When Grey arrived in the early night, he knocked on the door of Serene’s home. It was answered moments later by Harthy, who greeted him with a warm smile.

“Grey, you don’t have to keep knocking to come in.”

Grey returned her smile and nodded before stepping inside, the comforting warmth of the house washing over him. The faint scent of wood shavings and the lingering aroma of dinner filled the air, making the space feel even cozier.

Inside, Tear was sitting on Serene’s lap, fiddling with a long, bent stick and a taut cord—apparently trying to craft a bow. She glanced up briefly, her hands still working.

“Hi, Grey,” she said, while Serene, her head resting against the back of the chair, nodded in and out of sleep.

“What are you doing?” Grey asked, curiosity piqued.

Before Tear could answer, Carver chuckled, leaning back with an amused grin. “Breezing through everything I have to teach her,” he said. “She’s a natural, Grey. She’s got a real knack for crafting tools. Smart girl.”

“Oh yeah?” Grey’s tone took on a playful edge. “What did you make today, Tear?”

Blushing slightly at the praise, Tear pointed toward the table. There, an assortment of freshly made arrows, small knives, and a handful of other tools were neatly laid out.

Grey walked over, his eyes scanning the craftsmanship. His expression shifted slightly as he inspected the arrows—straight, well-fletched, and sharpened more carefully than he expected. He turned to Carver, his voice carrying genuine surprise.

“She really made all these?”

Serene, still half-asleep, mumbled through a yawn. “Yeah… ever since Dad let her in the workshop earlier, she hasn’t stopped.”

Grey was truly impressed by the quality of the arrows. He glanced at Tear, his expression softening. “I wish I had known you were this skilled,” he said, placing the arrow back on the table before ruffling the young girl’s hair. “Maybe I could’ve found a way to bring you here earlier.”

Tear squirmed, trying to escape her brother’s affection. “We have a couple more days though! I’ll learn everything!” she declared confidently.

Grey stopped suddenly, his gaze flickering around the room before his voice dropped slightly. “I—we’re leaving tomorrow night.”

Tear’s hands froze over her project. Serene stirred slightly, but it was Harthy who spoke first.

“Tomorrow night?” she repeated, pausing before offering a sad but understanding smile. “I suppose I’ll have to make something special tonight… a feast.”

Tear’s face scrunched up, clearly fighting back an emotion she didn’t want to show.

Grey moved quickly, crouching slightly to meet her gaze. “We’ll be back one day, I promise, Tear. And Serene and I will be with you.”

Serene, now more awake, hugged Tear tightly from behind, her arms wrapped protectively around the younger girl.

Carver’s voice cut through the heavy air. “With your talent, when you come back, you’ll be teaching me all your new skills.”

His tone shifted, his usual warmth returning. “What kind of materials do you think you’ll find out there?” he asked, his excitement catching Tear’s attention.

“I don’t know,” she mumbled, still subdued.

“Really? But you’re a hunter too,” Carver said, spreading his arms dramatically. “You’ll get to find out firsthand! A whole world out there—new places, new materials. You’ll be the first in the entire village to go beyond the forrest.” His voice dropped, growing more serious as he crouched beside her.

“Will you teach me when you come back?”

Tear looked up, her earlier hesitation replaced with newfound excitement. She nodded eagerly before jumping off Serene’s lap and throwing her arms around Carver.

Carver grinned and, without warning, lifted her up, swinging her in circles. Tear burst into laughter, the sound bright and carefree, filling the room with warmth.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Grey sat beside Serene, watching them with a small smile. The light crackle of the fire mixed with the lingering giggles in the air, creating a moment of peace.

“Hey,” Serene said softly.

“Hey,” Grey replied, just as simply.

They sat there for a while, letting the background noise settle between them, until Serene finally spoke again.

“I think I got stronger… was that you?”

Grey nodded. “I think so. New ability. What do you think?”

She wrapped her arms around her knees, pulling them close. “I—it’s amazing… but I just wish I could do more.”

“Do more?” Grey asked, brow furrowing slightly.

Serene exhaled, staring down at the floor. “Everyone seems so independent. Even you. You always looked like that.” She took a breath. “We’re going somewhere completely unknown. I want people to be able to rely on me, too.”

