The morning mist clung to the ridges like a secret reluctant to be shared. Kaein stirred first, the pale light from the half-open window brushing across his face. His eyes caught the faint outline of Lior still asleep, one arm thrown lazily over the blanket, his hair mussed in a way Kaein had never seen during their city days. For a second, Kaein just watched. There was something different about quiet mornings away from the world—they let you notice the little things you normally missed.
A soft creak of the wooden floor broke the stillness as Kaein rose, careful not to wake him. The cabin smelled faintly of pine and ash from last night's fire. He stepped outside, greeted by the crisp bite of mountain air, and the distant sound of a river tumbling over rocks. The view stretched endlessly—the peaks blushed with sunrise, the sky washed in peach and gold.
By the time Lior emerged, rubbing sleep from his eyes, Kaein had two steaming cups in hand.
"Coffee?" Kaein offered.
Lior blinked, then smiled faintly. "Thought you only made it in emergencies."
"This counts," Kaein replied, the corner of his mouth twitching. "We've got a whole day and no case files chasing us. We need energy."
They drank in silence for a moment, watching the shifting colors of the horizon. Then Lior tilted his head toward the valley below. "You hear that?"
Kaein listened. Beyond the chatter of birds, there it was—the rush of water, steady and melodic.
"So, where to?" Lior asked, slinging his backpack over one shoulder.
Kaein adjusted the straps on his own. "There's a place called the Velren Cascades. Locals say it's a hidden waterfall. A few hours' hike from here."
"Hidden waterfall," Lior repeated. "You're making this sound like some treasure hunt."
"Maybe it is," Kaein said, and for some reason, that pulled a faint laugh from Lior.
---
The trail wound through narrow dirt paths, their boots crunching over fallen leaves. The air smelled faintly of pine and damp earth. Sometimes they walked side by side, talking about everything except work; sometimes one of them drifted ahead, letting the other catch up in silence.
When the path narrowed along a cliff edge, Kaein slowed, letting Lior go first. He noticed the other man's steady footing, the way he didn't glance down even once. Kaein, however, found his gaze flickering to the drop below.
"You okay?" Lior asked, glancing over his shoulder.
"Fine," Kaein replied. But when a loose stone shifted under his foot, Lior's hand shot out without hesitation, steadying him.
"Fine, huh?" Lior's tone was light, but his grip lingered for a second longer than necessary.
Kaein gave a quiet exhale. "Guess I owe you for that."
"Guess you do," Lior said, starting forward again. But he didn't let too much space grow between them after that.
---
The sun climbed higher as they hiked deeper into the hills. They passed small wooden signposts, streams that cut silver lines through the grass, and clusters of wildflowers that seemed too vivid to be real. At one point, they stopped near a ridge to catch their breath. From there, they could see a far-off glint of water — maybe their destination.
"You think it's worth the walk?" Lior asked.
Kaein tilted his head, watching the glint shimmer under the sun. "Some things are only worth it if you take your time getting there."
It wasn't about the waterfall, and Kaein knew Lior caught that.
---
By the time they reached the Velren Cascades, the air was cooler. The waterfall wasn't massive, but it fell in three distinct tiers, each spilling into a pool so clear the stones beneath looked like glass. Mist hung in the air, softening the edges of everything.
They found a flat rock near the water's edge and sat there, letting the spray brush against their skin. Lior stretched his legs out, leaning back on his hands.
"Not bad," he admitted.
Kaein dipped his fingers into the water. "Colder than it looks."
They stayed there longer than they planned — not talking much, just letting the sound of rushing water fill the space. Every so often, Kaein would catch Lior's gaze lingering on him, and each time, Lior would glance away like it was nothing.
---
The walk back to the lodge was slower, the shadows stretching as morning gave way to afternoon. On the last stretch of trail, Kaein felt the weight of the trip settling — not in a tired way, but in the way you know something won't happen exactly the same way twice.
Lior saw the excited face of the man beside him and wanted him to enjoy and make these best memories.'It's been 10 years since I felt this joy. I don't want it to end.'
"Hey Ken, there's a river not far from here," Lior said. "Locals say it's got this bend where the current slows and you can hear it… sing."
Kaein raised a brow. "Sing?"
"Not like… literal words," Lior chuckled. "But the way the water echoes between the cliffs—it's supposed to be calming. Thought we could check it out."
---
The trail wound down from the cabin, cutting through cedar groves and open meadows spattered with wildflowers. They walked at an easy pace, sometimes side by side, sometimes drifting apart as one or the other paused to take in the view.
At one point, Lior stopped to snap a picture of a particularly vivid cluster of blue gentians.
"Never thought you were into flowers," Kaein said.
"I'm not," Lior replied, crouching for a better angle. "But sometimes… they remind me that not everything's fleeting. Some things grow where they're meant to."
Kaein didn't comment, but the thought stuck with him as they moved on.
---
The closer they got, the louder the river became—not roaring, but insistent. It was as if the sound was weaving itself into the air, filling every gap. When they finally broke through the last line of trees, Kaein saw it: a ribbon of clear water curling around a bend, the sunlight catching on its surface like shards of glass. The far cliff was streaked with moss and trickling streams, each adding its own note to the melody.
Lior stepped forward and knelt at the edge, letting the water run over his fingers. "Colder than it looks."
Kaein crouched beside him. "Guess that's why it feels so clean."
They stayed there for a while, listening to the water's song. Kaein found it strangely grounding, the constant motion reminding him of the city's chaos, yet stripped of urgency.
"You know," Lior said softly, "it's been a long time since I just… stayed in one place and let my mind be quiet."
Kaein glanced at him. There was a tiredness in Lior's voice that didn't belong to lack of sleep. It was deeper, worn into him.
"Maybe you needed this trip more than I did," Kaein murmured.
Lior smiled faintly without looking away from the water. "Maybe I did."
---
Around midday, they followed the river upstream to where it narrowed between two cliffs. The air here was cooler, the ground damp with spray. They found a flat rock, unpacked the simple lunch they'd carried, and ate in comfortable silence. Every so often their eyes met—brief, wordless moments that felt like acknowledgements rather than accidents.
"Tomorrow it's back to the noise," Lior said eventually.
Kaein's reply was quiet. "Yeah. But I don't think the noise will feel the same."
---
The way back took longer, partly because they kept stopping. Once, to watch a hawk glide above the valley; another time, when Lior spotted a hidden patch of wild berries and insisted they taste them. At one point, the narrow trail forced them closer, shoulders brushing. Neither moved away.
As the cabin came into sight, the sun was dipping low, painting the peaks in fire. The wind shifted, carrying the river's voice one last time. Lior glanced over at Kaein.
"Thanks for coming," he said simply.
Kaein met his gaze. "Thanks for asking."
And though no promises were spoken, something had settled between them—quiet, like the river's song, but impossible to ignore.