Sometime later, Jayson's fully stuffed bag jingles with metallic chatter as he hops along the chunky sand and gnarled plants of the Bliss Town Reservoir. He lugs his collection back to Derrick's spot, but when he gets there, he doesn't see the eagle. New hotdogs are on the grill while the black and shriveled ones are on paper plates covered in paper and weighed down with rocks.
He drops his bag by the picnic table and looks around again. There is no sign of Derrick anywhere, and after some seconds of pacing, Jayson stops and scratches his dirty hair, breaking some caked-on mixture of grease and dandruff.
Then his ears twitch at the sound of branches rustling. Suddenly a shadow descends upon him. He looks up and before he can react, he is yanked off his feet and held tight by talons. The world zooms away, and everything tilts as the talons release him.
Jayson screams and flails his limbs, trying to grab anything hidden in the air to stop his fall.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Vertigo slams into him as airborne became waterborne with a splash that swallows his screams and curses. When Jayson breaks the surface seconds later, he gasps for air and sputters, kicking and beating the cold water wildly while Lexia bobs next to him with a smirk cresting her wet features.
"Damn it, Derrick!" yells Jayson.
"Bath time~" teases Lexia with a sing-song tone.
Jayson growls and slams his palm into the water, splashing Lexia's face. She gasps and splashes him back. Then Jayson splashes harder and faster, and Lexia returns the assault. All while Derrick lands next to his grill and lights another cigarette with a small smile on his beak.
During the altercation, Lexia pushes herself forward and rams into Jayson, knocking his footing off the mud. He slips backwards. grabbing Lexia’s arm, and both scream as they are submerged.
The pair thrashes around underwater, and burst out, gasping for air. Just for Lexia to wrap her arms around Jayson, pinning his arms to his sides. She picks him up and slams him back in the water, taking herself with him.
They pop up a moment later, and with them is a brief moment of shared laughter. And back at the grill, Derrick smiles and puts more burnt hotdogs on a paper plate.