Dorian woke up to a sunny morning.
He got up, stretched, and yawned before hearing a knock on the door.
He slowly walked towards the door and opened it.
He saw his three friends standing outside, all looking at him with concern.
"Why are you all staring at me like that?" he asked.
"You don't remember?" Evander asked quietly. "You looked tired yesterday."
"We thought it wise to come and see how you're doing this morning," Aldric said.
"Soooo, how are you, Dorian?" Leoric finally asked.
"Come on, why is everyone speaking as if this was a rehearsed speech?" Dorian asked with a chuckle. "And by the way, I am very much okay. Thank you all for the concern."
"You don't need to thank us. Now we'll leave you to take a bath while we prepare food," Aldric said.
"Food?" Dorian asked.
Leoric came towards Dorian and put his hand over his shoulder with a smile.
"Dear brother, my rabbit is going to be food, okay? Because I caught something valuable, unlike you that almost—"
"Leoric!" Aldric called him.
"Could you spare Dorian some time to bathe, please?"
"Leoric, your stench is quite disturbing too. You should bathe as well," Evander said with a laugh.
Everyone joined in the laughter.
"Leoric, can I speak with you?" Aldric asked.
"Yes, brother."
Leoric smiled and approached him as they headed towards a hidden, secluded place.
Aldric's smile slowly faded.
"Leoric, I want you to control yourself out there. We cannot remind him of what happened in the Mistwood Forest, or else he'll go back to being moody. Would you want that?"
"No, I won't," Leoric answered.
"Then watch your mouth. I don't think Dorian drowned back there. I feel it is something more, but he wouldn't tell us."
Aldric paused.
"One thing I know for sure is that if it is really important, we will find out sooner or later. You understand?"
Leoric nodded.
"Nothing hides in the dark forever."
"I understand. I will keep silent about yesterday," Leoric said.
"Good. Now let's head back," Aldric replied as he placed a hand on Leoric's shoulder.
They headed back to where the others were.
Leoric looked towards Dorian, then Evander, before finally looking at Aldric.
"Why don't we all go to the stream and take a bath?" he suggested.
Dorian nodded.
"Last person to reach there eats a small portion of food!"
Immediately, they began running towards the stream.
"Children, be careful!" Evander yelled.
Dorian laughed as he ran ahead with Leoric close behind while the other two were far behind.
---
Finally, they arrived at the stream.
Dorian jumped into the water, and Leoric did the same.
They both laughed.
"Dorian, look! I am the king of the waters!" Leoric said, raising his hands proudly.
"Oh, really? Well, I am most certainly the god of the water," Dorian replied.
He looked around.
"Where are Aldric and Evander?"
"We're here," Aldric announced as he and Evander finally arrived.
"Took you five months, but okay," Leoric said.
They all got into the stream and began washing their bodies.
"Everybody, I won the race!" Leoric shouted.
"No, you didn't! You liar! I jumped into the stream first, so I definitely won!" Dorian argued.
"Come on, brother. Just pass me the win this once, please," Leoric begged, cupping his hands together.
"Alright. I am feeling generous, so you can have the win," Dorian said, waving his hand with his chest all puffed out.
Everyone laughed at the drama.
Dorian smiled.
He looked away from his friends and down at the water.
For a few seconds...
The water was completely still.
Dorian frowned.
There was no movement.
No ripples.
Nothing.
He stared at it for a moment, his smile slowly fading.
Then—
SPLASH!
Water hit his face.
Dorian blinked.
Leoric burst into laughter.
"Got you!"
Dorian wiped the water from his face and stared at him.
"You..."
Leoric laughed even harder.
Dorian couldn't help but smile.
"You'll pay for that."
"I'd like to see you try," Leoric replied with a grin.
After they finished bathing, they climbed out of the stream and put their clothes back on.
"Now let's prepare the roasted rabbit!" Leoric shouted.
---
They returned to the village together.
Leoric carried the rabbit proudly while Dorian followed beside him.
"I still think I deserve the biggest portion," Leoric said.
"You already won the race. What more do you want?" Dorian asked.
"The biggest portion."
Dorian shook his head.
"Greedy."
"I'm the one who caught it."
"And I'm the one who gave you the win."
"You gave me the win because you are generous."
Leoric smiled.
"Exactly."
Evander laughed.
"You two could argue about anything."
"Because Dorian likes arguing," Leoric replied.
Dorian looked at him.
"You're the one who started it."
Aldric shook his head.
"Just prepare the food before the two of you start another argument."
They reached the small area behind Aldric's house where they usually prepared their meals.
Evander gathered some dry wood while Aldric prepared the fire.
Leoric carefully cleaned the rabbit while Dorian watched.
"You know," Dorian said, "for someone who talks so much, you're surprisingly quiet when you're working."
Leoric looked up.
"I'm concentrating."
"On a rabbit?"
"Yes."
Dorian laughed.
"You're strange."
"And you're annoying."
They both laughed.
Soon, the fire was burning, and the smell of roasted meat filled the air.
The four friends sat around the fire, waiting patiently.
When the rabbit was finally ready, Leoric immediately reached for it.
"Wait!" Evander said.
Leoric stopped.
"What?"
"We haven't divided it yet."
Leoric slowly pulled his hand back.
"Fine."
Aldric divided the rabbit into four portions.
Leoric stared at his.
"Why is mine smaller?"
Dorian burst into laughter.
"Because you talk too much."
"That's not fair!"
"It is very fair," Evander said, laughing.
Leoric sighed dramatically before taking his portion.
They ate together, talking and laughing as the afternoon slowly passed.
After they finished eating, Dorian leaned back.
"That was good."
Leoric smiled.
"Of course it was. I caught it."
Dorian rolled his eyes.
"You will never stop saying that, will you?"
"Never."
Aldric smiled as he looked at the three of them.
"Let's enjoy days like this while we can."
Dorian looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
Aldric shrugged.
"Nothing. I just mean we should enjoy being together."
Evander nodded.
"He's right."
Leoric smiled.
"Then let's make a promise."
Dorian raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of promise?"
Leoric looked at all three of them.
"No matter what happens, we stay together."
Dorian smiled.
"That's easy."
Evander nodded.
"I agree."
Aldric smiled.
"Then it's settled."
Leoric stretched his hand towards the middle.
"Together?"
Dorian placed his hand over Leoric's.
"Together."
Evander placed his hand over theirs.
"Together."
Aldric placed his hand on top.
"Always."
The four friends smiled.