After such a positive and productive day yesterday, Lilly's heart sank as she beheld the chaos in her once-orderly garden. Torn leaves and uprooted vegetables lay strewn about, their vibrant colors marred with muddy hoof prints. A plump piglet snorted gleefully in the midst of it all, its pink ear wings fluttering as it gorged itself on her hard work. It was one of Yorik’s flying pigs.

"All right, you little troublemaker," Lilly said, determination etching her features. "You're going back to Yorik whether you like it or not."

The piglet glanced up mid-bite, meeting her gaze with a defiant snort. Lilly knew she had to approach the situation with care; after all, it was still a sentient, living creature, albeit a mischievous one. Her compassion for all living beings was what made her an excellent caretaker, even for those who didn't belong to her.

"Come here, you," she coaxed, inching closer with outstretched hands. The small pig eyed her warily before taking to the air, evading her grasp with a triumphant oink.

"Fine," Lilly said with a huff, her patience wearing thin. "We'll do this the hard way."

She broke into a run, weaving through the rows of damaged crops, her eyes locked on the airborne pig. Its squeals mocked her as she chased it through her garden, her frustration mounting with every missed attempt to catch it. But Lilly's resourcefulness and resilience were not easily defeated, and she refused to give up.

"Almost...got...you!" she panted, lunging forward one last time. Her fingers brushed against the pig's coarse fur; and with a final surge of determination, she gripped it firmly.

"Ha!" Lilly exclaimed, cradling the now-subdued pig in her arms. "Let's get you back to Yorik."

As she trudged through the muddy garden, the devastation wrought by the pig weighed heavily on her heart; but at least, most of it was salvageable. If this is what a piglet could do, she couldn’t imagine what a full-grown flying pig would have done. The farm was more than just a home; it was her little oasis in a chaotic and magical world. And despite the trouble this pig had caused, Lilly couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the creature—they were both merely trying to find their place in a world that didn't always understand them.

"All right, little one," she murmured, stroking its head gently. "Let's hope Yorik has a better way of keeping you in line."

The journey to Yorik's farm felt longer than usual, as Lilly struggled to maintain her grip on the wriggling pig. Upon arrival, she spotted Yorik tending to his other flying pigs, oblivious to the chaos one of his pigs had caused.

"Yorik!" Lilly called out, her voice strained. "I believe this belongs to you!"

Startled, Yorik turned, and his eyes widened at the sight of the captured pig. "Oh dear," he stammered, rushing over to Lilly. "I'm so sorry. I don't know how he got out. Did he cause too much trouble?"

“He did make a bit of mess of my vegetable garden, but I think most of it will be salvageable.” Lilly hesitated, torn between wanting to stay and spend more time with Yorik and the nagging feeling that she should be getting back to work on her farm.

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Just yesterday, she had decided that she would be the one in charge of the farm instead of it running her. “Hey, Yorik…”

Yorik took the pig from Lilly securing it between his arm and his chest. “Let me get this little guy settled back where he belongs, and I’ll help you clean up the mess he made.”

“That would be great; but afterward, would you like to stay and have some dinner with me and maybe play a game of Tekla? I feel like everything has been so hectic on the farm, and I haven’t taken a break in far too long.”

A huge grin spread across Yorik’s face. “I was starting to wonder if you’d lost interest in our Tekla matches. I wouldn’t miss it.”

Across from her, Yorik leaned back into his chair, a satisfied grin on his face. "Lilly," he started, his voice laced with an amused chuckle, "who knew you could work up such an appetite from gardening? I haven't seen anyone eat as much as I just did since my uncle Rurik on Harvest Day." His eyes glinted with good-natured teasing.

"Oh hush," she retorted, swatting his arm lightly. She could feel the heat creeping into her cheeks as he watched her, but she enjoyed his attention. "Working the soil is hard work, Yorik! Besides," she added, tilting her head slightly, "the turnip pudding you brought for dessert would make anyone eat like they've been fasting for days."

She watched Yorik relax on the chair across from her. She felt more comfortable and content than her filled belly. She missed this, missed him.

He interrupted the brief silence. “Would you like to play another game of Tekla, or are you tired of being beaten tonight?”

Lilly let out an exaggerated sigh as her lips quirked upward. Usually, she beat him when they played, but she was much too distracted with Tunni’s suggestion of bringing up her feelings that she couldn’t seem to focus tonight. “No, apparently too much farm work and not enough Tekla has gotten me out of practice. The sun is about to set. Would you like to move out to the porch?”

Yorik grinned. “If that’s where you’re going, that’s where I’m going.”

The evening fell into a comfortable quiet as Lilly and Yorik settled onto the porch swing, their dinner settled and the chaotic game of Tekla finally ended. The last vestiges of daylight clung to the horizon, staining the sky with a painter's palette of hues—oranges, purples, and pinks merging into a beautiful sunset. A cooling breeze rustled the leaves around them, as though whispering secrets of the day's end.

"Got something to show you," Yorik murmured, reaching into his pocket. His words hung in the air, inviting curiosity. The weathered leather pouch that he pulled out had an air of familiarity, but it was the item within that truly held Lilly's attention. It was the game piece, the small tile crafted from unicorn horn that she had gifted him.

Yorik turned the piece around in his hand, a wistful smile on his face. "Remember this?" he asked, holding the tile up to the dying light of the day. "Feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?"

Lilly couldn't help but chuckle at his statement, her gaze fixed on the glimmering piece. "Oh, it certainly does," she agreed, her words imbued with a hint of gentle teasing. "Hard to believe you were so flabbergasted when I gave it to you."

He looked at her with a mock offended expression, a playful glint in his eyes. "Flabbergasted? Me? Never," Yorik retorted, his tone equally teasing. "I was merely...surprised at your generosity.

"Remember this?" he asked, a nostalgic smile on his face as he held it up for Lilly to see. "I've kept this with me ever since you gave it to me. It reminds me of our first Tekla match, and I believe it brings me luck."

Lilly's eyes widened as she recognized the piece, memories flooding back of laughter shared and a blossoming friendship. She had given that piece to Yorik after he had helped her save her Tom from certain destruction.

"Yorik, I never knew you carried it with you," she said softly, touched by his sentiment. "It's been a long time since that day. I guess a unicorn horn might produce some kind of luck effect."

Yorik shook his head. “No, not the unicorn. I feel lucky because it came from you.”

As the world around them dimmed and fireflies began to flit about them, Lilly looked at Yorik, wondering if this was the moment he was about to express the same feelings that she was too afraid to admit.