Grey and Serene sat by the fire, bowls empty, enjoying the fleeting warmth and rare peace of the moment. The initial tension in the room had melted away, replaced by light conversation and occasional laughter. Serene's earlier warning about her parents started to make sense—her mother's sharp wit and her father's steady gaze carried an almost mischievous warmth.
By the end of the evening, Grey and Serene were both red-faced from embarrassment after enduring a barrage of playful teasing. Eventually, Grey stood, offering a polite bow to Serene's parents.
"Thank you for the meal," he said sincerely.
Serene's mother gave him a warm smile. "Take care of each other out there."
As the night deepened, Grey and Serene walked side by side back toward Grey's home. The village lay still under a blanket of starlit snow, the crisp air biting at their cheeks as they spoke softly.
When they reached Grey's door, he pushed it open gently, revealing the familiar, cozy interior. Near the fire pit, Tear lay bundled in a cocoon of pelts, her soft breathing filling the quiet room.
Grey knelt down beside her and shook her lightly. "Tear… Tear, I'm back."
The girl stirred but didn't wake, her brows knitting together in sleepy protest. Grey sighed, about to give up when Serene stepped in.
"I'm here too, Tear."
Like magic, Tear's pine eyes shot open. "Serene!"
With surprising speed, she wiggled free from her blankets and lunged into Serene's waiting arms, clinging tightly to her waist.
Grey sat back on his heels, watching the scene with a mixture of amusement and disbelief. "Seriously?"
Tear ignored him completely, her face buried against Serene's chest. "When did you guys get back? How was the Grand Hunt?"
Grey straightened, his tone soft but serious. "We got back a while ago, but… a lot happened. Many people didn't make it back, Tear. There's going to be another funeral ceremony tomorrow."
Tear's arms tightened around Serene, her small shoulders trembling slightly. "But you two came back…"
Grey walked over, crouching beside them. He patted Tear's head, her soft turquoise hair catching the firelight and glowing faintly under his fingers.
"Yeah," he said gently. "We're back. And glad to be. Also… you haven't even said hi to me yet."
Tear swatted his hand away, mumbling, "Hi," before pulling Serene toward the fire pit.
Serene settled down beside the fire with Tear tucked close, wrapping the girl and herself in thick pelts. The faint ember of the fire cast a soft orange glow across their faces.
Grey sighed in mock defeat as he grabbed a few spare pelts and dropped onto the other side of Tear, squeezing into the cozy bundle.
"Yep," he muttered to himself. I raise her, I feed her, I keep her alive, and I'm still not the favorite. He suddenly sympathized far more with Keen than he did the other day.
For a while, the three sat in companionable silence, the fire crackling softly. Eventually, Grey broke the quiet. "How's the smokehouse been?"
Tear's face brightened immediately. "It's been great! Stilra and I are learning so much from Patrona. Pretty soon, she's going to let us start working on full pelts. Oh, and we learned how candles are made!"
She launched into a detailed explanation of the candle-making process, her hands gesturing wildly as she spoke. Grey listened with a faint smile, nodding occasionally, though it was clear he was only half-following the specifics.
"And I missed you, Serene," Tear added, her voice softer. "I still practiced while you were gone… just like you showed me—"
Her words cut off abruptly, her eyes wide with horror as she clamped a hand over her mouth.
Serene chuckled softly, bumping Tear's shoulder playfully. "It's fine, Tear. Grey was going to find out eventually. She's been learning how to hunt with me, Grey—well, before we left for the Grand Hunt."
Grey's brow lifted as he turned to Tear, who was now shrinking slightly between them, her turquoise hair nearly hiding her face.
"You and Stilra are both walking the same path, huh?" His voice was gentle, free of any hint of disapproval. "That's good. Just… don't go into the woods. Not yet. Not without someone you trust."
Tear peeked up at him, her eyes shimmering faintly in the firelight. "Okay, Grey. I promise."
The room settled into silence once more, warm and heavy with quiet understanding. The crackle of the fire filled the stillness, and the soft glow of the embers painted the three of them in hues of orange and gold.
For now, they were safe. For now, they were home.
And for tonight, that was enough.
Morning crept into the small room, soft light filtering through the gaps in the cloth door. The stillness was broken by Shot's sharp, cheerful voice.
"Grey, Tear, get up. Elder wants everyone to gather."
Grey stirred, groaning softly as he rubbed his eyes. Tear, still half-buried in her cocoon of pelts, whimpered and covered her ears with her small hands. Instinctively, she scooted closer to Serene, who was only just starting to wake.
Grey shot up, his silver eyes sharp despite the lingering haze of sleep. "Alright, we'll be there in a moment!"
"Great!" Shot's voice carried an edge of humor. "Hurry up. We can swing by Serene's place and head to the village square together."
Grey glanced at Tear, who was still curled up beside Serene, her small hands clutching the older girl's arm tightly. Her turquoise-blue hair stuck up in odd directions, and her bright pine-green eyes peeked out sleepily.
"Come on, Tear. We gotta go. You don't want to get left behind, do you?" Grey said gently.
Tear let out a long yawn, stretching her small arms before blinking a few times. "Alright…" she mumbled but stayed latched onto Serene like a stubborn burr.
Together, the trio finally managed to shuffle out of the warm room and into the cold morning air.
__
Shot stood outside, arms crossed, her smirk already spreading wide across her face as the cloth door rustled and the three of them stepped out. Her sharp eyes zeroed in on Serene, and Grey felt an immediate sense of dread.