Grey shifted closer, his voice steady. “I’m going to need to rely on you… out there. The others too. But I know I can trust you the most.” His gaze softened. “To watch out for Tear. To watch my back.”

Serene didn’t answer right away, but something in her expression changed.

On the other side of the room, Tear, now back on her feet, wandered over to Harthy, tugging gently on the hem of her clothes.

Harthy bent down, listening as Tear whispered something in her ear. A knowing smile crossed her face before she chuckled in quiet amusement.

“You’ll have to take care of it yourself,” Harthy said warmly. “I’ll teach you all the preparations.”

Tear beamed at Harthy’s response and nodded eagerly before skipping over to Grey and Serene. Without a word, she squeezed herself between them, nestling comfortably, sharing in their warmth.

Serene glanced down at her, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “I guess I’ll have to keep training you on the outside now.”

Tear gasped dramatically. “But I thought I could hunt by myself now.”

Serene hummed, pretending to consider it. “Maybe you can… if you can take down a Hooded Horn alone.”

Tear smirked. “Can you?”

Serene’s playful confidence wavered for a split second. “O—of course I can! Grey did it. And if he can—”

“Anyone can…” Tear finished, grinning.

The girls burst into laughter together, leaving Grey squinting at them in mock offense.

“Hey, I can take one down easily!” he shot back.

Serene only laughed harder, now fully awake. “That’s exactly our point.”

Grey stood abruptly, feigning outrage. “Alright, I can tell when I’m not welcome.”

But before he could step away, both Serene and Tear grabbed onto his clothes, pulling him back down as they barely held back another fit of laughter.

Carver, watching the scene unfold, sighed dramatically. “It only gets worse, Grey.” He gazed off into the distance, as if recalling a tragic past. “Much, much wor—ow!”

A wooden spoon struck the back of his shoulder with surprising force.

He turned to see Harthy staring him down with a knowing look, the spoon still in her grip.

Carver rubbed the sore spot, then locked eyes with Grey. No words were needed.

Grey understood.

Carver was telling him, This is exactly what I mean.

The family sat together for one last night, feasting on a spread of dried fruits, meats, and warm soup. A simple feast, but satisfying.

They talked late into the night, sharing stories of the forest. Carver and Harthy reminisced about their past, something that caught Tear’s undivided attention—though not enough to stop her from occasionally teasing Grey and Serene.

Laughter filled the home, blending with the crackling of the fire. The hours slipped by unnoticed, warmth and drowsiness settling over them all.

Eventually, Carver stood, stretching before grabbing Harthy’s hand. “Get them in bed, Grey, if you don’t mind.”

Grey, groggy himself, nodded. He lifted Tear effortlessly, her small frame practically weightless in his arms. Then he turned to Serene, who had already drifted into sleep.

“Mmm…” she mumbled as he nudged her lightly.

Grey sighed, pushing her again. “Serene, you can’t sleep on the floor. It’s too cold.”

Her eyelids cracked open just enough for her to lift an arm toward him.

Grey sighed again but smiled as he pulled her up. “It’s only a couple of steps. Do you really need help?” he asked, chuckling softly.

“Yes,” came her muffled, exhausted reply.

The bed was already covered in thick pelt blankets, waiting for them. Serene simply stood there, sleepy and expectant.

“Really?” Grey asked, raising an eyebrow.

This time, Serene extended both arms—to take Tear from him.

Grey carefully handed his sister over, then grabbed the blankets so they could settle in. One by one, they did—Serene placing Tear down first, before slipping in herself.

That left Grey standing there, still holding the pelts.

He exhaled through his nose. Normally, Tear acted as a barrier between them, but tonight, she had been placed down first. That meant if he got in now…

Serene shifted, getting comfortable. She barely cracked an eye open before mumbling, “I’m col—” a yawn overtook her, “—cold.”

Grey closed his eyes briefly, resigning himself to his fate. Too tired to argue, too exhausted to care.

He slipped into bed, the large wooden frame creaking slightly beneath them as he pulled the pelts over the three of them.

“…Goodnight,” he muttered.

Serene let out a contented sigh, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Night.”