One (A SPM AU BASED ON LN2)

He pulled me through the forest a little while longer, telling me that it wasn't much further. We continued until the trees seemed to fade and we were met with the vast sea. There were plenty of abandoned boats to use, so that was good. I was just so relieved to finally be leaving this nightmare I had spent so much time in. I wasn't quite sure what was going to happen when I got home, but I knew that it would be safe at least. Safe, and not lonely. 

My dad would be there. I couldn't help but be excited. Maybe he'd even be happy to see me. Maybe he'd hug me and tell me he missed me just as much as I missed him! Just imagining it made me feel happy.

I was about to go down to the water and hop in a boat, when One suddenly held a hand in front of me, stopping me from moving, which made me jump slightly since I didn't expect him to stop us.

"Wait," He whispered, his tone serious, which was awfully off-putting and worrying. 

I nervously froze, looking around us in fear of something dangerous lurking in the shadows. Why else would he stop us? "W-What is it!?" I whispered, feeling my nerves start to burn with fear. I was worried that perhaps another hunter was out there, ready to chase us just as the last one did. 

He swallowed and slowly pointed down to the shore. "There she is..." He whispered.

I followed his gaze down to the shore to see a small girl sitting there. 

The girl with the 'long, flowing, magical white hair.'

This was the first time I had ever seen her.

My expression softened and was replaced with a more confused one. She didn't look scary. She was just a kid! Why did One stop us? 

"The girl?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow and looking at One with nothing but confusion in my eyes.

"Yeah..." One hummed, tilting his head to the side, his brown eyes softening more, almost as if they were melting. Was he sick or something?!

"Who is she? Your friend?" I asked.

"Ah... I wish." One dreamily hummed. "She's a girl from a village on the mainland. She ran away and came over to the woods not long ago to hide from all the bad stuff happening over there, but I don't suspect she'll stay out here long since it's pretty much equally as scary out here. I can tell she feels unsafe here because of the hunters."

"Uh, that's great. Who is she though?" I asked again.

"She's a human. Eleven years old. Her number is 68. Pretty powerful for a human. She's also super thoughtful, smart, and kindhearted... I've seen her helping a few children from time to time. She's so beautiful..." 

I had to blink a few times, trying to comprehend what he had just so casually stated. 

"Hold up... She's a HUMAN?! B-but you're a One! Th-that's not allowed!" I exclaimed. "Low numbers CAN NOT mix with high numbers! That's like, the tribe's number one rule! It's forbidden!"

"Why not...?" He muttered, still dreamily staring at her. "I couldn't care less what her number is. Numbers don't define people."

I made a slightly grossed-out face and rolled my eyes, trying not to laugh. Who knew that One would be so hopelessly romantic. And for a HUMAN! I mean, yes, she was pretty, but low and high numbers didn't mix. It was practically unheard of!

"....Well, what's her name?" I asked him, trying to hold in my laugh for fear that it might offend him.

"Oh, I don't know," One sighed, voice slower and more slurred than usual. "I call her Runaway Girl. Or RG for short."