...

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Third Person P.O.V

The Inevitable sails slowly across the dark waters, the sky above filled with stars and the brilliant moon. The ship was barely floating, tilting heavily on its side and the masts severely damaged from fighting Red. It was eerily quiet, some crew members working silently on the masts above with crestfallen expressions.

Crow sat at the head of the ship, glaring down at the water as he sharpened his spear head.

"Captain," Sarah's voice cuts through the silence, the area brightening a bit as she walks over with a lantern. "The beast is gone. We can't stay out here."

"That thing took Jacob and (Y/N)," was all Crow replied, voice low.

"And I want it dead same as you!" Sarah sharply responds with a scowl, voice rough with anger. "But we'll founder if we don't get to port."

Crow turns his head at this, grunting under his breath.

...

"She's making more water than we can pump out," Sarah leads Crow beneath the deck through the knee-high water, crew members working endlessly to scoop water out from below with buckets. "And the patch we fothered keeps slipping. If we stay out here much longer, we'll be sunk."

Some of the crew worked on sawing at wooden boards, attempting to create a patch for the many holes in the ship.

Crow sighs in frustration. "Shape a course for Mukesh Island."

Sarah's eyes narrow at this, the crew looking up in alarm with light gasps as they halt their actions.

"But the closest port is--"

"Mukesh!" Crow bellows, cutting Sarah off as he turns and starts storming out. "It'll be Mukesh by thunder, or the ocean floor."

Byron watches him with a glare. "Would you be planning a visit to Gwen Batterbie, by any chance?"

Crow comes to a stop, turning and scowling at Byron with a scoff but remaining silent, giving his answer.

"Captain," Sarah shakes her head, tone full of shock and apprehension as she starts to follow him out. "Her wares come at too steep a price! To make covenant with the likes of her is against the hunter's code."

Crow snarls furiously, turning to Sarah. "Blast whatever code would bar me my revenge! There be no charter over me own!"

Sarah breathes in deeply, her eyes squinting as she watches him.

"I'll use Batterbie's methods. I'll do whatever it takes!" Crow looks along the crew with a wild look in his eye. "I'd cleave the very sea and destroy everything that swims, scuttles, or bobs if I have to!"

He steps closer to Sarah, making her flinch just barely as she continues to glare up at him.

"But I'll have vengeance," he swears lowly, turning and marching away. "I'll have vengeance."

The crew watch him leave before turning to Sarah, who sighs softly through her mouth and shakes her head.

...

Crow leans over the table in his cabin, candles lit to illuminate the book on the table. He flips through the pages of his legacy book, pausing when he comes across the blank pages that had been meant for Jacob.

He sighs and shakes his head, his expression hardening as he throws the book away with a scream of rage. He breathes heavily, leaning his hands on the table and hanging his head low.

"Trim the sails for a new course! Keep her full and by!" Merino's voice shouts from outside, muffled by the walls of his cabin.

...

..

.

Maisie slept soundly curled into a ball, her arm tucked under her head and her other arm resting on her satchel beneath her with her hand resting in front of her mouth. She sniffles a bit as she stirs, rubbing her itchy nose as her eyes peek open.

They light up in relief when she sees Jacob asleep on the ground, leaning his head against his spear as he snored lightly. Her smile drops when she notices (Y/N) wasn't in the shell, making her look around quickly before gasping when she notices the sack of fruit moving.

A dark blue creature squeaks lightly as he emerges from the sack, small antenna on his head glowing. He growls lightly as he tries to bite at the coconut, squeaking in alarm when he notices Maisie awake.

He scrambles to run away, tripping over his small flippers as he spits out the coconut. He runs out of the shell, Maisie watching him with wide eyes. She slowly rises, careful not to wake up Jacob as she grabs a small chunk of fruit and exits the shell.

"Hey, you're up!" (Y/N)'s voice greets, making her look over to her with a surprised gasp.

(Y/N) was sitting on a nearby boulder, a small pile of flowers resting besides her leg as she weaves them together in her hands for a flower crown.

"Care to join me?"

"Um..." Maisie trails off when she spots the creature hiding behind a skinny tree, his body sticking out.

