Tulos sat bolt upright, “You mean it?!”

Kaara was too tired to return his enthusiasm, “Yeh…”

“What will I owe you? What’s the catch?”

She waved her hand, “I mean, you won’t owe us anything. You need a place to stay right? That’s reason enough, I'm sure Tiksu would agree.”

He pointed to the Ingen tree in the distance,”Could I visit that?”

Kaara nodded, “Yeah, that’s where our camp is right now actually.”

“I’ve always wanted to go there, ever since I saw it,” Tulos looked like he was about to cry, “Sorry for being rude earlier. I just… I don’t know. I was frustrated that I couldn’t open the door…I was being unkind,” He sighed, “What’s your name by the way?”

“I’m Kaara. Eater of street food, climber of trees, devourer of Ingen fruits…” Her stomach rumbled, “The eternal hunger! Child of the Tibur!” She waved her hands about making a mini Chompy do a funny jig in the air before exploding into a sparkling icy mist, “So yeah, I’m a big deal.”

Tulos chuckled, “Making fun of me eh? I always do like some banter. If I were into girls I would’ve already asked your hand in marriage.”

“Why’s that?”

Tulos paused, “You offered to take me with you after I was so rude to you and your friends. And you didn’t even ask for anything in return. I’ve no doubt some of my brothers will try to marry you for less when they meet you. I already caught Amaro stealing glances at you.”

Kaara remembered The Grand Duke’s comment about being a good looking rat. She was thankful she chose not to walk into the tiger’s den and wait outside instead.

“What’s marriage?”

He gave her a look of utter shock, “The Tibur really do live in a different world from us. Are you certain it’s alright if I join you? I won’t be causing too much culture shock will I?”

Kaara sat up, “I don’t think they’ll mind. Rorik and Arik might want a piece of you though. But what’s marriage?”

Tulos gave her a sly smirk, “Oh I can only hope the two of them might. They’re both dashing in their own rugged sort of way.”

Kaara didn’t know if she should tell him. She decided not to, “Heh.”

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“Anyways, your question. Marriage is the joining of two souls, you see. It’s a human word, but us nobles do it a little differently from those apes. When those with soul marks join to make a family, their marks are crossed with one another and they get to benefit from both houses. And then so do their children as well. In a way, my own mother…” He took a breath to say something else, but decided against it.

Kaara wasn’t gonna let that slide, “What is it?”

“Oh nothing,” he said with a sly smirk.

“What? Tell me!”

Tulos eagerly relented, “I’m actually half Tibur myself, you know. The product of marriage between Evra Tibur and Kadmus Xirxus.”

“Wait what?” Kaara didn’t recognize the name, but she knew she was going to ask Tiksu the moment he got out.

She had underestimated Tulos. He was good.

He nodded, as if sensing her admiration,“I learned today that my mother grew up as a Tibur. Maybe it will be good for me to connect with the other side of my family. It’s probably why I have such a wanderlust to begin with. I’ve the blood of a nomad.”

“Ohoho! So you wish to have adventures, you say?” Kaara’s enthusiastic tone was back as she stood up in front of him, “Tell me, sir lord highness Xirxus, how good are you at getting lost?”

Tulos gave her a look, “What do you mean?”

Kaara returned a smug look, cupping her chin between forefinger and thumb, “Oh you sweet child, you have much to learn,” There was a glint in her eye, ”The adults won’t let you have any fun or adventures unless you’re practiced in erasing your presence and getting lost. I’ve many tales to tell. Why just today I had my own life threatening adventure in this city. Not to mention all of the wondrous tales I have of making Rorik and Arik flustered.”

An impish grin peeled across his face. Kaara could sense the mischievous spirit radiating from Tulos,“I think the two of us are going to get along famously. Indulge me in your tales, mighty tree climber.”

Kaara sat with him and told him all about her life and the life of a Tibur. She embellished a bit, but she never lied. She told Tulos about the Ingen tree, its fruits, the Malaki, and everything that came along with being a Tibur.

Tulos traded back stories of his siblings. Kaara couldn’t stop laughing at the story he told about the time he shaved one of his sister’s hair.

Kaara returned with stories of her own. Remembering a time when she’d tricked Arik into eating an incredibly spicy fruit.

She heard about the time Tulos had pissed off his family so much they got together to host a fox hunt for him around the yard. He’d managed to ensnare them in clever traps while they chased him. His siblings seemed a lot more straightforward than he was.

Kaara must have spent the next few hours talking the night away with him. She hadn’t met someone new in such a long time, and Tulos was such a good storyteller.

She could feel her soul mending.

The doors opened, bells chiming. Kaara begged and pleaded to take Tulos home with them. Tiksu could never say no to Kaara’s puppy dog eyes.

Kaara got to introduce Tulos to Arik and Rorik. They talked the night away on wolfback. She lived in those last few fleeting moments, knowing that it would end when the sun came up.

The last day of spring passed into the first of summer.

It was the first day in her new life as a hunter’s apprentice and she couldn’t have asked for a better start.