Under silent watch
Naevira stayed at the side of the ship, hidden from view by the thick, salty air that clung to the deck. She watched in silence as the men disembarked, their laughter and chatter echoing across the beach as they headed inland to find food. The woman, unlike their male counterparts, remained on the ship—content to stay behind, perhaps more familiar with the quiet of the sea. The woman Naevira had been watching since she saw her the fisrt time.
She’d seen beautiful women before, of course. In fact, to Naevira, every woman was beautiful in her own way. It was something she had learned to appreciate over time. But this woman? She was different. She was breathtaking in a way that left Naevira momentarily stunned. Her features were sharp, yet soft, with an air of elegance that seemed both effortless and untouchable. Naevira had to admit, this woman made her heart race—an emotion she didn’t often indulge in.
She could almost hear Veyrith’s teasing voice in her head if he knew she was so caught up in watching a human, especially a woman. The irony wasn’t lost on Naevira. She, who had little patience for the people of this world, finding herself drawn to one of them. But this woman—there was something about her that intrigued Naevira, something deeper than mere beauty. It was in the way she sat, looking out over the sea, her expression bored yet layered with something that hinted at more. The subtle tension in her posture, the way her eyes scanned the horizon as if waiting for something—or perhaps, nothing at all.
Naevira was mesmerized by the way the woman’s emotions seemed to shift with the ebb and flow of the sea, so open and raw in a way that was difficult to ignore. Right now, boredom was written all over her face, but Naevira could almost sense the thoughts swirling behind her eyes, something deeper, more complex.
Her concentration was broken by the sound of footsteps. The first man to return from the hunt was a blonde-haired sailor, his gait casual and confident as he approached the woman. In his hand, he held a knife, its blade glinting in the afternoon sun. He greeted her with a grin, a familiarity in his voice that made Naevira’s lips tighten into a small, barely audible snarl.
Humans, she thought bitterly. She couldn't stand them, their fleeting nature, their constant need to complicate things. But this woman? This woman was an exception.
The blonde sailor spoke, breaking Naevira’s train of thought. “If Father had given us more food, we wouldn’t have to hunt now,” he said with a sigh, clearly frustrated by their current predicament. The woman chuckled in response, her lips curving into a soft smile that made Naevira's heart beat a little faster.
Father? Naevira’s thoughts shifted. The connection between them became clear. They were siblings, not strangers or lovers as she’d briefly entertained. She hears Veyrith voice in her mind again, teasing her as she realized just how agitated she had been over nothing. They were simply siblings, sharing a quiet moment together, and Naevira had let her own emotions get the best of her.
But as the woman laughed softly, her eyes shining with amusement, Naevira couldn’t help but feel that there was still something more to this woman than met the eye. And in that moment, as the ship rocked gently with the tide, Naevira made a quiet vow to herself. She would understand this woman—whatever it took.