(Y/N) follows Maisie's gaze, chuckling quietly with a head shake. "I've been trying to shoo him off for an hour. Keeps coming back, though."

Maisie starts to approach the creature, making him squeal and dash away into the brush. (Y/N) watches in amusement, setting her flower crown aside as she rises and joins Maisie's side.

"I tried feeding him, too. Maybe he'll like you more," she encourages, making Maisie look up at her with a grin.

She holds the chunk of fruit out towards the creature. "Hey, little guy."

The creature shrieks, startled they could still see him as he runs away. Maisie runs after him, (Y/N) glancing back towards the shell before quickly following. The creature leaps over bushes, squeaking as he lands on his front and rolls a bit.

He sits up, licking his lips quickly like a dog. He peers up at Maisie and (Y/N) with wide eyes, tilting his head as he coos.

Maisie looks back to (Y/N) before inching forward, (Y/N) watching with interest as she keeps a casual hand settled on her dagger handle, just in case. The creature croaks lightly as Maisie gets closer, bouncing forward cutely and panting softly.

Maisie giggles and lowers down to her knee, offering the fruit. The creature croaks once more, opening his mouth widely and leaning back before chomping on the fruit and her hand.

"Maisie--!" (Y/N) starts with concern, rushing over and pausing a few paces behind her when she notices the creature releases Maisie's hand. "Oh..."

The creature munches happily on the fruit as (Y/N) removes her hand from her dagger handle, smiling as she slowly joins Maisie's side and squats down in front of the creature.

"Reminds me of a dog," (Y/N) says with a chuckle, watching the beast eat with amusement.

She holds her hand out, the creature bouncing forward and sniffing lightly at her hand. He squeals lightly, pawing at her fingertips with his flipper. (Y/N) was taken aback by this, a surprised laugh leaving her as she tilts her head at the creature.

Maisie scoops up the beast, holding it in front of her with a wide smile. "These things ain't so bad."

The creature croaks, purring lightly as he looks between the two.

"Let's show Jacob!" Maisie excitedly speaks, making (Y/N) turn to her quickly.

"Ooh, not sure how he'll feel about this," she starts to warn, Maisie taking a step as (Y/N) moves to follow.

The two halt when Maisie squishes something, both slowly looking down.

"Back, get back!" (Y/N) whispers urgently, gently grabbing Maisie's arm and pulling her backwards.

She holds the girl close to her side as they look around them, dozens upon dozens of the odd rocks scatter around them in the ground.

"What... are you... doing?"

Jacob's low voice makes the two look back, Jacob standing by the brush with his spear in hand, expression both irritated and tired and his hair a bit disarrayed.

"I, uh..." Maisie stammers, hugging Blue close as she sheepishly smiles.

"I wouldn't respond. Anything we say may make the vein in his forehead grow larger," (Y/N) whispers loudly to the girl, Jacob's eyebrow twitching when he hears this.

"Hardy har, love," Jacob grumbles, voice laced with sleep as he sighs. "Just don't move."

Jacob sets his spear down, grabbing his belt and lightly tugging his pants up as he starts to slowly maneuver through the eggs in the ground.

"I've always wanted a pet," Maisie giddily says, hugging Blue as he coos and nuzzles into her.

"That's not a pet!" Jacob hisses back, pointing to the beast firmly. "It's a monster, and we're not keeping it."

"Oh, yes, a fearsome monster," (Y/N) says in a monotone, rolling her eyes lightly. "C'mon, Jacob. Look at him."

Jacob looks down at Blue, Blue cooing as he tilts his head while peering up at Jacob.

"... No," Jacob bluntly responds, shaking his head.

"But I already named him!" Maisie protests.

"Let me guess. Blue," Jacob sarcastically says, scoffing lightly with a bored expression.

Maisie's eyes dart away from Jacob as she grumbles.

"You named that one Red, you named this one Blue," he continues, shaking his head as he gets closer. "We stay much longer, and we'll have a rainbow of critters that wanna eat us."

"But he's so cute!" Maisie protests, holding Blue out. "Look at his face!"

Blue yawns loudly, stretching his arms out.

