Few to Tell

The three of them left in calm spirits come dawn the next day, anxiety quelled by connection as the shelter remained for those who would inevitably come after. They just walked, dim light beckoning their way toward the horizon and offering a glimpse to what lay ahead.

Yet, despite the newness and lingering awkwardness of the situation, the warmth warrior and geomancer shared was more than enough to overcome it, traveling side by side to their destination.

Well, that and intimacy, the latter taken advantage of as often as possible.

Smirks, smiles, and blushing faces. Conversations flowed as the occasional contact was exchanged, each growing slightly bolder with every successful attempt to lower inhibitions.

Then as the sun rose: quips, laughs, and the occasional beckoning of stone as Clunk's opinion was tugged over, it was stumbling and foolish—wince-worthy even. Hardly the actions expected of two heroes of the realm.

But it was the most alive Citrine had ever felt.

By the time words had turned to a trickle, afternoon was in full swing, and trees began to dot the curving valleys and hills more frequently once again. This, Citrine knew, marked the next real leg of their travel, a landscape that would stretch on until they finally met the upcoming town, where foliage would intertwine themselves thicker than cloth up until the mountains.

The Arborweave.

*yawn*

A lazy wisp left Ferris's open maw, escaping into the air. Then, just as quickly, she closed it, smacking her lips as she stretched out mid-stride.

"So, you really haven't gotten into any new hobbies then? Like, at all?"

Citrine shrugged at the question, levitating a snack out of Clunk's backpack to munch on, then another for her inquisitive partner.

"It's not like I didn't try. It's just that every attempt I made felt wasted, like it was useless for me to pursue it further. I typically just ended up researching new geomancy or rocks instead."

She bit into the baked treat, cinnamon coated nuts, granola, and sugar blending into a half-moan.

Ferris observed the moment of uninhibited bliss, raising a brow with red cheeks.

"Really? What’s that in your mouth then? It certainly seems like something you must've made, right?" The woman gestured toward the bar.

"Hmm, this? It's just one of the more desirable rations I tried working on. I don't see how that's relevant."

"Not relevant? Tell me, how did you make it? Conjure it from air?"

A dismissive wave. "Don't be silly. Like I said earlier, I don't have such legendary spells. I simply baked it." She took another bite, smiling as she chewed and leaned a bit of her weight on Ferris.

Both ogrelyn and construct stared at her, unamused.

"…Citrine, baking is a hobby. I would know, I tried really hard to get into it, even though the results weren’t exactly… well, you know."

The image of the weirdly shaped cinnamon cookies from their reunion popped up, and Citrine twitched a smile. "What are you talking about? They tasted just fine. Sure, they might've had a tad bit too much butter and weren't rolled out properly—"

A light scowl and ruffle of silver hair. "Right there! I know for certain you never knew how to bake before we parted ways, yet you just spouted out some sage advice now. You can't possibly expect me to believe baking isn't at least one of your new skills?"

"…" Citrine's ears flattened, the embarrassment of the truth sinking in. "I just… enjoyed experimenting with different rations, alright? I wanted to make something that would last long and not be boring to eat. Is that so wrong?"

"Of course it's not. Just glad you finally admitted to enjoying something." The woman giggled as she finally downed the bar given to her in one fell swoop. "To think your eyes can finally see something outside gems and rocks…"

"Hah, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Baking was enjoyable yes, but I wouldn't say it's a full exception." Her own snack finished, Citrine picked up the water skin she'd been carrying and drank, washing down cinnamon.

"And what would classify as a full exception?"

"…Do I really have to spell it out after last night?" She held the canteen out for Ferris to take, nudging it upward against her cheek. "Here. Drink."

The warrior's face turned pink as she took a gulp, her gaze falling to Citrine's mouth, lingering on her lips.

"I… still need to get used to you saying that kind of thing," she said, capping the container again and handing it back.

A pointed chuckle. "To think the Adamantine is felled so easily now. First to stereotypes, now to words."

"Hey! I'm just trying to be honest with you. Can't help how it makes me feel," Ferris grumbled, disheveling the half-elf's hair again.

"Mmm, right, right." She relented, hugging musclebound arm close to her chest with a far more slender one. "Thank you for that, really. To just… well, have this."

Ferris's face softened, and her hand found one of Citrine's, interlacing their fingers. "Yeah. I'm glad to do it. Though, that does remind me of something. Could you help me think of how to approach the others about this? About the real me, I meant, not our new relationship. The latter would be rather straightforward."

Citrine blinked as she felt the warrior's pulse beat beneath her touch. "The others? Larkspur and Durma you mean?"

"Yes, I mean, I don't exactly have much 'others' to talk about, do I? Not since the Trueflame did their thing."

She gave a solemn nod, remembering the warrior's hometown. "Fair. Just making sure. But I don't think you need to do anything special for them. Like I said, they care about you. Doesn't matter what form you're in, you're still the warrior that fought with and protected us."

