Ardis looked up.
Tharion.
He stood a short distance away, just as still as she was.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other.
Then, almost at the same time, they both turned their heads away.
The beast world was… strange.
Things that would seem embarrassing elsewhere, nudity, open discussions about instincts and bonding, were treated as normal here.
And yet, when it came to emotions…
Some became shy.
Some bold.
And some, like these two, didn't quite know where to look.
Around them, a few amused glances were exchanged. The situation was clearly entertaining for most.
Except for one.
Aeron.
He coughed, his expression dark as he observed the scene. Though… there was a faint hint of satisfaction in his eyes when he noticed Tharion's swollen cheek.
"Hello, sir," Tharion greeted respectfully, bowing his head slightly.
Aeron didn't respond.
Instead, he turned away, busying himself with arranging the herbs according to Sissira's earlier instructions.
A silent dismissal.
Soon, Tharion was guided to sit beside Ardis.
One by one, the others stepped out of the room, leaving them alone.
Even Aeron left, though not without casting one last sharp glare at Tharion.
Silence settled between them.
Ardis glanced at him, her eyes landing immediately on his cheek.
"Your face…" she said softly.
Tharion stiffened slightly. "I fell."
A faint redness crept across his face. Against his slightly tanned skin, it wasn't very obvious, but it was there.
Ardis looked at him for a moment.
She knew.
But she didn't call him out on it.
A brief pause.
Then Tharion spoke, his voice careful.
"You… chose me. Why?"
Ardis blinked, then answered simply, "I think you're a nice and gentle person."
She paused.
Her sharp eyes caught the lingering redness on his face again.
A mischievous thought crossed her mind.
"Why?" she tilted her head slightly. "Shouldn't I have?"
Tharion froze.
"No—! I didn't mean it like that," he said quickly, flustered. "I'm happy… that you chose me."
His voice softened toward the end.
What he didn't say was,
If she hadn't chosen him this time…
He would have tried again.
However long it took.
Ardis let out a small laugh.
The tension between them eased just a little.
The truth was simple.
She had chosen him because…
She felt at ease around him.
And right now,
Despite everything,
That feeling hadn't changed.
"Look at her," Averin whispered excitedly as she peeked through the door. "She's a natural at flirting. She definitely got that from me."
Maelor, standing beside her, simply nodded as if it were an undeniable truth.
Behind them, the Snake Chief leaned slightly closer as well, his sharp ears attentive while a grin spread across his face.
Even Aeron had unconsciously moved nearer to the door, though his expression remained stern.
Only Sissira shook her head lightly at the sight of the gathered adults acting like curious children.
A moment later, Astra arrived carrying a few ritual items. Seeing the crowd gathered suspiciously near the entrance, amusement flickered in her eyes.
Before she could say anything,
Someone shifted.
Or pushed.
No one knew exactly who.
The door suddenly creaked open.
Inside, Ardis froze instantly.
Her face burned with embarrassment as she lowered her head at once.
Averin let out a small, awkward laugh and hurriedly pushed the door shut again.
"No one will stand near the door," she declared loudly enough for Ardis to hear.
Then, almost immediately, she shifted her position slightly… clearly still trying to listen.
Sissira sighed softly while Astra smiled helplessly.
Though Astra herself was curious, she still stepped forward and began pushing everyone away from the entrance.
"Enough," she said, waving them off. "Give them some space."
The crowd finally dispersed, reluctantly.
Inside the room, silence settled heavily once more.
Ardis and Tharion avoided each other's gaze entirely now.
Every time one glanced up, the other immediately looked away.
The awkwardness only deepened.
Fortunately, Sissira sensed the atmosphere without even needing to look closely.
She stepped in smoothly to rescue them.
"There's still much to prepare," she said calmly.
The ceremony preparations soon began in earnest.
Bowls filled with fragrant mixtures and crushed herbs were brought inside. The air slowly filled with earthy scents and faint floral sweetness.
Sissira and Astra carefully dipped their fingers into the painted mixture before beginning the ritual markings.
