Carver picked up Tear, his smile warm as he held the girl who gave him as much affection as Serene once had. "How was training today, Tear?" he asked.
"Wild kidnapped me away while I was play—working with Stilra," Tear replied quickly, catching herself mid-sentence.
Carver laughed, his voice filling the room, as Grey and Serene walked in. He turned to greet them but paused when he noticed the serious look on his daughter's face. "Something wrong, Serene?" he asked, concern creeping into his tone.
Tear hugged Carver tighter, burying her face against him as Serene asked, "Is Mom here?"
"She's in the workshop," Carver replied, calling toward the adjacent room, "Harthy!"
Moments later, Harthy appeared, wiping her hands on a cloth. "I'm finishing something up, dear," she said. Her gaze shifted to the others, her expression brightening. "Welcome back. Any of you hungry?"
Grey hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Uh—yeah, I could eat," he admitted, thinking that the difficult conversation ahead might go more smoothly if everyone's stomachs were full.
"Alright, let me heat up something in the pot," Harthy said with a smile as she moved toward the hearth, lighting the fire beneath the pot.
Carver glanced down at Tear, whose usual enthusiasm seemed dulled. "What's wrong, Tear?" he asked gently.
She didn't reply but nuzzled closer, as if seeking comfort. Then, in an obvious attempt to change the subject, she asked, "Are we having the same thing as last night? It was really good."
Harthy laughed softly, her tone warm and motherly. "Once the soup sits for another day, it's even better," she said, stirring the pot. She glanced at Serene and Grey before turning to her husband. "Why don't you all sit down? It'll only take a bit to warm up."
Serene grabbed some bowls and set them on the table with a practiced grace. As they all sat down, Grey couldn't help but glance at his sister, her subdued demeanor pulling at his heart. Thinking quickly, he offered, "You know, Tear…" He trailed off for a moment, trying to find the right words. "You and Stilra have been working really hard on your tracking in the village. Why don't I see if Keen and she can come with us tomorrow?"
Tear looked up, her bright pine-green eyes now glimmering with curiosity rather than sadness. "Coming where?" she asked.
Grey smiled faintly. "You should go on a real hunt," he said, leaning forward. "I think you're ready. She is too. Let's head to the forest."
Tear's face lit up as a smile tugged at her lips. "Can Serene come?" she asked eagerly.
Before Grey could answer, Serene sat down next to her father. "Of course I'll come," she said, her voice teasing as she glanced at Grey. "I am your hunting teacher, after all. Naturally, I should go."
"That'll be amazing!" Tear exclaimed, her earlier sadness seemingly forgotten. "What will we hunt first? Do you think we'll find any dangerous beasts? What about a Hooded Horn?" Her curiosity bubbled over, pushing aside the weight of the revelations from earlier that day.
Carver laughed, placing her on his lap. "Hooded Horns? Those are the really big ones. Quite ambitious for someone so small," he teased.
"I'm gonna be the best hunter the village has ever known, so of course I should be able to take one down," she giggled. "If Grey could do it…"
At that, Serene burst out laughing while Grey put on a mock expression of betrayal.
"While you have a point," Serene interjected, still chuckling, "I think Tree Rodents will be a good start for your first hunt. They're small and hard to hit, so it'll be a challenge. Plus, they taste good, so you can bring them back here."
"Great, I love those things," Carver said, grinning as he ruffled Tear's turquoise hair. "Make sure to bring a bunch, girlie."
"Okay!" Tear said enthusiastically, hopping off his lap and bounding over to Harthy. She began chattering incessantly about tomorrow's dinner plans, her excitement contagious. Harthy smiled warmly, listening intently to the young girl.
Carver turned his attention back to Serene and Grey, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. "So, what's up? Are you going out again?"
At his words, Serene's demeanor changed. Without warning, she wrapped her arms tightly around her father, surprising him.
"Serene?" Carver said, his eyes widening in concern. He looked over her shoulder at Grey, silently asking for an explanation as he held his daughter.
Grey exhaled, his voice steady but heavy. "We're going out again... far away."
Carver's grip on Serene tightened slightly as he processed the words. "How far?" he asked, his tone firmer now, pressing for clarity.
"I—I don't know," Grey admitted truthfully. "But there's no telling when we'll be back. All three of us. We're leaving the village."
Carver fell silent, his thoughts turning inward as he rubbed his daughter's back in comfort. Unlike Elder or the hunters, he didn't fully grasp the weight of their lineage, their history, or the dangers of the woods. "I thought we were all leaving together one day," he said quietly.
Grey shook his head. "Plans have changed. We've learned new information—the forest beyond where we've gone is even more dangerous than we thought. Now, there's a safe way for us to leave, but…" He paused, the reality heavy in his voice. "There's only enough room, using the method, for eight of us."
Carver leaned back, the thought of never seeing his daughter again shaking him to his core. His thoughts turned to Tear, who he had grown unexpectedly close to recently.
Sensing Carver's unspoken worries, Grey straightened, his expression resolute. "I promise, I will come back one day. I don't know when, but I will grow strong enough—to protect everyone coming with us and to lead us all out of this place."
Carver smiled faintly, the sincerity in Grey's words easing his tension, even if only slightly. "You're a good kid, Grey." He glanced toward his wife and Tear, who were still chatting by the hearth. "Don't tell Harthy yet. I'll let her know myself… when the time is right."
Carver shifted, turning his attention back to Serene. "When's the last time you were this affectionate with me?" he asked with a teasing grin. "You that sad to leave your beloved father?"
Serene immediately let him go, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "I just thought you'd be lonely if I didn't do anything while he told you."
"Is that so?" he replied, his teasing grin only growing wider. "Well, you'll have to watch out for each other now."
He looked at Grey thoughtfully. "Winter starts tomorrow, right? So you're about to be of age." His grin turned mischievous. "Maybe you should make it official."
"What?" Grey asked, confusion written all over his face. It was true—once winter came, the season of his birth, he would be considered an adult by the village's standards, having lived through sixteen winters. "Make what official?"
Carver's grin widened, his expression almost triumphant, as if he'd just invented something groundbreaking. "You two…"
Both Serene and Grey stared at him blankly, their confusion deepening.
He leaned forward, clearly enjoying himself. "We can have a small ceremony right before you leave," he suggested, trying to justify his idea. "It would make your mother happy, you know… having someone to take care of you, Serene."
Realization dawned on both of their faces.
"Dad—what is wrong with you?!" Serene shouted, her face flushed red, though not entirely from anger. She stood abruptly and began trying to push him off his chair, but Carver only laughed at her antics.
He turned to Grey, ignoring Serene's protests. "What do you say, kid? I could ask Elder to prepare for it tomorrow."
Grey froze, his face burning as he glanced at Serene. No words came to his lips.
"I'm telling Mom!" Serene retorted, her voice filled with indignation.
"Good!" Carver shot back teasingly. "She should know. I'm sure she has her own preparations for the big day." His tone carried a note of finality, as though the matter was already decided.
Mortified, Serene stormed off in an embarrassed huff, retreating to her mother and Tear for comfort. Grey was left alone with Carver, the older man's laughter still echoing in the room.