Grey sat beside Serene, while Tear, seated in front of her, wiggled restlessly, causing Serene some trouble as she tried to eat. Despite the minor chaos, the warmth of the room and the lively conversation created a comfortable atmosphere.

Carver held out a bow, the dark, polished wood glinting in the firelight. “This,” he began proudly, “is some of my best work. In fact, I’d say all the bows made from that beast are the best I’ve ever crafted. Its bark-like skin gave the frame incredible durability, and combining it with the vines for reinforcement created unmatched flexibility.

Harthy chimed in, holding up a quiver of arrows. “And these—made from the beast’s thorns—are laced with the poison. They’ll likely only be good for a single use, but their potency is undeniable.” She paused, her tone shifting to practical. “Still, they won’t have the raw piercing power of arrows made from Hooded Horns.”

Serene leaned forward, her excitement infectious. Tear bounced mirroring her energy.

“I can’t wait to try them out on the next hunt!” Serene exclaimed. “We’ll take down the beast by just making it feel sick!”

Tear, ever curious, piped up, “When can I go out with you guys?”

Serene answered for Grey, her voice firm but kind. “Once your apprenticeship at the smokehouse is over—and when I think you’re ready. Before you even think about the outer woods, you’ll need to practice in the inner ones first.” She smiled, clearly recalling her own journey through the process.

“Speaking of apprenticeships,” Carver interjected, his tone light but curious, “Grey, you’re turning sixteen soon, right? How long until you’re officially an adult?”

“Just until the end of the season,” Grey replied. “When winter starts, I’ll have my second naming ceremony.”

The mention of the ceremony shifted the mood slightly. Though it still took place, most villagers kept their first names, having grown too accustomed to them over the years. It was rare for anyone to adopt their second name, though the option was always there.

Carver scratched his chin thoughtfully before leaning over to whisper something in Harthy’s ear.

“Oh, Carver, sometimes you have great ideas!” Harthy beamed.

“Sometimes?” Carver raised an eyebrow in mock offense. “This is just one of many, many brilliant ideas.”

“What is it?” Tear asked eagerly, hopping off Serene’s lap and bouncing in place.

“Oh, you’ll like this,” Carver said with exaggerated seriousness, beckoning her closer. “But keep it a secret, alright? Promise me.” His tone was commanding, though the twinkle in his eyes betrayed his amusement.

Tear nodded fiercely, her green eyes wide with curiosity as she climbed onto his lap. Grey and Serene exchanged confused glances, neither having any idea what was going on.

Carver leaned in, whispering something into Tear’s ear. Whatever he said made her turn a bright shade of red.

“You mean we would become—” Tear started, her voice rising in excitement.

Carver gently covered her mouth with his hand. “Remember, it’s a secret,” he said with a wink. He set her back down, and Tear practically skipped back to Serene, resuming her earlier position as though nothing had happened.

Grey raised an eyebrow, looking between Tear and Carver. “What did he say?”

Tear clapped her hands over her mouth and shook her head vigorously. “It’s a secret!” she declared, her voice muffled by her fingers.

Grey let out a dramatic sigh, clutching his chest. “You wound me, Tear. First your hunter training, and now this? So many secrets.”

Carver’s laugh boomed through the room. “Just wait until she’s Serene’s age. Feisty now, sure, but at Tear’s age, you couldn’t peel Serene off me if you tri—”

A wooden spoon flew across the room and bounced harmlessly off Carver’s shoulder, cutting him off mid-sentence. It clattered to the floor as everyone turned toward Serene, who was trying—and failing—to look innocent.

As the meal wound down, the warmth of the hearth and the playful banter left everyone in good spirits. Soon after, the group parted ways to prepare for the night, their bellies full and hearts lighter.

The next day arrived swiftly, with Grey, Serene, Tear, and Forge heading toward the storehouse to begin their lessons under Elder's guidance. The session focused on history, the use of ingredients, letter formation, and reading practice using precious parchment and equally valuable ink.

Despite her best efforts, Tear began to fidget halfway through the writing lesson. Her small hands, now smudged with ink, worked absentmindedly as she started doodling on the parchment. Little stick figures of hunters aimed weapons at monstrous beasts, while other figures seemed to be running from charging creatures.

Elder noticed her wandering focus and smiled warmly. “Who’s winning?” he asked, peering at her work. “It looks like that little hunter is working quite hard.”

Tear squeaked in surprise, her turquoise hair bouncing as she jumped slightly. “Oh, um… the hunters, obviously!” she said, covering her doodles with her hands, her cheeks flushing.

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Elder chuckled softly. “I enjoy painting myself, you know. But I think you’ve tired yourself out enough with all this… creativity.” He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Why don’t you head over to Keen’s smokehouse? Stilra told me she misses you.”

Tear’s face lit up immediately. “Really? You mean it?”

Elder nodded, his expression growing serious as if to impress the importance of his suggestion. “I’m sure Patrona could use some help too. She’s got Stone to look after now, and that’s no small task. And you wouldn’t want Stilra to get ahead of you, would you?”

Tear stood without another word, hopping off her stool in a flurry of motion. “Don’t worry, Elder! I’ll help look after Stone too!” she said enthusiastically. Turning to the others, she waved. “See you later, everyone!”

Before anyone could respond, Tear darted out of the room, her turquoise hair bouncing behind her as her small frame disappeared through the door.

