Paths Beyond (Under Rewrite)

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.