The former Golden Guard had just finished breakfast when the doorbell rang at the Deamonne dwelling, and Darius went to answer.
"Hunter, your little princess is here!"
The young man's face flushed and he ran to the entrance, and found Willow Park standing in the doorway.
"Hi, Hunter!" she said with a wave of her fingers.
"Hey, Captain," he said, smiling back. "What brings you all the way out here, so early?"
"Well, it's a bit of a journey to Hexside from here, and since you...don't have a new staff yet...maybe I could fly you part of the way?"
Hunter was a little puzzled by this. She didn't need to go out of her way to help him get to school, but appreciated the offer. Plus, it meant spending a little extra time with her before splitting off into their classes for the day. "Um, yeah. Thanks. Just give me a moment to grab my things, and..." Darius' abomination hand appeared next to him, already holding his bookbag. "...we can get going." He grabbed the bag and the two young witches mounted Clover.
"Hold on tight," Willow said with a wink. Hunter did as he was told and put his arms around her waist, blushing again.
"Don't keep him out too late," Darius said with a warm smile before closing the door.
After a short flight, they came to a landing in Bonesborough, Willow opting to walk the rest of the way. "I know there's still a way to go, but I was hoping we could talk a while."
"Yeah, no problem." She took his hand, and Hunter felt very glad he opted to stop wearing gloves. "Anything in particular?"
"Well, I just...really needed to know you were doing okay. I've been thinking a lot about...what happened after the hayride."
"Oh..." Hunter's smile faded. "Yeah, I'm doing great. I do miss Camila, the Human Realm, and hanging out with you guys all the time, but...I'm adjusting." He looked over at her. "That was a...rough night for you too, huh?"
"I know it was awful for you, but...it was frightening for me. You were laying in my lap, dying if not already dead, and there was nothing I could do to help you." Using her free hand, she wiped the tears out of her eyes. "I think in that moment, I realized just how much you mean to me...and how terrified I was of losing you."
"Captain..." He impulsively pulled her in for a gentle hug, only tightening his grip after she wrapped her arms around him. He could feel his heart pounding with her face in his chest. She looked up at him with those beautiful bespectacled eyes, and he looked back at her. The cawing of a bird overhead broke the silence and diverted their attention for a moment. Feeling flustered once they looked back at each other, they broke the hug and looked away again. "Um, we'd better get moving."
"Yeah, we should, but...thanks," Willow said with a smile. "I needed that."
She kept ahold of his hand the rest of the way to Hexside. "See you at lunch time, and Flyer Derby practice?"
"Sure thing," Hunter took a deep breath, "And maybe after school we can...do this again, and...take the long way home?"
"I'd like that a lot," said Willow. "I'll see you later." She turned to go, but stopped herself after a few steps, turned back to Hunter, and kissed him on the cheek before running off down the hall. Hunter stood there and watched her go, lightly caressing the spot touched by her lips, a wide smile draped across his face.