THE MOMENT
"Where are we going?" Ayla asked Tristan, her husband. It was the middle of the afternoon and they were walking through the forest. She initially assumed it was some romantic picnic when he asked her to take the day off; it was a beautiful cold day and they both loved the autumn chill. But, they'd been walking for about 15 minutes and hadn't brought anything along. He didn't answer right away, and she was about to ask again when they arrived at a clearing. He came to a stop and turned to her with a concerned expression.
"There's something about me you don't know yet...," Tristan said. Ayla gave him her full attention. She'd known something was off about their relationship since the beginning. At least, she had a feeling there was. When they were together he was always attentive, and she chose to marry him regardless of that feeling.
"I'm not actually in construction...," he said. It was a convenient job to pretend to have. He could come home with completely ruined clothes and sore muscles; and, the best part was it made it pretty impossible for her to pop in and surprise him at work.
"I'm listening...," Ayla nodded. Tristan visibly relaxed, and he even smiled slightly.
"You're not mad?"
"I'm not stupid," she answered. "I knew there was something; let's hear it," she said. She wanted to add that she loved and trusted him; but, that would be letting him off too easily.
"Right, so.. uh... I'm a monster trapper; I'm really good at it too," he said.
"Uh.... huhhhhh....," Ayla dragged out her answer. "I don't know what that means?" she asked.
"It means... monsters exist... and I trap them," he answered.
"Babe... duh," she smiled to give him a little slack. She wasn't mad, but she did want clear answers. "I can put together the words 'monster trapper'. What I'm asking is... what constitutes a monster? Who do you trap them for? You never bring anything home, so, what? Do you turn them in for a bounty, or how does it work?"
"Oh, right!" Tristan perked up at his wife's smile. So far it was going smoother than he hoped, and he was starting to realize how lucky he was.
"When I 'go to work'..., " he added air quotes. "...it's usually a hunting ground, depending on what's in demand that week. I trap some monsters. Things like goblins, harpies, or wyverns, and turn in the bodies at the trading post. The one I use is run by a company named Sharp Development, but there are others," he said.
"Okay," Ayla nodded. "I'm willing to believe you now, and I'll ask for proof later. But, first, I have a more important question. Why are you telling me now, 10 years after our wedding night?"
"Ahhh, you're the best," Tristan chuckled. He'd technically lied to her for a decade; she had every right to be completely upset. "Well, Eileen had a special request for Christmas," he grinned. "I'm in a position to deliver a unicorn; but, you know. Gotta run it by you first," he grinned.
"You're serious?!" Ayla was somehow even more attentive. She'd wanted a unicorn since she was her daughter's age.
"Completely," Tristan nodded.
"YES!" she surprised even herself with the volume. "Sorry," she giggled. "Yes! Totally, get her a unicorn," she said.
"On it," He grinned, then, Ayla had a sudden thought.
"No, wait! Don't hurt it!"
"Huh? Why would I?" he asked.
"I mean, just be extra careful when trapping it...," she said.
"Ohhh," he smiled again and shook his head. "Don't worry," he turned and directed her attention to the clearing. A teenage girl with blue hair wearing a white suit had appeared when she wasn't looking. The strange girl had a beautiful, pristine white unicorn with a golden horn next to her. Tristan guided his wife to meet the teenager.
"Mr. Randolph?" the teen asked. Tristan nodded and offered his hand.
"Call me Tristan," he said. "This is my wife, Ayla."
"Hi, I'm Liberty," the teen smiled at both of them. "And, here's your order from Sharp Development. Please take good care of her," she said.
"We will," Tristan nodded as he accepted the red leather reigns from Liberty. The teen waved, then sunk into a black portal on the ground and vanished completely. Ayla had more questions, but she was mostly distracted by the beautiful creature.
"I'm one of the best monster trappers in the world, and I've got a good relationship with the company," Tristan smiled. "It's much better than trapping some wild creature that might have who knows what kind of magical diseases. This one's got a pedigree," he said. "Nothing's too good for our Eileen."