"So, leaving, huh…" Carver sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I just don't get it. Leaving, for us, means moving into your own home, not…" He waved a hand vaguely toward the door. "Out there. There's no such thing as leaving the village."
Grey stared down at his hands, fidgeting with a loose thread on his sleeve. It was the same for him. Leaving had never been a possibility, let alone something he'd imagined doing. The idea didn't even exist. The village was safety. The outside world? That was danger. People who left didn't come back—not in one piece, anyway. The forest didn't forgive curiosity.
"We'll look out for each other," Grey said, his voice steady as he glanced up at Carver. Then, shifting his gaze toward the hearth, where Serene, Harthy, and Tear were seated, he added, "All of us. And Brawl's coming too." A small smirk crept across his lips. "I mean, who'd mess with him?"
Carver let out a low chuckle. "Yeah, no argument there. One look at that guy, and most folks would run the other way."
Before the conversation could go further, Harthy called them to the table for dinner. The aroma of freshly baked bread and savory stew filled the room, drawing everyone in. As they ate, Carver broke the news to Harthy.
Her brows furrowed, and for a long moment, she just stared at her bowl, silent. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet, measured. "Leaving the village... That's not something any of us ever planned for. It doesn't make sense. But…" She looked up, meeting Grey's eyes. "I trust you. And Serene. You'll be careful, right?"
Grey nodded firmly, though the weight of her trust settled heavily on his shoulders. "We will," he promised.
Harthy smiled faintly, but she quickly changed the subject, talking instead about Tear's training at the smokehouse and the winter preparations. It was clear she didn't want to linger on the heavier topic, though the unspoken worry lingered in the air.
The rest of the meal passed with small talk and moments of quiet, the mood subdued. When the food was gone and the plates cleared, no one seemed eager to stay up. The weight of their impending departure hung too heavily over them.
"Well, I guess we'd better call it a night," Carver said finally, rising from the table. "Big day tomorrow, huh?"
"Yeah," Grey said softly. Around the room, heads nodded in agreement. One by one, they murmured their goodnights, the house gradually falling silent as everyone retreated to their rooms. The fire crackled faintly as the house settled into stillness. Tear shifted between Grey and Serene, mumbling something incoherent before drifting into a deep sleep.
Serene shot Grey a tired smile. "Tomorrow's going to be… something," she whispered.
Grey nodded, but his thoughts were elsewhere. The journey ahead loomed large in his mind, but for now, the warmth of their shared space brought a fragile sense of peace. Soon, the quiet overtook them, and they fell asleep.
The next morning, the sunlight creeping through the frost-covered windows brought a chill to the air. Grey, Serene, and Tear bundled up against the cold as they stepped outside. Their breaths puffed visibly as they made their way through the quiet village toward Keen's home.
Stopping at the door, Grey knocked firmly. "Keen, get up. We need to ask you something."
A muffled grunt and some shuffling sounds came from inside before the door creaked open. Keen stepped out, rubbing his eyes and shivering slightly. "Grey, it's barely morning," he muttered. "And honestly, I was hoping for a little family time—something I'm sure you understand."
Before Grey could answer, Tear piped up cheerfully. "Is Stilra awake?"
Keen's expression softened as he looked at Tear, then at Serene. The edge in his voice melted away. "She might be," he said, stepping aside. "Go on in and warm up. If she's asleep, I'm sure waking up to you won't bother her one bit."
Tear didn't wait for a second invitation. She darted inside, her excitement palpable. Keen turned back to Grey and Serene, raising an eyebrow. "So?" he asked.
Serene stepped forward, her tone calm but firm. "We both think Tear is ready to join a hunt outside the village. We'd like Stilra to come with her."
Keen's expression hardened as he crossed his arms, hesitation clear on his face. "I don't think—" he began, but Grey cut in quickly.
"You should come too," Grey said. "As their teacher."
Keen paused, considering the suggestion. After a moment, he let out a reluctant sigh. "Fine," he said. "But we're not staying out long. Patrona wouldn't be too happy about being apart for any longer than necessary."
He turned to go back inside but stopped, poking his head out again. "Congrats, Grey. I'd welcome you to the hunting squad officially, but…" He trailed off, gesturing vaguely.
Grey smiled. "Thanks."
