Chapter - 3

We where halfway to the village, we could already hear the construction underway, we knew that we would be shouted at by our parents for dodging our responsibility, Asta and I parted ways at the village border. I went back to my home and saw my father eagerly waiting for me with an angered look on his face, he stood up as he saw me and began to speak "And were you last night boy?" the look on his face made me feel as if he were about to rip me limb from limb, "I was out in the woods last night father", his expression hadn't changed, "What could you possibly have been doing that is more important than feeding the village?" I looked at the ground and said "Asta" a grin crept onto my face, I had expected my father to shame me for spending the night with a girl rather than helping with my duties, my father placed his hand on my shoulder and said, "Boy, you have a good heart" he then started to chuckle. I joined him in his laughter, and after a few moments ha asked me to start hauling in our latest catch, the fish where much larger this year than last, the nets came in with hundreds of fish. We had been packing fish for so long my hands had gone wrinkly with fish slime, the sun was on its way down when we had finally stopped packing the fish into our storage barrels. I went back inside my home and found my father resting by the fire, he gestured me to join him, I gladly did. "If the catch is this good for a few more days we will have enough food for the winter," he said, as I sat down I said "Hopefully, what would you like me to do tomorrow morning father?", "You will join me on the boats tomorrow" he replied, I nodded at my father and asked if he would like a mug of ale, he said yes without hesitation. I grabbed our mugs and poured us both some of my brilliant ale, we then sat by the fire relaxing at drinking ale.

The moon was almost at its peak, and my father had gone to sleep, I was about to join him in his slumber when I felt a hand on my shoulder, I stood up with the great speed and was ready to fight whoever had broken into my home, my eyes scanned the room but all I saw was a small girl behind me, I did not know who it was as it was far too dark to see her face. I asked softly, "Who are you?" the girl replied softly with "Do you not recognize me?" I was confused, I was about to ask another question when I felt her hands slowly creep into my shirt and feel my chest, I smiled and pulled my head closer to hers and said "Asta" I had a huge smile on my face, Asta chuckled a bit and said "Its been a while, I needed to see you" I pulled her over and sat with her on my bed, "It's only been a day, what do you need?" she pulled herself closer to me and said "It has been far too long, I can't stand being away from you" I chuckled as she said this and laid down, she climbed onto of me resting her head on my chest. She was so warm, her skin so soft, I placed my hands on her lower back, as I did this she started to breathe deeply, I rolled overtaking her with me, we where now face to face and I could see her mesmerizing grey eyes, our eyes were locked onto each other, I pulled her closer to me and gave her a loving kiss which felt like it lasted forever, the feeling of her soft lips on mine was so addictive, I could have stayed there for a lifetime and had no regrets. She yawned and turned her back to me, I let out a soft chuckle as did she, I placed my arms around her now holding her close to me, and I fell asleep soon after, the scent of her was intoxicating, I slept in complete peace that night.

The next morning came and I was woken up by a hand tapping me, I was still dazed and I sat upright, Asta still laid beside me asleep, I looked at the person who had woken me up, and it was my father standing there with a grin on his face, my face went bright red and I tried to speak but he had stopped me before I could start, "Quiet boy, you don't want to wake her" I was silent and slowly got out of the bed and followed my father downstairs, he had already prepared breakfast for myself, him and Asta. As I sat down at the table Asta walked down the stairs, she hadn't noticed my father yet so she looked at me and gave me a sleepy smile, I smiled back at her, she was still dazed but she had scanned the room and to her surprise, she saw my father sitting at the table as well with a large grin on his face. Her face went as red as embers and she said "M-Morning sir" my father gestured her to join us at the table, she did so with her head looking at the ground, I too was staring at the ground now. Asta sat beside me and we both awaited our punishment. My father looked at the two of us and let out a loud laugh, and then he began to speak "Asta, Hunter does not bow your heads in shame, I am not going to punish you nor will I tell anyone of this" his face still had a beaming grin on it. I let out a deep breath of relief, Asta still had her head facing the ground, I placed my hand on her shoulder and said: "Asta don't worry, my father would never lie to me nor you" she looked at me, her face still very red and said, "Are you sure?" I gave her a loving smile and said "I'm positive" with that, she took a deep breath and turned towards my father. "Thank you, sir, how may I repay you?" my father once again chuckled and said "There is no need to my dear. You two remind me of myself and Hunter's mother when we were younger." I looked at my father with a slight sadness in my eyes, he had never talked of my mother nor did I ask him, she had died when I was still a baby, he still had a grin on his face but his eyes were now filled with sadness. After a few moments he looked at the two of us and said: "Right after eating, you both will accompany me on the boats" I was about to protest that Asta should not come alone but she cut me off and said, "Yes sir, it would be an honor" my father stood up, still smiling and said, "I shall see you in a few moments" and with that, he walked out the house closing the door behind him. I turned to Asta and said "Don't worry you can breathe now" I had a grin on my face, she smiled back at me and hit me in the chest, "Hunter you really are a fool", I was about to ask why she had hit me but she cut me off with a kiss.

We had finished our breakfast and started heading towards the boats, my father was waiting patiently for us two. We helped him load the nets and bait and sailed off as usual.