A hand suddenly grasped Kyle’s wrist and he felt himself pulled into the thick undergrowth. The Hunter yelped in surprise as he suddenly felt himself pressed against the ground.
All at once Kyle’s hand rushed to his bow as his Hunter instincts kicked in. Fear drew over Kyle that a lurking Monster he did not notice had managed to get the advantage as he stalked through the forest. But it was to his surprise that a human hand released his wrist and laid over his lips. More surprising, however, was the owner of it.
“Sh-h-h-h,” the person hushed.
Wide eyed, Kyle stared. A mix of confusion and surprise contorted over his face as he tried to temper his reaction. A smile rounded his savior’s face as those hands that pressed against Kyle’s lips rounded over his cheek to rub them in a half-greeting. A greeting that Kyle knew all too well from such chaste visits to the island that seemed like a dream.
It was difficult for Kyle to bite back his own excitement and it showed in the glimmer of his eyes and the new heat on his cheeks.
“Averna?” he tried not to allow himself overcome with joy when danger seemed to lurk. “What are you doing—?”
Averna shook his head as he pressed a finger to Kyle’s lips once more. “I’ll show you.” His reply was quick and soft. The Rider merely beckoned with his head towards a direction.
Averna raised himself slightly, but maintained a crouched position as he carefully prowled beneath the undergrowth. Kyle was quick to follow behind, keeping a careful gaze to his surroundings. Yet, his eyes could not help but always fall over Averna who trekked beneath the greenery.
It had been several months since Kyle and Averna had been able to see one another. Not for the lack of trying, but when one would visit the other it would always seem as though the other was off on some adventure or commission that would them to a faraway place. And it showed by how different Averna looked now compared to the last time he had spotted the Rider. He had cut his hair short and he had grown taller and leaner.
But, of course, the last time Kyle had seen Averna was during the Festival of the Sapphire Star. And he wouldn’t have considered their parting then to be as amicable than he wanted it to be.
For… many reasons.
Averna came to an abrupt stop and became still upon some vine covered rocks. Kyle mimicked the Rider and lowered himself to the ground as he watched in anticipation of Averna’s next move. It was then that he noticed the small bubbles dancing through the greenery.
Mizutsune.
Kyle’s hand went to his bow in preparation for an attack that was to come. But the gentle expression on Averna’s face said otherwise to the hunt.
A hand beckoned Kyle forward. With a wary glance, Kyle shuffled closer to the Rider. The spot was tight, and he had to squish himself against Averna and the outcrop of rock that they had settled themselves on. Loathed Kyle was to admit it; the closeness was pleasant.
A hand brushed away the foliage, and it revealed an open clearing.
In the clearing below was a large communal nest of Mizutsune females. They were small and the color of their fins and scales were much more washed out than their male counterpart. Bubbles formed over the nesting grounds as soap scum washed over the nests and burrows that were made within the clearing.
It was beneath their bodies that Kyle spotted a smaller creature. A creature that squirmed and barely could control their little bodies as they slide over and under the soapy mixtures of their mothers. Chirps and growls were made as they floundered about within the safety of their mother’s bodies.
Kyle’s eyes sparkled as he stared at the creatures below. In the shared moment, he craned his head towards Averna with a smile, only to see his companion had been staring at him since he had squished himself beside Averna. As though it were Kyle that he was more interested in than the new borne pups that wiggled so cutely beneath their mothers.
He could feel his heart beating in his throat as he stared at Averna. His friend’s smile was wide and inviting. And Kyle could only remember the night of the Festival of the Sapphire Star. Their less than amicable parting. But the dream that he wanted to continue.
It felt wrong. But he could not resist the temptation especially when he was already so close to his companion.
He could feel himself lean in. Like that day several months ago.
Pop.
He felt the bubble of Mizutsune drench him. Then a giggle from Averna as he stared at Kyle now covered in soap scum. Slowly, Averna pulled away from Kyle as to avoid the soap getting over him. Leaving only a whisper: “Come on.”
It was difficult to follow in pursuit when the ground became suddenly slippery due to the Mizutsune bubbles. But it was managed.
He wondered about that day almost a year ago.
“Are you on a Hunt?” Averna asked, now far from the nesting grounds to not disturb the Mizutsune.
“Gathering quest.” Kyle shrugged. He felt awkward and strange trying to maintain normalcy after their parting, and after Kyle’s attempt at rekindling something that should have been left in the desert of the festival. “A client wanted some mushrooms.”
“Good thing I was here, then.” Averna laughed playfully. “You might have walked into that Mizutsune den.” He smiled. “Do you want help?”
Kyle gave pause as he crossed his arms over his chest. The fluttering in his stomach continued. He tried not to stare at Averna’s lips. “Only if you want to…”
“I’d be happy to.” Averna took Kyle’s hands in his. “I missed you.”
Kyle tried not to blush. “Yeah.” He wanted to lean in. “Me too.”