ᵗʰᵃˡᵃˢˢᵒᵖʰⁱˡᵉ

🪼⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

[ battle of crow and red ]

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛'𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐲-𝐭𝐰𝐨.

Behind you, the girl held the telescope to her eye. She glanced down at him and frowned. She hopped down, clasping her hands behind her back. 

"That ain't you no more," she stated, and he looked up at her, as you lifted your head. "You're not Jacob Holland who killed four of them beasts in a span of two days."

"It was five," he murmured.

"You're Jacob Holland who befriended a beast, saved me life, hasn't confessed his feelings to his best friend-."

"Pardon me?" you spoke up, eyes going wide.

Jacob sprung up, frantically looking between you and Maisie, as you tilted your head to him. "It's uh-,"

"-and led us all the way to Rum Pepper Island," Maisie finished as she glanced up with a cheeky smile, holding out her arm. The girl giggled as she ran off to the front of Red, and you were quick to follow, cheeks heating up as if they had been kissed by the sun, even though it was overcast. 

Jacob stood, mumbling, "We made it." He followed your path, dodging to stand on the other side of Maisie, seeing your blushing state. He knew you were not one to mess with when flustered. "This is as far as Red goes. Won't be safe for her beyond the Dregmorr, but we can flag a passing ship."

Maisie gripped the telescope in her small fingers, "And then what?"

He looked away, gesturing lightly. "Well, then we'll, uh, take you to Guelston, won't we?" Jacob watched as your face dropped, staring down at a saddened Maisie beside you.

"And... what about you? And you?" You exhaled softly as she looked at you. Jacob sighed, and Maisie turned, slowly walking off. She sat down on Red's hide, her legs swaying. "Guelston is a place. It ain't a family. I ain't going back there, and you two ain't going back on that ship. So, all you have is me. And all I have is you. And that don't sound so bad." You and Jacob moved, sitting on either side of her as she folded her knees, resting her chin against them. "So, what do you say? Should we give it a go?"

"You mean, uh..." Jacob trailed off. "You mean, like a family?"

"Sure." She glanced away. "I-I don't know. Maybe if we pretend long enough, it could feel real?"
When neither of you responded, she snapped her head forward, brows furrowing in anger. "Never mind. It's stupid."

"Maisie, it's not stupid," you sighed.

Jacob propped his hand on his thigh as he looked down at her. "What, are you picturing us on a farm or something?"

"I said 'never mind', ya donkey. So never mind."

"It's just that, I-I don't think I'm-."

"You got something in your ears?" she snapped.

"Alright, alright," he soothed, and you placed a tentative hand on her shoulder. Maisie sunk into it, resting her head against your chest, and Jacob watched with a frown. "Well, I guess, uh, we'd better pack up."

As he left, you placed your hand out, and Maisie took it. You pulled her up, and you both made your way to the supplies.

Red docked, the sand building up around her. You, Jacob and Maisie landed on the ground, dropping the supplies as you turned, facing the magnificent sea beast. "Well, girl," Jacob started. "This has been an improbable adventure. And I thank you for all you've done, but, uh..."

"It's time to go home now, Red," you finished for him. 

She rumbled, and Jacob glanced down in confusion. He then seemed to realize, turning and grabbing the spear. "And I promise I'll never hunt sea monsters again."

"I pledge myself to that promise as well," you smiled gently, placing your hand on your heart. 

"No more monster hunting!" he yelled, before slamming the lance down on his lifted leg. You gasped, clapping a hand over your mouth as the lance did not break. Jacob groaned, trying to suppress a pained scream. Maisie grimaced, holding Blue closer. Jacob strained, holding his finger up in a 'just wait a moment' gesture. Red growled, eyes drooping, almost in boredom, as he switched his grip on the lance. "Hang about. Okay," he panted.

"Oh my God, don't do it aga-."

"No more!" he cut me off, and you sighed, throwing your head back as the same outcome ensued. He groaned out, slightly hopping. He seethed through his teeth as he turned, raising the spear. "No more!" As it hit the rock, it careened back, hitting him smack in the forehead. "OW! Jeez!" He wiped his hand down his pained face, sighing. "Look, you understand the point I'm trying to make here, right? It's a- It's a symbolic gesture."

Red growled again, and Maisie spoke up, "I think she understands."

"You could've just done the hand on heart thing," you grinned, crossing your arms. 

Jacob turned with a smile, looking at you before down at the girl. His eyes went from Blue, who was squealing lightly in her arms, then back to hers. She seemed to understand, her smile fading. She spun him around in her hands, and he looked up at her with his adorable eyes. She chuckled as he splayed his tongue over her face.

