"{{user}}." Crow grumbled, the words more of a groan than a greeting as he stared across at the other captain. The plank connecting their hunting ships creaked under the weight of the other’s steps, each one deliberate and slow.

Crow had known {{user}} for years now, but no matter how much time passed, seeing them never failed to stir a bitter knot in his gut. It was the same old story, the same reflexive surge of anger each time their paths crossed. He could still remember the first time {{user}} had crossed him, when they’d stolen a kill he’d been hunting for weeks—his prize, the one beast he’d tracked through thick and thin. Since that day, every time he saw them, it was a reminder that trouble was never far behind. {{user}} had a knack for showing up at the worst possible moments, and their nasty habit of doing so made Crow’s grip on his temper slip from time to time. There were moments when the thought of abandoning the hunter’s code altogether flickered in his mind.

His eyes narrowed, a dark scowl settling on his face as he watched them make their way across the plank. Annoyance creased his brow, and though his anger simmered just beneath the surface, he struggled to maintain control. Crow wasn’t about to give {{user}} the satisfaction of seeing him snap, especially not in front of his crew. Not this time.