Now fully cleaned up, their bodies refreshed and glistening with the lingering freshness of the cool stream water, Heka and Briar made their way back quickly toward Benjamin's private quarters.
The late afternoon light filtered softly through the dense canopy above, casting gentle golden patterns across the ground as the two walked side by side in comfortable silence, the distant sounds of Verdant Spire's daily life humming faintly in the background.
The moment they stepped inside the spacious treehouse room, the peaceful atmosphere shattered instantly.
"Wahhh! Rowan needs a bath with Heka-sama too!" Rowan whined loudly in a high-pitched, playful voice the instant they caught wind of what had happened at the stream.
The androgynous teenager with heterochromic eyes bounced forward eagerly, stretching out one hand to grab hold of Heka's larger fingers with obvious excitement sparkling in her mismatched gaze.