Jacob looks down at it, eyebrow arched as he looks from it to (Y/N), then back to Maisie. "You and I... have a different idea of cute."

He grabs Blue's head, making Maisie gasp and (Y/N)'s face fall.

"Jacob, come now, don't--!"

Jacob hurls Blue away, branches cracking in the distance as Maisie watches in horror, (Y/N)'s mouth dropped in shock.

"Jacob!" (Y/N) firmly says, slapping his bicep with a scowl.

"When we get to Guelston," Jacob starts, grabbing Maisie and throwing her over his shoulder. "I'll get her a cat. She can name it Gray or White. Ginger, if she'd like."

"Unbelievable," (Y/N) groans, rubbing her face as she slowly follows his path.

Maisie scowls as she sits up on his shoulder. "Why can't you be like (Y/N)? You're mean!"

"And you're too old to be giving in to childish temptations," Jacob grumbles back, staggering a bit as he catches himself.

"It ain't childish to want a pet!" Maisie argues, scoffing. "Lots of people have pets."

"Not pets that will lay eggs in your mouth that hatch and burst out through your chest cavity!" Jacob replies firmly.

"Oh, Jacob! There hasn't been a Xenomorph beast in centuries," (Y/N) responds in annoyance, shaking her head. "Besides, they say them beasts only appear in the stars. Not on land."

"Not the point," Jacob shakes his head, looking back at her. "The point is, we don't know what he'd do. We don't know anything about this island, except we've got to get off it, by thunder!"

He marches a foot forward, an egg crunching beneath his boot. He gasps and quickly steps back, stepping onto another egg, then another as he staggers a bit. Jacob starts to fall backwards, continuing to try to catch himself and stepping on egg after egg. The eggs start to crackle around them, the three watching with wide eyes. They look around swiftly as the eggs start to hatch, blobs of yellow pooling out.

"... Nicely done," (Y/N) sarcastically states in a monotone, shaking her head as she sighs.

Jacob looks beneath his boot, gasping and removing it when he sees he was standing on an egg. The shell pops off, a bright yellow creature looking up at the three with beady eyes before it bellows loudly.

(Y/N) looks around behind Jacob with wide eyes as the yellow creatures around start to roar as well, all emerging from their eggs. Jacob grabs her hand, nervously chuckling.

"Best be going!"

...

Jacob holds the sack of supplies over his shoulder, spear in his other hand as he leaps out of the brush. (Y/N) was carrying Maisie in her arms, Maisie hugging her satchel to her chest. Behind them, a tidal wave of the yellow, blobby creatures was chasing.

The creatures catch up, overwhelming the three as they exclaim.

"Maybe they're bonded to us!" Maisie yells over the beasts roars, the beasts nuzzling the three happily. "Like geese!"

"It's the mother goose I'm worried about!" Jacob responds, flinching away from a creature as it licks his cheek.

A loud crackle in the distance makes the three look up, straining out of the pool of creatures to see. Trees knock over as a beast's roar rings out, a large, yellow beast bursting from the trees.

"Yup, there she is!" (Y/N) shouts, shoving against the pups. "Let's go!"

The yellow pups roar happily when they see their real mom, Jacob, Maisie and (Y/N) running towards the boat, unaware one was attached to Jacob's backside. Jacob tosses his spear in the boat, doing the same to the bag as the beast roars and charges after them.

The three strain to push the boat into the water, Maisie yelping as she slips forward and looks back at the beast briefly. She quickly rises and continues helping, climbing into the boat when they make it to the water as (Y/N) climbs in after, followed by Jacob.

Jacob works on assembling the mast, (Y/N) helping him as Maisie watches the momma beast get closer. She looks back at Jacob, gasping when she sees the yellow pup on his back. She grabs the small beast, throwing it back towards the mom.

The beast stops charging, purring gently at her baby as she nuzzles into it.

(Y/N) watches the sight in awe, a small smile on her face as she sets a hand on Maisie's shoulder. Jacob sighs in relief as the monster stops charging at them, slowly turning and glaring down at Maisie with his hands on his hips.

Maisie chuckles nervously, hugging (Y/N)'s side and hiding her face into her shirt.

