When Theron returned, Mie was sitting by the fire. On the stove was a bubbling pot of fish soup, and on the table sat a large plate of crispy fried fish.
Not knowing what Mie was deeply thinking about, Theron deliberately kicked some pebbles to make a rattling sound, but he still couldn't attract Mie's gaze. Helplessly, he used his head to rub against Mie's hand a few times.
The warm softness spreading from the back of his hand snapped Mie out of his endless thoughts. He looked down and saw that the familiar leopard had returned. Smiling, he hugged Theron's head and buried his face in the leopard's neck, rubbing affectionately.
"Where did you go? Why are you only back now? I made the fish dish you like to eat the most."
"Mhm."