"Maybe." She shrugged, her thumb tracing circles on the half-elf's hand. "Still, I'm pretty certain Larkspur is gonna have a lot of things to say."

"Probably. He did have an obsession over glamouring you every chance he got."

"Ugh, don't remind me. I swear if he brings up anything about 'foreseeing this', I'll wring his neck."

"You sure you want to? Don't you remember how he'd get when Durma got him in chokeholds?"

"…" Ferris grimaced, physically damaged by the implication. "That's an image I'd thought completely banished from my brain. 'Friendly banter' my ass. Our dwarf may have been genuine, but Larkspur? That man's a menace to society—"

*screech*

The armored woman's words were interrupted by a bird of prey, the falcon's sharp cry cutting through the atmosphere.

Three sets of eyes focused on it: emerald, gold, and gem.

It arrived from up ahead, circling around them as it descended. It was a large, majestic creature, feathers white and wings spread wide. It had an object in its grasp too, a recognizable scroll case from the looks of it, carved from bone and decorated with feathers, leather, and beads.

Then, it dropped.

Clunk's hand shot out to catch the falling item, and the bird landed upon his shoulder, talons trying to find purchase on the stone. It let out another cry before tilting its head, as if waiting for someone to open and read the contents.

"Hm, speak of them, and they will arrive," Citrine muttered, taking the case from the construct. "A pleasant surprise. Curious to how Durma found us out here though."

"Can't he talk to animals?" Ferris asked.

True. The geomancer silently tilted her head, trying to recall anything that'd stood out since their journey began, perhaps a scout for the druid.

"…" Oh.

"Of course it was the squirrel."

She sighed at not catching that possibility sooner before opening the case and unfurling the single strip of parchment within. Then, she scanned the text, the ink a dark green against the yellowish-white paper.

"!" The elf's eyes widened.

"So, what does it say?" Gravel churned against armored boots as the warrior tried sneaking in a glance.

Citrine hunched herself over it to block the view. "Um, if I were to say nothing, would you believe it?"

"No. Definitely not."

"Figured… Could you though?" She pleaded deadpan.

"…Is something wrong?"

"No, no, nothing wrong. It's just… trust me on this, okay?" She stared into her friend's eyes, willing her to understand.

After a moment, Ferris nodded, albeit reluctantly. "When you put it that way… Alright, I'll drop it then. For now, at least."

"Thank you. You'll see why soon enough." Her gaze flicked to the falcon still perched on Clunk's shoulder once she'd manipulated a reply onto the paper in ink. "I'm sorry, but would you mind making another delivery to Durma?"

The bird cocked its head, as if regarding her before letting out a soft screech.

"Much appreciated. Here, please." She carefully rolled up the parchment and put it back in the case, fluidly snatched up as the bird took to the sky again, venturing towards the horizon.

"…Can I at least ask how long I must wait on this secret of yours, Rockelf?" Ferris asked once the bird disappeared from view.

"About two days. Maybe three at most. It'll be our major stop within the Arborweave."

"And then?"

Citrine smirked as she thought of the surprise to come.

"Like I said, you'll see. This is the most I can give away without ruining everything." Her ears twitched as she gulped down one last bit of water. "Though, I apologize for guarding such a thing, especially after having promised to be honest about everything."

"No, no, I get it. It's not a big deal, and if you say it's worth it, I believe it. Besides, you're technically being honest about it."

She smiled at the ogrelyn, although something else snuck in toward the end as she levitated the waterskin back into her bag.

"One last thing actually before resuming our banter, if you don't mind. Did you ever think about… us? Before the Ashen King's downfall and everything?"

"Us? You mean—"

"Romantically, yes." Citrine cut in, her expression growing wistful as her gaze drifted toward the sky. "Did you at some point think about the possibility of us being together, even as we worked to bring an end to the Trueflame?"

"…" Ferris didn't reply immediately. Instead, her eyes narrowed as redness spread through her.

"Yes and no, I suppose. Yes in that I admired and desired you. No in that I couldn't imagine that possibility with my form at the time."

"…I see." The half-elf's ears drooped slightly, her smile fading a bit as well. "Apologies for the indulging question. Just wanted to know, I suppose."

"Hey, don't feel bad about asking. We'd be bound to ask those things at some point later," Ferris chuckled. "But anyway, what made you think of that? Was it just random or…?"

"Just thinking about the past as I always do and it came up," Citrine's reply was nonchalant, and her ears perked back up at the thought. "Anyways, enough of it. I'd like to hear more of your attempts at hobbies now, dear Ferris. You must've tried a couple more than the ones I already know about, right?"

"…Are you certain you want to ask this?"

"Quite so. I'm very much interested in knowing exactly what the Adamantine could possibly have tried and failed at."

Ferris groaned and looked away again, rubbing the back of her neck.

"It's a good thing we have a few days still ahead." She sighed and shook her head, a grin creeping across her features. "Alright, I guess we'll start at the top with the time I attempted crochet…"