"Oh, stop looking at her like that. You're the one who stepped on all them eggs," (Y/N) scolds lightly, making his expression fall.

"But only because she-- but I--!" Jacob stammers out, huffing with a small pout as his words die in his throat.

Maisie smugly smiles at him, sticking her tongue out with a nod.

Jacob's eye twitches as he sighs. "Hold the rudder."

Maisie does this, (Y/N) grabbing the map from their bag of supplies and looking over it with a thoughtful hum.

"Rum Pepper Island isn't too far," she points out, beckoning Jacob over and pointing to it.

"We should be able to flag down a ship," Jacob agrees with a nod, the two exchanging a glance. "The Dregmorr is thick with monsters," he murmurs, glancing up at Maisie. "But don't worry. If there's one of them things within a mile of us, I'll sense it."

Maisie was staring past them in horror, (Y/N)'s expression hardening when she notices the odd movements of the waves. Her body tenses when she hears a soft growl, making her set down the map and slowly look back as she unsheathes her cutlass.

"Jacob."

Jacob turns, pausing and double taking at the sight. "... May be a little off my game here."

A large, crab-like beast was reaching for them with a claw the size of a mountain, (Y/N) darting towards Maisie and holding her close as Jacob lunges away from the claw. The beast picks up the boat, (Y/N) reaching for Jacob's hand and missing as she and Maisie fall from the boat.

They land on the top, backside of the crab beast, (Y/N) looking up at Jacob with wide eyes.

"Jacob" Maisie shouts in concern, Jacob looking down at them before attempting to grab his spear as it falls from the boat.

He grunts as she starts to climb up the side of the boat, facing the monster with a scowl. Its mouth plates open, revealing a spiral of sharp teeth inside. He winces at the sight, grabbing the oar and fighting against the shifting teeth as the beast tries to shove the boat into its mouth.

Jacob grunts as he falls backwards, holding the teeth back away from him with the oar and shouting with effort.

A large red horn starts to rise from the sea in front of the crab beast, Maisie gasping softly at the sight of Red and (Y/N)'s face lighting up in relief.

Jacob looks back with wide eyes, blinking rapidly at the sight of Red. The crab beasts mouth drops open, the boat falling from it as Jacob shouts and lands in the water in the boat. He groans in pain as he sits up, spotting his spear in the water a ways away from him.

...

Red roars powerfully as she faces the crab beast, colliding her horn against it.

"Hold on, you two!" Jacob shouts up at the two, rowing the boat frantically towards his weapon.

...

(Y/N) grabs onto Maisie, who yelps as they go sliding. (Y/N) grabs onto a jagged edge of the crab beast's backside, holding on tightly as Jacob maneuvers between the rapid-moving crab legs.

Red screeches as she lifts herself up, lunging forward once more as the crab beast blocks its face with its mighty claws. This causes the beast to tilt backwards, (Y/N) holding onto Maisie as they go sliding along its back. (Y/N) grunts as she lands on her frontside against a small horn of the crab beast, holding onto Maisie's hand as she dangles beneath her.

Jacob rows quickly under them in the water, the boat rotating due to the waves as he gets closer to his spear. He reaches for it, the two fighting beasts causing a wave that knocks him away from it.

The crab beast darts quickly around to avoid Red, Red snarling viciously as she circles around the other beast with narrowed eyes.

(Y/N) grunts as she draws her dagger, raising it up to pierce the beast below her before yelping as she and Maisie go sliding once more.

Red snarls as she lunges for the crab beast, the crab beast darting to the side to avoid her as it snaps its claws in a threatening manner. Red does this again and again, the crab beast dodging her and Jacob yelling out as the waves make his boat spiral out of control.

Red follows the crab beast towards a tall rock sticking out of the ocean, the beast climbing up the rock and facing her. Red roars as she lunges for the beast, the crab beast scittering up the side of the rock and around as Red tries to follow. Her horn pierces through the rock with ease, making it crumble under its path.

...

"Hold on, Maisie!" (Y/N) shouts as she holds onto the spike of the crab, hugging Maisie close in her other arm.

...