Keen disappeared back into the house, leaving Grey and Serene standing outside. A faint sound of voices drifted through the door—first Keen's grumbling, then what sounded distinctly like him being scolded. Moments later, Patrona appeared in the doorway, her hands on her hips.
"That man of mine has no manners," she said in a firm, motherly tone. "Come in, you two. You'll catch your death standing out here."
Grey and Serene exchanged a glance before stepping inside, the warmth of the home wrapping around them like a comforting embrace.
"Grey!" Stilra yelped at the sight of her friend's older brother. Her face turned crimson as she stammered, "H-How are you?"
Grey chuckled softly. "Good. Are you ready to go hunting for real today?"
She nodded so vigorously her hair bounced. "You and Serene are coming?" she asked, her voice hopeful.
"Yep," Serene said casually. "And your dad too."
Stilra's eyes flicked to her father, who was busy grabbing their gear. "Oh…" she murmured, her enthusiasm dimming.
Patrona, watching her daughter closely, smirked. "What, you'd rather leave your poor dad all alone with me?"
Before Stilra could respond—likely to break her father's heart—Keen jumped in. "I should go. I'm the most experienced, after all," he said firmly, justifying his decision.
Grey and Serene both nodded, seeing no problem with the arrangement. But Patrona had other ideas. She strolled over to her husband and whispered something in his ear.
There was a pause, and then Keen sprang into action. Without warning, he scooped up both Tear and Stilra, their startled yelps echoing through the room. With the two girls in his arms, he pushed Grey and Serene toward the door.
Before anyone could react, Keen plopped the girls down outside and shoved the hunting gear into Grey's hands. "Take your time," he said curtly, his tone leaving no room for argument. Then, with a swift motion, he closed the door firmly behind them.
"What's wrong with him?" Tear asked, looking at her friend in confusion.
Stilra just shrugged, her cheeks still tinged pink.
"Well, looks like we're on our own," Grey said, brushing off the strange behavior. He hefted the gear and glanced at the two younger girls. "Just make sure you both stay close, okay?"
"Okay!" the two chimed in unison, their earlier surprise already fading as excitement for the hunt took over.
They walked ahead of Grey and Serene, chattering away as they headed toward the village gates. Grey glanced at Serene, catching the tension in her expression. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
Serene turned her head slightly, her face half-shadowed by her hair. "I don't want to go," she admitted, her voice quiet but firm.
Grey nodded, letting her words sit between them for a moment before replying. "Makes sense," he said. "You have your family here—your parents, cousins, and friends."
She shot him a sharp look, not angry but filled with quiet frustration. "And you don't?" she asked. "We already watch out for each other."
He hesitated. "I have Tear," he said finally, his voice soft. "But I don't have the same ties you do. I've lived on my own for years. Leaving the village… it's scary, sure, but not in the same way for me."
Serene lowered her gaze, her fingers brushing the edge of her sleeve. "I'll miss them," she said simply.
"You will," Grey agreed. "And they'll miss you too. But you're not losing them. It's not like you're never coming back."
She let out a soft laugh, though it carried little humor. "You don't know that."
Grey reached out, touching her arm lightly to stop her. The two younger girls ahead were too busy chattering to notice.
"Serene, you're not going to lose everyone. We'll come back one day. And we'll be together—me, you, Tear. She needs you just as much as she needs me. Maybe even more." He smiled faintly. "You know how stubborn she can be. You're the one who keeps her grounded better than I ever could."
Serene blinked, surprised, and tilted her head slightly. "You think she needs me?"
"Of course she does," Grey said. "You're like her big sister. Sure, she looks up to me, but you're the one she talks to about… you know, girl stuff. You and Stilra. Stilra and her—they're the same age, but you? She listens to you." He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "She's going to need you out there. Like you always say—she likes you more." He finished with a soft laugh.
For the first time since they'd started walking, Serene's lips twitched into a small, genuine smile. "Thanks, Grey."
Grey nodded, his gaze steady. "We're all going to need each other. It's going to be different—hard, even—but we'll figure it out. Together."
Serene's shoulders relaxed, and she glanced ahead at the two girls. "Let's catch up before they decide to leave us behind," she said, her voice lighter now.
"Right," Grey replied, quickening his pace. The weight of the unknown still hung over them, but for now, it felt just a little easier to bear.