"Welcome to the shit show," Ibbi said to the zeta as Syri came to squat next to him.
"Why haven't they confessed? They clearly like each other," Syri inquired as Ibbi broke the stick in half and handed the zeta one of the pieces. Syri accepted the half of the stick and joined Ibbi in drawing in the soft dirt as the omega explained, "So, all five of us have been friends for over two years. Bevy was Lili's friend before she joined the stable squad where she met Calix, Kip, and me. Lili started hanging out with us, and she and Kip immediately sparked. It was love at first sight. She was fifteen at the time; Kip was seventeen. Now, Lili is seventeen, and Kip is nineteen. Kip has wanted to confess for the longest time, but Lili has yet to reach the age where she can find her fated mate. And Kip does not want to tie her down when she hasn't even had the chance to meet her fated one."
The omega paused to take a breath before continuing, "Everyone knows that they like each other, but Lili is a noble, so everyone knows it would be impossible for them to be together if they are not each other's fated mate. As you know, neither mate will know who they are fated with until both wolves have reached the age of mating. Kip has been secretly hoping that Lili will be his fated mate when she turns eighteen, but he is not one to kid himself. He knows it is highly unlikely, so he has refrained from confessing."
Syri remained silent as Ibbi added, "We all joke about it 'cause we know they like each other, but we don't push things too far 'cause we also know why they haven't confessed even though it is painfully obvious."
The zeta turned his head to look at the corridor down which Calix and Bevy disappeared as the omega said, "Bevy and I know Calix's feelings, but Kip and Lili are blind to them as they are soaked up in their own romance. He's liked Kip ever since the beginning. They were the original two. He and Kip started as apprentices around the same time and became inseparable. Then came Bevy, and then me, and then Lili, and then you. Now, it's the six of us."
"Welcome to the gang. Hopefully, those two lovebirds don't screw everything up," Ibbi said to the zeta as he stood to his feet and disappeared down one of the corridors. Syri watched the omega leave before turning his attention back to the drawings in the dirt. 'That is way too much drama to process in one day.' Syri shook his head slightly as he became grateful he did not have such complications in his simple life. The zeta continued to sketch designs on the soft ground as he awaited his mentor's return.
Soft footsteps approached the zeta as Syri drew a rose in the ground. The zeta glanced up to see Calix sitting down in front of him. "What do you think of your first day, so far?" The beta inquired as he pressed his finger to the dirt and joined the zeta in detailing the ground.
"It has been quite enjoyable," Syri answered truthfully. "The workload is not overwhelming since there are ten of us."
"I am glad you are transitioning well," Calix replied as he drew a dragonfly. Neither being the fondest of small talk, the beta and zeta sat in silence as they continued to draw in the dirt until they heard the return of the epsilon and the grey-eyed. Calix was the first to look toward the flirtatious pair before quickly lowering his head and focusing on his piece of art.
"Thank you for the help, Kip Inso," Lili said to the beta with a bashful smile. Kip smiled down at the epsilon as he responded, "It was my pleasure."
The apprentice's eyes lit up as she turned her gaze to the zeta. "Syri, do you happen to know the royal physician?"
Lili's question threw the zeta off-guard who immediately entered a fit of hiccups. "Uh...erm...we are distant cousins," Syri explained quietly. "W-Why do you ask?"
"We ran into the physician on our way back," Kip answered as he pulled a folded piece of paper from one of the pockets in his overalls. "He wanted us to give you this," the beta added as he walked over to the zeta and handed Syri the folded note.
"Thank you," Syri said to the beta as he accepted the piece of paper. The zeta furrowed his brows as he looked at the note in his hands. 'Is everything alright? Did something happen? Why is Inso contacting me?'