After successfully capturing the Golden Mouse, Lucan and Julia made their way back to the meeting point, where Hima and Olive were already waiting. The small, golden-furred creature rested peacefully in Lucan's arms, its red gem-like jewel on its forehead glinting in the sunlight.
"Hey, you two! Did you find anything?" Hima called out as they approached, her usual playful grin on her face.
"Yeah, we found it," Lucan replied, holding up the Golden Mouse for them to see.
Hima's eyes widened in surprise, and even Olive, usually so stoic, seemed to show a flicker of interest. "Wow, you actually found it! Great job, you two!" Hima said, clapping her hands.
"Yeah… great job…" Julia responded, her tone noticeably flat.
Lucan couldn't help but notice the change in Julia's mood. She had been more lively earlier, but now she seemed deflated, her usual fire dampened.
"Since we found the Golden Mouse, why don't we have a little picnic to celebrate?" Lucan suggested, hoping to lift the spirits of the group, especially Julia.
Hima's eyes lit up. "A picnic sounds great! I brought some snacks just in case."
They found a small clearing surrounded by tall trees, the sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting dappled shadows on the ground. It was a peaceful spot, perfect for a quiet afternoon.
Hima spread out a blanket, and they all sat down. Lucan set the Golden Mouse on the blanket, and it promptly curled up into a little ball, seemingly content. The white fox watched over it, as if guarding their new treasure.
As they began to eat, Lucan noticed Julia picking at her food, her usual appetite missing. Hima noticed too and nudged her gently.
"Hey, Julia, you okay?" Hima asked, her voice soft, concern lacing her words.
Julia forced a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… tired, I guess."
Hima wasn't convinced. She leaned in closer, lowering her voice so Lucan wouldn't overhear. "Is this about earlier? You know, with Lucan?"
Julia's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing slightly. "It's nothing… really," she mumbled, not meeting Hima's eyes.
"Come on, Julia. You don't have to hide it from me. You've been in a mood ever since we left the forest. It's okay, you know."
Julia sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I just… I thought maybe… well, I just couldn't say it. And now I feel like an idiot."
Hima gave her a sympathetic smile. "Hey, don't be so hard on yourself. It's not easy, confessing like that. And it's not like it's the end of the world. You'll get another chance."
Julia glanced at Lucan, who was distractedly feeding the Golden Mouse a small piece of fruit. "I don't know… maybe it's better this way. He probably didn't even notice."
Hima was about to respond when Olive, who had been silent the entire time, spoke up. "Courage."
Julia and Hima both looked at Olive in surprise. It was rare for her to speak, and when she did, it was always with purpose. Julia's eyes softened, and she nodded slowly. "Thanks, Olive."
Lucan, who had overheard snippets of their conversation but pretended not to, remained focused on the Golden Mouse.
As the afternoon wore on, the group gradually fell into a comfortable rhythm, the earlier tension easing slightly. Julia still seemed a bit subdued, but she was starting to smile again, thanks to Hima's efforts and Olive's simple but profound word of encouragement.
Just as they were finishing up their meal, a sudden flurry of wings startled them. A large bird swooped down from the trees, its sharp talons aimed directly at Hima.
"Hima, watch out!" Lucan shouted, jumping to his feet.
But the warning came a second too late. The bird's talons raked across Hima's chest, tearing through the fabric of her top. She let out a yelp of pain, clutching at the wound as the bird flew off, its prize—a piece of Hima's torn clothing—in its beak.
Lucan immediately rushed to her side, concern etched on his face. "Are you alright?"
Hima winced, her hand pressed against her chest to staunch the bleeding. The torn fabric exposed more of her than she was comfortable with, and she quickly tried to cover herself, her face flushing with embarrassment. "I'm fine… just a scratch," she said, though her voice wavered slightly.
Julia quickly handed her a piece of cloth to cover herself, her earlier mood forgotten in the face of Hima's injury. "Here, use this."
Lucan knelt beside Hima, his hands glowing with healing magic. "Let me take care of that."
Hima nodded, biting her lip as the magic worked to close the wound. "Thanks, Lucan… I guess I wasn't paying attention."
The injury wasn't deep, but the situation was enough to make them realize it was time to head back. "We should get back to the temple. You need to rest, Hima," Lucan said, his voice gentle but firm.
Hima nodded, still holding the cloth to her chest. "Yeah… let's go."
The mood was more subdued as they packed up their picnic and began the walk back to the temple. Lucan stayed close to Hima, ready to support her if she needed it, while Julia and Olive walked a little ahead, the earlier tension between them replaced by a quiet understanding.
As they neared the edge of the forest, Lucan glanced over at Julia, who had been uncharacteristically quiet since the attack. She caught his eye for a moment before quickly looking away, her cheeks tinged with pink.
Lucan smiled softly to himself. As long as she continue love me, it's good... As for being in relationship with her... Let's think about that in future.
---
Maris had almost heart attack, she was glad that at end White Fox came and Interrupted Julia.
Maris wasn't watching everything live as things happen, she was watching all of this at night, when she was free.