Don't Call Me Aria

Elsewhere on the island, Aria was clutching a small rock, her tiny figure shaking as she faced the now fearful boar. Her heart pounded wildly against her rib cage, her blue eyes wide with apprehension. Yet, she refused to let the fear consume her. She was brave, like her Daddy.

The small girl raised her hand, ready to throw the rock if the boar dared to take a step closer. However, just as she braced herself, an overwhelming aura of fear swept over her. The boar, too, froze in its tracks, its earlier aggressive posture completely forgotten. Aria blinked in confusion, her heart pounding less in fear and more in anticipation. Daddy.

When Jack emerged from the verdant undergrowth, a wave of relief coursed through Aria. His presence alone had an almost magical effect of diminishing her fears, replacing them with an overwhelming sense of safety. Seeing him, she released the rock she was clutching and launched herself at him. "Daddy!" she cried, a torrent of tears streaking down her cheeks. Her earlier bravado crumbled, replaced by the raw vulnerability of a child who'd just been confronted with the harsh realities of the world.

Jack, his arms wrapping around his small daughter protectively, cast a quick, trained eye over her, checking for injuries. Finding none, he let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He kissed the top of her head, his voice softening as he murmured, "I am here, Princess. Everything is okay."

As Aria buried her face into Jack's chest, Pacura and Shakky emerged from the forest. Pacura's giant form padded silently, its dreadful aura subdued. The panther settled next to Jack, its sharp gaze focused on the boar, now retreating in fear.

Shakky stood a little away, her gaze fixated on the scene unfolding before her. The raw vulnerability in Aria, Jack's tenderness towards his daughter, the silent bond between the man and the beast, it was all overwhelming. Shakky felt a warmth spreading through her chest, her heart aching at the sight. She had only recently come to understand these emotions, these strange stirrings that they called love, and it was a daunting sensation.

She had been too concerned with their survival earlier to think of anything else, but now that Aria was safe, those feelings surfaced again. Watching Jack's interactions with his daughter, Shakky felt a longing that she'd never known before, a yearning to be part of such a bond. It was a tender scene that tugged at her heart, one that only served to deepen the complex web of emotions she had come to associate with the man.

Pacura, meanwhile, maintained its stoic watch, its eyes still trained on the vanishing boar. Its entire demeanor projected a deadly calmness that belied the power held in check. The beast's presence was an unsettling contrast to the tender father-daughter reunion occurring beside it. Yet, it was a testament to the many layers that made up the man who had tamed such a beast.

As Aria calmed down, her sobs subsiding into hiccupping whimpers, Jack finally looked up, his deep blue eyes meeting Shakky's gaze. His expression was as calm and unreadable as ever, but there was an undeniable warmth in his eyes when they landed on Aria.

His attention turned back to his daughter, he gently pushed back a few loose strands of hair from her face. His touch was feather-light, his fingers trailing down to wipe away the wet trails of her tears. "There, there, Princess," he murmured, his voice barely louder than a whisper, "No more tears. You're safe now."

Aria nodded against his chest, her small arms tightening around him as she muttered a quiet, "Okay, Daddy."

Jack's voice took on a stern quality that seemed to radiate through the calm of the jungle clearing. "Princess, what did I tell you about adventuring?" The calm and composed tone juxtaposed his concern, giving his words a gravity that was undeniable.

His daughter, Aria, shrank back slightly, still held tightly in his arms. Her large forest-green eyes, now as calm as tamed foliage rather than the dangerous green they were when she was facing the boar, welled up with tears again. However, she was a brave girl, just like her daddy, and she forced herself to meet his gaze.

"I should never go alone," she whispered, her voice trembling. The words seemed to echo in the quiet clearing, hanging heavily in the air. Her admission didn't ease the stern set of Jack's face.

He nodded, his deep blue eyes maintaining their intense gaze. "You better remember this," he commanded. His voice was devoid of any warmth. This was not a gentle coaxing, but a reprimand, an order to be obeyed.

Aria, too young to fully understand the danger she'd placed herself in, but aware of her father's seriousness, nodded vigorously. "Daddy, I wanted to find yo—" she started to explain, her voice growing weaker. But Jack cut her off.

"No excuse, Aria. Never alone." His tone was firm, the underlying worry in his voice barely hidden. "It is dangerous and worried your mother and me."

His words triggered a fresh wave of tears from Aria. She buried her face into his chest, sobbing. "Don't call me Aria, call me Princess," she whimpered, her voice muffled against his clothing. Her words had a desperate edge, an attempt to return to their normal playful interactions. But Jack was not ready to let her off that easily.

He sighed, a deep, weary sound that echoed through the clearing. "If you be good again, I will call you Princess," he promised, his stern tone softening slightly. It wasn't a complete return to their usual banter, but it was a start, a small promise for a return to normalcy once the severity of the situation had been fully addressed.

"I will be good, Daddy," Aria replied, her voice barely audible. She sounded defeated, her earlier energy drained by the confrontation. But there was a promise in her words, a determination to not put her father in a similar situation again.

Jack's stern expression slowly melted into a tired smile. He tightened his hold around Aria, pulling her closer to his chest, a silent reassurance of his love and protection. The stern reprimand had taken its toll on him too. After all, there was no tougher job than disciplining the ones you love.

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