Red lands back in the water with a growl, the crab beast using this opportunity to climb onto her backside. It grabs Red's horn with its claw, making her roar and thrash against it with a pained snarl.

Maisie yelps and hugs (Y/N) tightly in fear, her eye peeking open and noticing Red. She softly gasps at the sight of Red roaring in pain, struggling to get free.

"We've got to help her," (Y/N) mutters to herself, looking around quickly with narrowed eyes. "Wait here, and don't let go!"

Maisie grabs her arm, shaking her head. "No, I want to help!"

(Y/N) looks down at Maisie, hesitating before nodding. "Let's hurry!"

...

The two start to run across the slippery surface of the crab beast's backside, Red struggling in the claw of the beast as Jacob rows to his spear.

He finally manages to grab it, raising it readily in his hand as he pants lightly. He pauses, unable to get a clear shot on the crab beast.

...

Maisie runs ahead, shouting as she jumps and lands on the crab beast's eye. She yanks its eyelid backwards, making it shriek and stagger backwards. (Y/N) slides down along the side of the crab, landing on where its shoulder would be. She grunts as she regains her footing, yelling as she stabs her dagger through the fleshy part between its protective plates on its arm. This makes it bellow out, its claws releasing Red.

Maisie screams when she loses her grip on the beast, falling into the sea below.

(Y/N) gasps lightly, quickly looking around and spotting Jacob watching her with wide eyes. "Jacob, the weak point is under its arms! Hurry!"

With that, she dives into the water below after Maisie.

Jacob focuses on the crab beast, spotting where her dagger was lodged and nodding with a determined expression. He steps forward confidently, grunting as he brings the spear back and releases it.

The spear spirals through the air, piercing directly beside (Y/N)'s dagger.

...

The crab beast shrieks out, stumbling a bit as it attempts to reach the spear and grab it from under its arm. Red snarls lowly as she regains herself, slowly rising with a dangerous look on her face. The crab beast looks up at her sheepishly, Red roaring as she swiftly moves forward and bites onto its claw.

She swings her head back, releasing the crab beast's claw and sending it soaring through the air. It lands with a heavy crash in the water, Red panting heavily as she huffs through her nostrils. The crab beast struggles to get onto its legs, meekly roaring.

Raising her head, she lets out a mighty roar, making the crab beast flee quickly. It disappears into the ocean, making her nod in satisfaction.

...

(Y/N) grabs Maisie, holding her close as she starts to swim upwards. She felt herself losing oxygen quickly, making bubbles burst from her mouth as she winces and tries to move faster.

...

Jacob rows to where (Y/N) dove in with a worried expression, panting softly from exertion.

"(Y/N)! Maisie!" he shouts, looking around the water in a panic with his hands on the sides of the boat. "(Y/N)! Maisie!"

The water starts to bubble, making Jacob look back with a light gasp as Blue appears from it, (Y/N) holding onto him and holding Maisie against her side. (Y/N) gasps and sputters for air, Maisie panting heavily as she looks around in a daze.

"Good boy!" Maisie praises, coughing up some water as she sniffles.

Jacob laughs in relief, holding the oar out to them as Blue swims closer to the boat. (Y/N) grabs it, Jacob tugging her over and grabbing Maisie from her. Once she was settled, he pulls (Y/N) onto the boat, (Y/N) flopping onto her backside and sighing in exhaustion.

He looks between the two with heavy concern, Maisie grinning up at him and (Y/N) offering a reassuring smile as she nods, showing they were okay. A smile cracks on his face as he chuckles, nodding back.

Water starts to pool around them, making (Y/N) sit up with a frown as she looks for the source. There was a hole in their boat, causing the boat to tip a bit as water filled it.

"We've got to return to the island," (Y/N) says with urgency, grabbing the oar and handing it to Jacob.

"We'll never make it!" Maisie disagrees, looking at the distance with wide eyes.

"Depends on how fast you and (Y/N) can bail," Jacob responds casually, sitting at the head of the boat with the oars ready.

He starts to row as (Y/N) hands Maisie the only bucket, (Y/N) using her hands to quickly scoop water from the boat and into the ocean.

