No stranger to loss

[hnb_hustler]

Hunter hadn't seen Michael every day, or even weekly. They did their own things, they sometimes sat with each other at meals and sometimes not. Michael gave him his space while making sure Hunter knew he was always there if he needed him. He was old enough to take care of himself, but he had a family, as fractured and reassembled as the island had

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[priorlives]

"You've got to put a little more twist in your wrist if you want to skip it," Prior said helpfully from behind him. "Or if you're just trying to get out some aggression I'd recommend throwing them against trees. A much more satisfying sound."

He was standing in the sand behind Hunter, having made his way out to the beach just to look out at the water. He was leaning heavily on his cane, and looked tired, though not really sick. Despite the increased B12 in his diet he was still having some minor symptoms of the anemia (which Dr. Cameron had told him was to be expected), and it took a lot out of him, at least on some days.

He hasn't seen much of Hunter since he and Roger broke up. Though he did hear from Maureen about Brian (and he hadn't seen Roger, which concerned him more than he cared to admit), and by extension, Michael.

[hnb_hustler]

"I don't even know what I'm trying to do," Hunter muttered, shoulders slumping. He didn't have to look around to know it was Prior, and...he wasn't sure how he felt about him being the one to show up at this exact moment.

[priorlives]

"We rarely do," Prior pointed out. He watched the boy's slumped form with some sympathy.

"It sucks, doesn't it," he finally said.

[hnb_hustler]

Hunter didn't answer for a minute, propping his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands as he stared at the water. "Yeah," he said hoarsely at last. "Yeah, it fucking sucks."

[spd_green]

"More like forward," Bridge commented as he strolled down the beach, catching Hunter's comment on the wind. "Or maybe straight. With a little curve to the left."

[hnb_hustler]

Hunter groaned and turned. "Dude. That wouldn't be funny even if I was in a good mood."

[spd_green]

Bridge blinked once, twice, then his eyes lit up with a flare of understanding. He hadn't been trying to joke at all, so he didn't know what Hunter was talking about even before he could figure out what Hunter was talking about.

"I wasn't trying to be funny," he said solemnly. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were upset. Do you want to be alone?"

[hnb_hustler]

He should have known Bridge wasn't trying to be funny. It was Bridge, after all. "Whatever, it's not like it matters." It was ironic that he was even asking that.

[wizard_errant]

"Right," Dairine says, flopping down onto the sand next to him. She'd been down the beach a bit, and before she made it all the way over to say hi, had seen the stomping stride and the angry rock-throwing and put, well, the beginning of the equation together, anyway. "What's wrong?"

[hnb_hustler]

Hunter glanced at her and then away again, jaw tightening. "Michael's gone," he said through clenched teeth. "Brian, too." They'd all gone back home and left him here.

[wizard_errant]

"Oh," Dairine says, in what for her is a particularly sympathetic voice. "Wow. Shit. Sorry, that sucks."

[hnb_hustler]

"Whatever. It happens, right? It's not like I need them." He sighed and stretched his legs out in front of him, squinting up at the insultingly cheerful blue sky. "I've been on my own for years. At least here I don't have to hustle to eat..."

[scoobys_heart]

Xander knew there were hazards to watch out for when coming out of the water. Jelly fish. Hot sand. Sharp shells. Crabs. Flying rocks wasn't one of them. He ducked just in time and looked around for the source. He opened his mouth to make a smart remark, but it died when he saw the look on the guy's face. "Hey man, you okay?"

[hnb_hustler]

Hunter looked up and then away. "Yeah," he mumbled, not really sure what to say. He realized he'd nearly hit the guy with the rock and added, "Sorry." It was sincere, but not very strong.

[scoobys_heart]

Xander walked over to where he'd left a towel and then walked back over to the guy. "You sure? You look like someone died, if you don't mind me saying." He paused before asking softly, "Someone disappeared huh? You look like how i felt when my best friend disappeared."

[hnb_hustler]

Hunter snorted and rolled his eyes. "Is it that obvious?" He propped his chin on his hand, staring at the sand in front of him. "This place sucks."