Paths Beyond (Under Rewrite)

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."