The small splashes of saltwater here and there were refreshing. The sun was no longer up anymore, but it still felt unbearably hot for some reason. I wouldn't mind some beach filler honestly. I heaved a sigh and leaned back against the inside of the boat, trying to be patient with how long the ride was taking. Kara was gazing out at the ocean as we sped across and left the merchant post in the distance. I wanted to talk to her, but she looked troubled, and whatever was going on through her head was probably more than I could ever handle… at least it felt that way.
But at the same time, if I was going to do better I needed to know how to help the people I care about the most when they need it. Not even help them, just be there for them. So with my mind made up, I got up from the little bench and walked over to her. "Hey, you doing oka–!!" I had tapped her shoulder while I was in the middle of talking to her when the boat lurched to the side I tripped over myself as she had turned around. I had her pinned to the railing and her back pressed against the thin metal of it. Our faces were so close, too close for me to hide my very clear embarrassment of what had just happened.
"U-Um… Perrin, you… um, yeah!" She tried to speak, but clearly, words were failing her too. I wanted it to happen. I wanted to kiss this girl, even though the timing and setting were definitely off. It also felt like a definite rush in my second goal of romancing her, but I didn't care. But I do care… I gazed into her eyes and saw how they reflected the anxiety that she was feeling. She was biting her bottom lip and fiddling with the ends of her skirt. Most of all, she was trying really hard to not look me in the eyes.
I sighed and let her go with a small smile. "I understand, we can… it can wait. I don't want you to feel pressured." I leaned back and gave her some space to breathe. Her body immediately loosened up and I could tell she was relieved even if she wouldn't admit to it. "Th-Thanks…" She muttered with a pout on her face and her cheeks slightly red, "But maybe you should try watching where you're going! You're so dumb!" She jabbed her finger into my chest and I held my hands up defensively with slightly wider eyes.
"H-Hey, in my defense…" I trailed off when I felt something on my back move. I turned to look over my shoulder and saw the rolled-up scroll of parchment float out and unravel itself. "Oh, did I do something off my list?" I grabbed a hold of it and watched the mini gaster face chomp away at the letters one by one. I squinted to get a better look and smiled a bit at what it was.
'I should take others into consideration.'
Huh, that really does sound like something I've wanted to do.
"What was it?" Kara asked and tried to peer over my shoulder, but I rolled it back up and slipped it into my adventure pack. "Nothing too important." I shook my head and turned to face her with a small smile. She opened her mouth, but then June's shuffling interrupted her and she moved her hair away from her shoulder to reveal the once-sleeping June was stretching his wings.
"There's something here and it's dangerous. My feathers are all ruffled, Miss Kara ma'am." He chittered before hopping off her shoulder and turning back into his much more normal kid self. I gripped the strap of my bag tightly and looked over as Suzo and Azul approached, no longer masking themselves from us and with smirks that reeked of mischief on their faces.
The air felt thicker like every breath I took could potentially be my last. There was this purple haze that had been swirling in the air since we set sail, but the island itself was engulfed in a denser purple smog that kept me in this chokehold. I wasn't the only one to feel it, but it seemed like I was the only one who could truly withstand it. Kara was trying to mask her lack of oxygen, and if I didn't know any better I would've thought she was fine. June was more on the dramatic side and consumed what little oxygen he had by hyperventilating.
"Here we are, travelers. I recommend wearing these, for your safety." Suzo held out masks that were identical to the one he was wearing earlier. We didn't hesitate to take one, but he pulled it away from me slightly with a strange look. "Why would you…? Ah," He let go of the mask and let me have it, "Never mind me." I slipped it around my mouth and nose and inhaled the sweet purifying H2O that I had always taken for granted.
But what was that about…?
"Suzo, why'd you hesitate?" I tapped his broad shoulders as he carried over a large plank above his head. He shrugged and dropped the board on the edge of the boat's bow. It fell over and landed on the rickety pier where we were docked out. "Merely observing. Don't mind my babbling, traveler." He shook his head as Azul sauntered over with Kara and June following suit. "We're home! Ah, shrimpy, this is where ya wanted to come? It's Isla Ila Abab! Home of the Terrors!" He cackled and threw his arms up with dramatic flare. "Shrimpy, birdbrain, ninja, be careful. We get extra hungry at night~!" He giggled and I couldn't tell if that was the most unsettling part about him.
I had so many questions, but with tension still high between us and the hybrid twins, I doubted I'd get any type of explanation any time soon.