Maisie fills the bucket, dumping it out before pausing when she sees Red was still behind them, her back to them.

"... Maybe Red can take us!" Maisie suggests, facing Jacob.

"Back to the island?" Jacob questions, grunting as he rows the oars.

"No, back home!" Maisie explains, making him scoff and roll his eyes.

(Y/N) looks back at Red, humming in thought. "You know, that's not a terrible idea."

"Oh, you've both lost it!" Jacob groans in disbelief, shaking his head.

Maisie huffs, scowling. "She saved us from that thing, didn't she?"

Red lowly grumbles as she turns her head, her golden eye watching the boat row from her.

"Wait," Jacob shakes his head in disbelief. "She? Did... are you--! I think (Y/N) and I did the saving, right?! I mean, she stabbed it, then I threw the-- the..."

He struggles to find words in his frustration, making him exhale sharply.

"Get bailing! (Y/N) can only do so much alone, and the water's coming in!" he hisses with anger, grumbling.

Maisie looks to (Y/N), who was watching Red with confliction in her eyes as she slowly scoops water with her hands. She shakes her head with a sigh, her eyebrows furrowing a bit as she turns away from Red. Maisie's face hardens as she turns, standing and cupping her mouth.

"Hey!" she shouts to the beast, making her rumble and slowly turn. "Red! See this little guy?"

She raises Blue, who squeaks lightly as he licks his chops. Red lowers down eye level with the boat, rumbling curiously.

"This is you!" Maisie continues.

(Y/N) watches Red warily, still a bit unsure of whether or not they could truly trust a beast. Sure, Red has been different, so has Blue. But that crab beast made the doubt eating in her mind grow. They were still unpredictable.

"You're wasting your time," Jacob says in a sing song, focusing on the island behind him as he rows towards it.

"And this is us," Maisie continues, holding up a fruit.

Red looks at the fruit with an understanding huff, shifting a bit closer as she watches.

"Are you putting on a puppet show?" Jacob demands in disbelief. "We're sinking here!"

"Just let her talk to Red," (Y/N) waves him off, lightly kicking his leg. "Peanut gallery."

Jacob deadpans at the insult, huffing as he pouts and turns away while rowing.

"We need to get way over there," Maisie continues, setting the fruit on Blue's head and holding him up in one hand, pointing the direction they need to go in with her free one. "And I wonder if you might be good enough to take us?"

Red rumbles lightly as she rises, turning away from Maisie and looking the direction she pointed. (Y/N) watches Red in awe, Jacob pausing in surprise when Red turns back to them. Red stares at them for a moment before diving into the water, the boat lightly swaying as she disappears.

"... Well, if she does understand ya, she don't wanna help," Jacob speaks up after a moment, shaking his head. "Bright side? She didn't eat ya. Now, get bailing."

Maisie looks down with disappointment as she sets Blue down, (Y/N) feeling a bit of disappointment as well as she clears her throat, focusing on the water in the boat. Maisie goes to grab the bucket from the ocean, the water suddenly turning red.

She gasps as Red roars, swimming beneath them. Jacob looks around quickly, (Y/N) holding onto the side of the boat as she watches Red with wide eyes. Jacob yells in surprise as the boat was raised onto Red's backside, (Y/N) laughing in awe as Maisie grins widely. The water around them settles, Maisie giggling as Blue bounces around happily. Jacob chuckles nervously, looking around Red's scales before looking up at the seagulls as Red swims forward.

"See! We told you she was more than a beast!" Maisie shouts triumphantly, looking down at Red in delight.

Maisie rushes off the boat, landing on her hands and knees on Red's scales. She looks down at it in awe, snickering before laughing in joy. (Y/N) watches her with a smile, Maisie rising and cheering as Jacob shakes his head in amusement and chuckles.

"This... changes everything," (Y/N) quietly says, making him look at her as she frowns to herself.

She looks back at him, shaking her head with devastation.

"Have we really been wrong... this whole time?" she questions, her expression tightened.

Jacob's expression falls at this, and he doesn't respond. Because he himself wasn't sure anymore of anything.

Red continues to swim across the sea, Maisie's laughter ringing out into the sky.

...

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