"Well, look who decided to finally join us," Shot said, her voice laced with mischief.
Her sharp eyes flicked down to Tear, who was still clutching Serene's hand tightly.
"Tear!" Shot greeted her with an exaggerated grin. "You sticking to Serene like glue now? What, is Grey not good enough to hold onto?"
Tear blinked up at Shot with her bright pine-green eyes and shrugged. "Serene's warmer."
Serene groaned softly, her face turning crimson. "Shot…"
Shot's grin grew wider as she leaned forward slightly. "What's wrong, Serene? Feeling shy now? You're usually so confident during training."
Grey sighed, already bracing himself. "Shot, do you ever run out of energy this early in the morning?"
"Never," Shot said with a wink before turning her attention back to Tear. "So, Tear, did you have fun hanging out with these two troublemakers?"
Tear tilted her head slightly, her small brows furrowing in thought. "It was warm, but Grey kept moving a lot."
Shot burst out laughing, and Serene covered her face with her free hand. Grey, meanwhile, pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
"Alright, alright," Grey said firmly, trying to steer them back on track. "Can we please focus? We don't want to be late."
Shot smirked but relented, stepping aside with a dramatic wave of her arm. "Fine, fine. I'll lead the way."
The village square was silent, save for the faint crackle of fire and the muted sound of boots scuffing against frostbitten earth. Hundreds of faces stared out at the several towering pyres, their flames licking at the cold sky, smoke curling upward like fading prayers.
Nearly half the hunters—brothers, sisters, friends—were gone. Spider's entire squad. All of Wild's team. Every single member of Brawl's squad, save for Serene and Shot. The weight of their absence pressed heavily against the crowd of three hundred souls, pulling shoulders low and turning gazes downward.
Elder stood at the forefront, his frail frame illuminated by the flickering orange glow. His staff was planted firmly in the frozen earth, his weathered hand wrapped tightly around it. His sharp, pale eyes scanned the gathered villagers, seeing every grief-stricken face, every hollow stare.
One by one, the pyres were lit. The flames leapt upward, crackling and roaring like the voices of those lost. The crowd watched in silence as the fire consumed what remained of their loved ones, ashes carried away into the cold wind.
No one moved until the final flame flickered out. Only then did Elder raise his trembling hand, summoning their attention with a gesture heavy with authority.
"We have suffered greatly in these past days," Elder began, his voice carrying across the square, cracked but clear. "Fathers. Mothers. Sons. Daughters. Brave souls who stood between us and the beasts of this world—who gave their lives so that we may stand here today."
He paused, his voice briefly faltering as his sharp gaze scanned the faces in the crowd. "Their sacrifice will not be forgotten. It will not be in vain. Because through their loss… we have been given something rare. Something precious. A chance."
A murmur began to rise from the crowd—a flicker of confusion, of hope—but before it could grow louder, Elder raised his hand again.
"A chance," he repeated, his voice cutting through the whispers, "to leave this frozen prison. To carve a path into the world beyond the forest. To take back the strength our blood was shackled away from long ago."
The murmurs turned to outright shouting, gasps, and scattered cries of disbelief. Even the retired elders, usually so reserved, had erupted into incredulous banter.
Then Brawl stepped forward, his massive frame looming beside Elder like an immovable mountain. His voice, deep and resonant, boomed across the square.
"Quiet!"
The single word slammed through the crowd like an avalanche. The villagers fell silent, save for the faint crackle of dying embers.
Elder nodded at Brawl in gratitude before continuing, his voice steady but softer now. "We have recovered something—a relic of knowledge. A scroll known as the Doctrine of Will."
This time, the murmurs were softer, restrained, uncertain. The words carried weight, but no one truly understood their meaning.
"It is… a guide," Elder said carefully, his brow furrowing slightly as he chose his words. "A key to understanding the energy that flows through this world, through every creature, every stone, every gust of wind. And those who can comprehend its secrets… they will lead us forward."
The silence grew heavy again, dense with both dread and fragile hope.
Elder straightened as much as his frail body would allow. "Over the coming days, I will meet with each of you. Individually. Together, we will discover if this gift speaks to you. If it does, you will become one of the pillars upon which our future rests."
The crowd shifted, glances exchanged, silent questions flickering across faces. The weight of Elder's words settled like frost on their shoulders.
"And one final thing," Elder said, his voice growing softer but no less resolute. "After the testing is complete… I will name my successor."
This time, the reaction wasn't loud. It was sharp and collective—a gasp that spread across the crowd like wildfire.
Everyone knew Elder was old. But to them, he was eternal—unchanging, ever-present. The village had been built on his wisdom, and now… he was preparing to leave it behind.
Grey glanced at Serene, whose eyes were wide with disbelief. Keen's sharp gaze was locked on Elder, unreadable. Tear clutched Serene's hand tightly, her pine-green eyes wide with fear and uncertainty.
Elder let the silence linger, allowing his final words to settle deep into every heart.
"When the fire fades and the ash settles, all that remains is the choice of whether we rise again or crumble into dust. The choice is ours. Together."
With those final words, Elder turned and walked away, his staff tapping against the frostbitten earth as he disappeared into the cold mist beyond the village square.
No one moved. No one spoke. The weight of loss, the flicker of hope, and the looming shadow of change hung heavy in the frozen morning air.
For the first time in a long while, the village wasn't simply surviving.
It was standing at the edge of something vast and unknown.
And for better or worse, they would have to step forward—together.