Starting from Ardis's arms, they painted flowing symbols across her skin, curved lines and sacred patterns winding delicately around her body.
The cool touch of the paint made Ardis shiver slightly.
Meanwhile, in another area, Tharion was also being prepared.
Aeron and the Village Chief painted symbols across his skin with practiced hands, their expressions unusually serious now.
The earlier teasing atmosphere slowly faded.
This was no longer simple matchmaking.
It was sacred.
A bond witnessed by spirits, tribe, and ancestors alike.
Each symbol was unique.
No two markings were ever the same, because they reflected the person themselves—their blood, spirit, instincts, and fate.
Ardis's markings curled beautifully across her skin, a mixture of fox and snake patterns woven together. Elegant curves intertwined with sharper serpent-like lines, making her appear both gentle and mysterious.
Tharion's, however, were entirely snake.
Dark flowing symbols traced across his body with a quiet intensity, carrying the calm and steady presence that suited him.
Even their faces weren't spared.
Sacred markings rested along their cheeks, temples, and near their eyes.
Then,
As the final stroke was completed, the symbols began to glow softly.
A faint light spread across their skin.
In an instant, the paint dried completely.
The room fell silent.
The sight felt almost magical.
Ancient and Sacred.
For a brief moment, it was as though the symbols themselves were alive.
Soon after, Ardis and Tharion were sent outside.
The Village Chief guided them toward an open area near the edge of the tribe.
This would become the place where their hut would stand.
Well—
More accurately, the place where Tharion would build the hut.
With the help of his family and friends, of course.
Until the construction was complete, Ardis would stay in Tharion's current hut after the bonding ceremony.
As they walked through the village together, countless eyes followed them.
Some smiled knowingly.
Others whispered softly among themselves.
A few older females openly looked.
Ardis felt her embarrassment growing with every step.
She lowered her head slightly, wishing she could disappear somewhere.
Beside her, Tharion looked calmer, but the faint redness on his ears betrayed him completely.
Since Ardis's ertus would arrive in spring, there was still time before they fully settled into their new life together.
By then, the cold season and hibernation would have already passed.
The thought made Ardis pause slightly.
This would be the first time she wouldn't hibernate beside her family.
Not with her father.
Not surrounded by the familiar warmth she had known all her life.
Instead…
She would hibernate beside Tharion.
The realization felt strange.
A little frightening.
Yet somehow,
Not unpleasant.
Others--
Vaelor sat quietly, scraping meat from a stretched fur with slow, practiced movements.
Then—
A knock sounded at the door.
His hand paused briefly.
Without saying anything, he rose and walked toward the entrance. The moment he opened the door, his eyes landed on the flower resting there.
A white flower.
Silent.
Delicate.
Final.
Vaelor stared at it for a moment before bending down to pick it up. He turned and walked back inside, his expression unreadable, as though nothing had changed at all.
But the scrape of his blade against the fur never resumed.
Elsewhere, Sereth had been pacing restlessly inside his hut.
The moment he heard the knock, he stopped.
He took a deep breath before opening the door.
And there it was.
The flower.
For a brief second, his expression froze.
Then, without a word, he bent down and picked it up before shutting the door firmly behind him.
He stared at the flower quietly.
Slowly, he brought it closer to his face and inhaled its faint fragrance.
"Such a pretty flower," he murmured softly.
But in his hand,
The petals were already beginning to crumple.
Sereth had truly believed he would be chosen.
Lysandor's reaction was quieter.
He opened the door, glanced at the flower, and picked it up casually.
At first glance, he looked completely indifferent.
As though it meant little to him.
Yet his fingers lingered around the stem just a bit too tightly before he walked back inside.
Kaerith stood silently when he spotted the flower placed before his hut.
Beautiful.
Fragile.
And painfully clear in meaning.
He had expected this outcome.
Deep down, he knew.
Still…
A small part of him had hoped.
Carefully, Kaerith picked up the flower and carried it inside, handling it with far more gentleness than the others.
As if afraid it might break.