You bent down beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. You held out your other one, tickling Blue underneath his chin, and he chittered, closing his eyes in content. 

"Alright, then," Jacob sighed. He softly took Blue into his large hands. "Time to go home." He trailed through the water, tenderly dropping him in the water. He surfaced with a squeak, tilting his head to the side. Jacob nodded with a smile and walked back to us. Blue watched, before swimming closer to Red.

Maisie smiled, then turning her gaze to the bigger creature of the two, she ran up, hugging her nose. You followed, caressing your hand over her rough skin. 

"Go on, girl," Maisie mumbled. "Go home." Just as you thought the sentimental moment would end on a good note, Red suddenly snorted, pupils thinning as she glanced around. You and Maisie stepped back, confusing lacing your faces as Red lifted her head, sniffing at the air. "Red?"

"Red!" Jacob called as the animal began stomping up the hill of the island. 

Together, the three of you ran after her. As you reached the top, your eyes widened. "Oh no," you breathed out.

It was the Imperator, in all it's completely un-modest glory.

"Need a hand here," a voice stated, and you looked down, finding a few boats, which were stacking on supplies. There was at least three dozen men down there. 

Jacob noticed this too, stepping over and holding his hands out. "Red, listen to me. Just leave. This doesn't have to be a fight."

Red's fuming eyes brisked down to him, but her overwhelming fury made her look back to the golden ship in the bay. Below, a navy soldier caught on to the Red Bluster, jaw going slack as a few oranges slipped from his crate of fruit.

"No, Red!" you called as she began to growl angrily. "Go. Go on, Red, just leave them be!"

"Red, we have to go. Please!" Maisie pleaded.

The same soldier shakily raised his gun up to the beast, clicking off the safety. You gasped as a gunshot rang, looking up to find Red hissing. She shook her head, before roaring and stampeding forward.

"No, Red! No!" Jacob shouted as you dashed after her imposing figure. 

Suddenly, as her flipper heaved forward, she knocked down trees with her. You grunted as yourself and Jacob gripped onto each other, a tree strapping you down. He held you tight to his chest, shielding you with the entirety of his body. "Maisie!" you screamed out, the girl still following Red.

Red's roar echoed through the air, but the canons booming competed with the sound as they sailed through the air. "Maisie, come back!" you cried, the bombs hitting the land around her.

"MAISIE!" Jacob yelled out. He took your arm in his hand, pulling you from the tree. The second you were free, you both took off, fingers locked. 

"No, Red, stop!" Maisie begged as she huffed.

"MAISIE!"

"NO!"

Your eyelids watered as she tripped, falling down a low hill as a cannon ball went off near her. You and Jacob skidded down next to her, and you heaved the girl into your arms, as Jacob frantically checked over her. "Maisie! Are you alright, lass?" he questioned, as you raised her head. 

"Is Red okay?" she croaked out. You looked out to Red, who was coursing through the water, straight for the Imperator. 

The ship surged as she careened through it, and she growled loudly. She slowly rose her body, glaring down at Hornagold, who whimpered with fear.

As she dove forward, mouth open, a clanging was heard, and a slight pain coursed through her body. Red stopped with a snarl, turning back, where Jacob stood. With a gun aimed directly at her.

He lowered it once he had her attention, and she opened her mouth, growling, almost in confusion, but mostly with rage.

Her gaze then shifted to you and Maisie. You cradled the young girl close to your chest, a visible cut on your temple. Red's eyes widened as she slowly ambled back to you both. Jacob dropped the gun, running over to you, hand going to the hilt of his knife as he took a protective stance.

"Stay back, beast. Leave them be," he threatened, unsheathing his dagger.

Red's pupils thinned again as she growled, snarling down at Jacob when a sudden burst captured all of your attention. You looked up from Maisie, to past the island, over into the sea, where a bright, red flare soared through the sky.

Maisie breathed shallowly and you held her tighter to your body. Jacob took out his telescope, raising it to his eye, looking through the glass. Red growled at the familiar ship. 

"It's the Red Bluster," Captain Crow rasped on the Inevitable, which was coming close to Rum Pepper Island. "The beast is delivered!"

Red hissed, before roaring, the sound making the ground shake. She stomped back into the water, and Maisie strained as she tried to sit up. 

"No, lass," Jacob stopped, coming down beside you as you wiped a hand down her cheek. "There's nothing to be done."

"She doesn't have to do this," she whispered.

Jacob looked back out to Red, who was now swimming low towards the Inevitable. "Yes. She does."

"Jacob!" you gasped, and he turned back to you. You raised your hand, which had been holding Maisie's head up, revealing the thick, red substance of blood coating your palm. You both looked down at her just to see her eyes closing.