A Peaceful Day

The morning in the base was sunny. While most of the staff was busy with work, some had a day-off today. Alexis, despite being free, still went for the morning practice, but was strolling the village outskirts now.

He was thinking about yesterdays date: «Hm, maybe I have a chance. Need to think more about how to approach her». 

Lily was not present on the morning practice. He went to ask if she wants to train together, but sleepy Kate, who just returned from the night mission, said her friend wanted to sleep a bit more and will go practice in the afternoon. So Alexis finished his routine early and had nothing to do for now.

While walking near the alcove, he spotted Martinson happily chatting with Inna about something. Apparently, he also had a night hunt but decided not going to bed yet.

«Good to see people having some progress here», Alexis left them be and went to the commanders office.

When he arrived, he found Mary there.

"Oh, Lex. Hi, how’s life? Any progress with our White Lily?", Mary was smirking again.

"Hello Boss, hello Mary. I would have said «Stop teasing me», but there is indeed a little progress. Do you have a day off at work?"

"Not really, just had some business nearby so decided to drop in. I will be going now".

"Need a ride?", Alex asked.

"Oh, not today, I am with a couple of colleagues, they will drop me in the nearby town", she petted his hair gently and left.

"Did you have a breakfast?", Wheeler asked Alexis.

"Not yet. Should we drop in cantina together?"

"Good idea, have you seen Martinson, I wanted to ask him too?"

"Yes, I saw him. I think he has other things to do at the moment".

"I see…", Alex smirked and they left.

Cantina was relatively empty at this hour. Most of the staff have already eaten and were busy with work, while others were sleeping after the night mission. Lily was not here, so she probably has not woken up yet. He spotted a couple of familiar aces nearby, while in the corner Kate’s mechanic was enthusiastically telling something to John, who nodded with a bit of awkward but happy look on his face.

"Oh, they have some butter mushrooms in todays fried potatoes", Alexis spotted some nice chopped mushrooms on his plate.

"Yeah, looks like they are in season and are pretty abundant in the area".

"I may go forage some today. I have nothing to do anyway".

"Good luck. I still need to take care of some papers, but feel free to come this evening if you want to chat".

They finished their meal and Alexis left to his cabin. He changed to some comfortable hunting clothes, then dropped in the regiment kitchen and asked them for a basket to forage some mushrooms. An old lady overseeing it found him one, but warned to be careful while foraging, as some mushrooms of this kind can be poisonous. Alexis reassured her that he knows the difference and left. While walking to the forest, he spotted Lily who, judging by her robe, just finished the practice.

"Oh, going mushroom-hunting? Mind if I join you?"

"No problem, just get changed first. I will wait near the alcove".

"I’ll be right back!", and she left.

It took around twenty minutes before Alexis spotted her again. This time she was dressed in simple brown trousers, jacket and a cap. In her hands she had a similar basket. Despite the sunny day, it was still pretty chill in the forest and the clouds have started gathering above.

"These clouds bother me. I hope it will not rain", Lily approached him with the concerned look.

"We still have time, I think, and there should be enough cover in the forest. Lets go".

Pine needles carpet was crunching underfoot and a light breeze disrupting their clothes, while they were walking the forest. Locals went here pretty often, so the footpaths were visible.

"Kitchen lady said a clearing with a lot of mushrooms should be around here".

"Is this one edible?", Lily stopped near the pine tree and showed a shroom growing in its base.

"Any mushroom is edible, but some only once. Do not recommend trying this one".

"A pity. Lets go further".

"Oh, looks like this is the place she was talking about", a small clearing surrounded by pine trees appeared in front of them.

A whole bunch of mushrooms were sticking under the trees. They were cleared in some places by previous gatherers, but there were still enough of them around.

"Lets start. Make sure to cut them down near the base, not just pull them from the ground", he gave her a small knife,  "and try to avoid especially slimy ones, they need extra preparation".

"Roger!", Lily went to the east side of the clearing, while Alexis went to the west and they started gathering.

"Alexis!", she called, "I found a hedgehog! Can we take it?"

"I know they look cute, but better not. They get pretty nervous in the human company and there are a lot of ticks between their needles".

"Urgh!", Lily abandoned her attempt to pet the animal and continued her search for mushrooms.

"Are these ones good?", she returned after some time with a basket full of mushrooms.

"Let me see", Alexis skimmed through the crop and removed some of it aside, "these ones are poisonous but you did pretty good for the first time", he pointed the ones that he removed and put on the ground.

"We can go for a bit longer… Ou!", Lily shivered after a few raindrops fell on her face. "Seems like the rain is starting".

"Lets take a cover under the trees".

In a few minutes the rain turned into a full on downpour. The pair was hiding under a big pine. While its wide branches allowed some cover from the rain, they still got wet pretty fast.

"Should we wait till the rain ends or run back to the village?", Alexis asked.

"It is not that far away, I think we should run", Lily replied, shivering.

"Ok, give me you basket and lets go".

"I will be fine, it is not heavy. What direction?'

"That path is the one we came from".

They started running through the forest. Raindrops bombarded their clothes, wind became stronger and the sun was hidden by the clouds. Pine trees around them were screeching lightly on the wind, but it was still pretty clear around.

Lily was laughing despite being drenched head to toe, Alexis watched over the path.

It took them about half an hour to get back to the edge of the forest. After getting to the village, they ran to the base cantina. The same old lady greeted them inside.

"How horrible, kids, you are utterly drenched. Sit there near the fire and hang your coats to dry, I will prepare something warm meanwhile".

"Where can we leave the baskets?", Alexis asked.

"Oh, just drop them on that table", she showed a big table at the corner and left.

The lady returned back shortly and put two cups and a plate with some baked buns on a table.

"A tea with honey and some fresh buns with cottage cheese. They should warm you. To bad it is still early for apples, my apple buns are great. Serve yourself".

"Thank you", the pair thanked the lady, "lets it".

"Did not expect this peaceful day to turn into a small adventure", Lily smiled.

"Me too, let’s hope we won’t catch a cold by tomorrow", Alexis sipped a bit of tea and bit the bun. "Delicious!"

They chatted until the rain stopped and then went home to take a bath and change.