The sun peeked through the cave entrance, painting stripes of gold across the uneven walls. Dust motes danced lazily in the light, and Evan sneezed into the pelt he was folding.
"Organization equals civilization," he mumbled for the tenth time this morning.
From inside one of the newly carved rooms, Leo's voice echoed, "You said that yesterday,Mama."
Evan grinned. "And I'll keep saying it until it sticks. Now, where's the pot that used to leak? The one Milo thought was a drum?"
A giggle came from the back. "We don't talk about the drum incident," Milo declared solemnly.
Evan chuckled and glanced over to where Silas crouched near the fire pit, trimming branches with his claws. Even doing something mundane, the man looked dangerously competent—sharp jawline, smooth dark scales trailing down his shoulders, and that long tail curled loosely around his legs.
"You're staring," Silas said without looking up.
"I'm assessing our inventory, thank you very much," Evan said quickly, heat creeping up his neck. "Also, we need greens. And fruits. And something that doesn't taste like smoked meat number forty-seven."
Silas finally looked at him with that faint, amused smile. "You want to hunt vegetables again?"
"Exactly. You make it sound like a hobby."
"It's the way you talk about them," Silas said. "Like they're prey you want to chase."
Evan laughed. "Well, I guess I'm a veggie predator, then."
---
The air outside was crisp and thick with that earthy, green smell Evan was learning to love. They left the cubs behind to guard the den. Leo saluted with his stick-spear.
"I'll protect the cave, Mama!"
"Brave warrior," Evan said with mock gravity. "If any carrot monsters attack, yell for help."
Silas only shook his head, tail flicking in amusement as they set off.
---
Evan tried to keep up with Silas's long strides, pushing through ferns and vines. "You know, for a world that wants to kill us half the time, it's really pretty."
Silas gave a quiet hum of agreement. "Pretty things can still be dangerous."
Evan squinted at him. "Was that a warning or a compliment?"
"Maybe both."
Evan made a face. "You're impossible."
"I've been told that before," Silas replied smoothly.
Evan huffed. "Ugh, of course you have."
---
They were collecting broad leaves near a stream when the undergrowth rustled. A heavy, wet snort rolled through the trees.
Evan froze. "Please tell me that's you."
Silas's voice dropped low. "Stay behind me."
From the bushes burst a beast twice the size of a bull—muscles rippling, tusks curved like daggers. Its hide was rough, patterned like cracked stone. It pawed the ground, bellowing.
Evan gulped. "Okay, so not you."
"Back. Now." Silas's tail lashed once, tension rippling through his whole body.
The beast lunged—and Silas moved faster. He met the charge with a roar of his own, catching the creature by the shoulder and twisting. The sound of bone snapping was loud and sickening. The beast tried to bite, but Silas slammed it into a tree with brute strength.
Evan crouched behind a rock, heart hammering. Holy hell, he's terrifying.
"Do something useful!" he hissed at himself, grabbed a stone, and hurled it. It hit the beast's side with a weak thud.
"Ha! Take that—ow, okay, it didn't even flinch!"
Silas, claws deep in the beast's neck, shouted, "Stay down, Evan!"
"Trust me, no problem!" Evan yelled back, ducking as the creature's tail whipped past.
Moments later, Silas gave one last shove, driving his claws through thick hide. The creature went still.
Silence.
Evan blinked. "Is it… dead?"
Silas wiped his hand across his arm, smearing blood that shimmered faintly in the sun. "Dead," he confirmed, voice calm but breathing heavy.
Evan stepped closer, half impressed, half horrified. "You wrestled it like it was a chicken."
Silas gave him a side glance. "Was that fear or admiration I heard?"
"Mostly disbelief," Evan admitted, "with a touch of… yeah, admiration."
A rare smile tugged at Silas's mouth. "Good."
Evan groaned. "You're going to get even more smug now, aren't you?"
....
Silas crouched, checking the beast's body. "Its meat will last us many days."
Evan blinked. "You just killed it, and your first thought is dinner?"
"Always." Silas looked up, emerald eyes glinting. "Yours isn't?"
Evan crossed his arms. "Mine is: Oh no, I almost died. Yours is: Yay, free groceries."
Evan shook his head. "I'll never complain about your appetite again."
