The night stretched on, the fire crackling merrily, a stark contrast to the turbulent storm brewing inside Ren's head. Syris and Viper had finished their raw fish buffet, a sound Ren was profoundly grateful had ceased. Now, Syris sat cross-legged, staring into the flames, a pensive look on his face. Viper was sitting nearby, polishing his bone dagger against a rock.
Ren picked at a loose thread on her skirt.
'Tell him the truth?' she mused, glancing at Syris' profile.
She imagined the conversation. 'Syris, you know how Kael just disappeared? Well, actually I ran into Vex. He's the one who took him, but it was for his own good. And the fox kissed me. And now he's going to help Kael, but I have to sneak out and meet him later. So, can you just... not be mad?'