Elder shook his head with a quiet chuckle, turning his attention back to the rest of the group. “Now,” he said with a faint smile, “where were we?”

The lessons continued smoothly, and the day eventually came to an end. Grey returned once again to the warmth of a welcoming family. Inside, Tear animatedly recounted her day, sharing every detail of her learning and training with Stilra to Carver and Harthy, who listened with amused patience.

As the evening settled, the new routine carried everyone toward their beds, the household quiet and calm—until morning broke.

“Serene! Grey!” came the familiar voice of Shot, loud and insistent. “Come on out, you two!”

Tear groaned, rustling beneath her blanket. “Ugh—tell her to be quiet,” she mumbled, her voice muffled by the covers. She gave Grey a half-hearted shove.

“Alright,” Grey said, stretching as he climbed out of bed. “But you need to get up too. You’ve got training soon.”

Grey stepped outside alone, the crisp morning air biting at his skin. He found Shot waiting with her usual teasing grin.

“What are you doing yelling so early in the morning?” Grey asked, his voice still heavy with sleep.

Shot smirked, tilting her head playfully. “So, you are here. Serene certainly works fast.”

Grey sighed, choosing to ignore her jab. “Are we going on a hunt today?” he asked.

She nodded, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I think so. It’ll be Wild, me, you two, Brawl, and Keen.”

“What about the rest?” Grey asked, puzzled. “Why aren’t Charge, Root, or Fleet coming with us?”

Shot’s expression softened slightly. “They—and Spider’s last remaining member—said they’d be more useful hunting for food in the inner Prowling Forest. It makes sense. We can’t let the food stores dwindle, not this close to winter.”

Grey nodded, understanding the reasoning. The last thing the village needed was to run low on supplies before the harshest season began. He rubbed his hands together to warm them, then glanced back at Shot. “Alright. When do we leave?”

“Just head up to Elder’s house once you pry Serene out of bed,” Shot replied with a smirk. “I’ll head up first. We’ll come up with a plan and leave from there.” With that, she turned and jogged off, leaving Grey standing in the crisp morning air.

He stepped back inside to find Serene and Tear completely buried under the pelts, not a hint of them visible. “Serene, you up?” he called.

A muffled yawn came from the pile. “I am now.”

“Great. We’ve got to go. Also, grab Tear. Otherwise, she’ll just stay hidden under her blanket all morning.”

Grey chuckled as Serene groaned but reluctantly sat up, her hair a tangled mess. The three of them got ready quickly—Grey and Serene grabbing their newly crafted weapons while Tear gathered her gear for her apprenticeship at the smokehouse.

As they set out together, Tear walked with them for a while before her path diverged. At the crossroads, she waved enthusiastically. “Bye! Be safe!”

“Will do,” Serene called back.

As they continued walking, Grey asked, “You ready?”

“Yep,” Serene said with a confident smile, though her eyes betrayed a hint of apprehension. “Much more than last time, anyway.”

“It won’t be like last time. We know much more now,” Grey reassured her, his tone calm and steady.

Serene nodded, her smile softening. “I—I know.” Then she smirked, her voice turning playful. “I mean, if you made it back with just those two, I’d say anyone could.”

They both laughed, the tension easing as they walked and chatted.

As Grey had suspected, the golden thread still lingered, undisturbed for the past couple of days. It hadn’t faded or disappeared, holding steady in his vision like an unyielding guide. Unfortunately, he still hadn’t been able to access his mental space to absorb any of the energy pooling there.

The Elder’s house came into view just as the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon. Grey pushed the door open without knocking, stepping into the warmth of the room. Inside, the group was already gathered, everyone in their places except for him and Serene.

Keen looked up as Grey and Serene entered, his expression steady and focused. “Good. Let’s begin planning.”

He stood, pacing slightly as he addressed the group. “Here’s the plan: everyone except myself, Brawl, and Grey will provide support. If—or when—a fight breaks out, your job is to assist while one of us, likely Brawl, engages the enemy directly.”

Wild raised a hand before standing abruptly, her voice tinged with frustration. “I’m not much of a ranged fighter. I can’t use a bow, and throwing a spear? Forget it. I’ll miss by a mile.”

Keen’s eyes hardened, his tone turning sharp. “Wild, your role isn’t about ranged attacks. You’ll stay near Grey during the fight. If anything gets close to him, your job is to fight it off until someone can back you up. Understood?”

Wild hesitated but nodded firmly. “Alright. Got it.”

Keen turned his gaze to the rest of the group, his voice calm but commanding. “Brawl will lead. Grey, you’ll guide us with your ability and stick to the left flank. I’ll cover the right. Everyone else—keep your eyes sharp. If you notice anything strange, even the smallest thing, speak up immediately. No hesitation.”

The group murmured their agreement, their focus sharpening as they began checking their gear. The soft clink of weapons and supplies being adjusted filled the room as each person ensured they were prepared.

“Will we use sleds to carry things back?” Shot asked, glancing up from her pack.

Keen shook his head, his tone pragmatic. “No sleds. Brawl, Grey, or I should be able to carry whatever we come across. And if we keep succeeding in these hunts, all of you will gain the strength to do the same in time.”

He paused, letting his words sink in. “Remember this—our success depends on our survival. The more we succeed, the more power we accumulate. But if you end up dead, we gain nothing. So, stay sharp, and stay alive.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of Keen’s words settling over them. The air seemed heavier, charged with the quiet determination of the group as they finished their preparations.