Lynx sat on a log, tightening the straps on his boots. Lifting his head, he squinted at the sun's unusually harsh glare.
"That'll sting during battle," he muttered, before glancing toward the tents—just as the flaps stirred and the rest of the team stepped out, fully geared.
"Are we all here?" Lynx asked, noticing their uneven number.
"Yeah… no," Kymani corrected after a quick scan. "Valtor and Orea aren't out yet."
"I wonder why they're this late," Zara muttered, turning toward the last tent.
She pulled the flap open—then froze. Her eyes widened, a sharp gasp escaping her lips as she took in the scandalous scene before her.
A few meters away, Valtor and Orea lay fast asleep, both dressed in their tank tops and joggers. With Orea's upper body laying on Valtor's. Her head rested comfortably on his chest while his arm draped protectively around her.
"What in the world…" Zara whispered, utterly flabbergasted.
---
A few minutes later, the rest of the team sat waiting as Zara finally emerged from the tent. Valtor and Orea followed behind her, now dressed and visibly uneasy.
"Alright, we're here," Zara announced flatly.
"Took you guys long enough," Kymani muttered, voicing what everyone was thinking.
They set off down the path, Lynx leading, Rowynn and Kymani following up close while Zara, Orea, and Valtor moved behind, the wavy-haired girl walking in-between them.
After a stretch of silence, Zara suddenly grabbed both Valtor's and Orea's arms, halting them mid-step.
"What?" Orea asked, blinking.
Zara glanced between them, her tone firm. "I kept your little secret to myself, so I think I deserve an explanation. What exactly was that this morning?"
Orea and Valtor exchanged nervous glances.
"Um… about that—" Orea started.
"Are you two sleeping together?" Zara cut in bluntly.
Orea and Valtor's eyes widened as they instinctively shifted apart, embarrassment written all over their faces.
"No, it's not like that," Orea blurted, taking a quick breath. "What I was going to say is… Valtor and I were talking late into the night. We didn't realize when we fell asleep."
"Really?" Zara crossed her arms, unconvinced. "In that position? All mushy like you two are a couple?"
"Maybe we are," Valtor said calmly.
Both girls froze, eyes wide. Zara blinked, then looked to Orea for confirmation. "Well?" she pressed.
Orea ran a hand through her hair, a shy smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah… kind of."
"Oh my God!" Zara squealed, loud enough for the others to turn. She threw her arms around them both, pulling their faces close. "Finally! Took you guys long enough!"
She grinned at them, holding their hands. "See? Was that so hard?"
Orea and Valtor only exchanged stunned looks.
"You guys!" Lynx suddenly called from a short distance away. The group turned toward him. "Do you hear that?"
Valtor slipped free of Zara's grip and jogged to Lynx's side. He paused, listening. "Is that what I think it is?" he murmured, glancing at Lynx, who mirrored his suspicion.
"What? What's out there?" Kymani asked, stepping closer.
"I'll be right back," Valtor said instead. A gust of flames enveloped him as he surged upward, rising above the trees and hovering mid-air.
The team gathered below, shielding their eyes as they watched.
"What do you see?" Lynx shouted up.
"Water!" Valtor's yelled back, excitement dripping in his tone. "A huge mass of water — just a few miles ahead!" He looked down at them, grinning. "We're close to the ocean!"
An outburst erupted among the group — cheers, laughter, relief. Only Lynx stood still, his eyes distant. "Feels like a dream," he whispered.
A burst of flame descended beside them as Valtor landed, beaming, the fire around him fading away. "We'll be there in a few days," he said.
Before he could say more, Orea surged forward and threw her arms around him. The rest of the team joined in, turning it into a spontaneous group hug.
"I still can't believe it," Lynx murmured as they pulled apart.
"You better believe it," Kymani laughed — then suddenly leapt onto Lynx's back, nearly knocking him over. The others burst out laughing at the sight.
As the laughter faded, Valtor's tone shifted again. "There's just one thing left," he said.
The team fell quiet, facing him.
"We need to strategize," he continued. "How do we cross the water when we get there?"