he simply enjoyed her company. The two had their fills as the twin moons gracefully ascended the night sky.
“I… I liked it." her timid words left her lips as she finished her second bowl, and he grinned at her like a delighted child.
“That’s great!" he beamed at her, “I’ll admit, I thought you didn’t like it when you started eating, but I knew on your second bowl that it had to be good or at least not bad." he snickered as a small smile played on her lips, making his grow.
The two spent the night in each other’s innocent company, with nearly every moment filled with conversation or his stories of hunts. Time passed and their friendship grew. He knew what she was and he had not cared, he only cared for her smile. His laughter never failed to flutter her heart, and the sight of him would always bring a sense of warmth and protection. The days turned into months, and friendship turned into love. It was a year before she joined him, and the two lived happily in his cabin for nearly three years before he proposed two things to her. She had said yes faster than he could finish asking her to be his forever, and she had fully intended on it to be forever. The second proposal however was met with great hesitation. He wanted the two of them to move to the town of Honco where the last of his family remained. She was fearful to move back into a town, but he made her feel safe, he gave her the strength to ignore the doubting whispers, and so they moved to Honco where they connected with his sister and her young family.
If only she had listened to the doubting whispers. If only she had not been so intoxicated by her love for him. He believed in trust and truth, but his sister was not the same despite being brought into the world in the same birth. The sister was doubting of her, and when the sister learned of her magic the sister spoke to him, begged him to leave her.
He defended her, told his sister that she would never abuse her gift, and spoke of her deep kindness.
The sister did not care. The sister saw rot and nothing else. A month passed before her world was shattered by the sister. Her love was turned against her. The sister slaughtered herself after failing to slaughter the necromancer. Such a twisted plan. Such a waste. The sister sacrificed herself without his knowledge, he was only privy to the end where it appeared his beloved had sacrificed his sister for some ritual.
He vowed her retribution and she ran.
She ran until blisters formed. She ran until they bled.
She left her trust behind.
She left her faith in humanity.
She will forever heed our warnings.
If only she had listened to us.
If she’d only accept that we are the only ones for her.
Us and Master.
Shhhh!
Do not reveal her.
We want to keep our toy as ours!
Master almost took her.
When?
When we first found her. When she marked herself. We… stole her.
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