Silas chuckled, low and warm. "You talk so much when you're frightened."
"I'm not frightened," Evan said. "Just—uh—expressive."
Silas checked him over, large hands brushing Evan's shoulders and arms. "You're not hurt?"
"N-no, just my pride." Evan tried to laugh, but his voice cracked.
Silas's claws retracted, fingers gentle as they lingered on Evan's wrist. "You're shaking."
"It's adrenaline," Evan muttered, refusing to meet his eyes. "And maybe mild trauma."
Silas leaned closer, his breath warm. "You worry me."
"I—uh—you don't have to," Evan stammered, stepping back—and bumped right into Silas's tail.
The snake orc chuckled, low and rough. "Too late."
Evan's ears burned. "Focus on the vegetables, mighty warrior."
....
They left the carcass under a shady tree for later, marking it with stones. The air ahead held a new scent—sharp, fiery, exciting.
"Ding..ding...Target reached" System voice appeared in Evan's mind.
Evan excitingly sniffed. "That smell… it's spicy! Like something cooking."
Silas frowned. "Cooking?"
"Never mind, I just—wait, look!" Evan dashed forward, crouching beside a wild bush covered in red, shiny pods. He plucked one and sniffed, immediately sneezing. "Ow! Oh my god, yes! Chili! Actual chili!"
Silas tilted his head. "It burns your nose and you're happy?"
"Silas," Evan said dramatically, "this is flavor incarnate. You don't understand. With salt and this—oh, we can make jerky! And stew! And… and spicy roasted meat!"
Silas chuckled. "You get this excited over plants."
"They're not just plants, they're the start of a great future." Evan held the chili like it was treasure. "If food tastes good, people stay happy. It's science."
"I don't know what that word means," Silas said, amused. "But I like seeing you happy."
Evan smiled up at him, genuinely touched. "You… actually mean that, don't you?"
Silas nodded once. "You bring life into this cave, Evan. Laughter. Warmth."
Evan's face went pink. "W-well, someone has to keep you from turning into a grumpy snake statue."
"I'm not grumpy," Silas murmured, leaning closer. "Just… quieter."
Evan's voice softened. "You can be quiet. I'll fill the silence."
Their eyes met—his warm brown, Silas's bright gold. For a second, the world stilled.
Then Silas brushed a thumb across Evan's cheek. "You had dirt."
Evan's breath hitched. "Oh… thanks."
Before he could overthink, Silas bent forward slightly and pressed a quick kiss to his other cheek. Soft. Warm. Gone in a blink.
Evan froze. His brain completely short-circuited.
"D-did you just—?"
"You looked tense," Silas said, straight-faced. "It's something mates do. For comfort."
Evan stared. "You can't just drop the word mates like that!"
Silas's lips twitched. "Then don't overthink it."
"I—You—" Evan sputtered, then sighed, giving up. "Fine. But if I pass out, it's from culture shock, not romance."
They moved deeper through the jungle until the air filled with a warm, earthy aroma. Evan crouched near a cluster of low, leafy plants and brushed soil aside.
Underneath were knobbly, golden roots. He gasped. "Oh my god. Ginger. Ginger!"
Silas blinked. "You named it already?"
"No! It's called that—it's perfect for cold seasons, for flavor, for… everything!" Evan clutched one like a newborn. "Silas, do you know what this means?"
He raised an eyebrow. "More strange food?"
"Hot drinks! Marinades! Cures for colds!" Evan twirled in place. "I'm a culinary genius."
Silas chuckled quietly. "You're definitely something."
Evan looked at him. "You're making fun of me again."
"Not this time." Silas's gaze softened. "You make me laugh. That's… rare."
Evan felt a stupid flutter in his chest. "Well, I'll add that to my list of achievements—found salt, found chili, found ginger, made Silas laugh twice."
"Twice?" Silas echoed.
"Yeah. I'm keeping score."
"Then I'll have to smile more," Silas said. "Just to see what you'll do."
Evan blinked. "…That's unfair flirting."
Silas's grin deepened. "Is it?"
Evan groaned. "You're worse than the chili."
---
By late afternoon, their baskets overflowed with the red pods and golden roots. They headed back the way they came, stopping to load the beast's carcass onto a branch. Silas carried it on his shoulder as though it weighed nothing.
Evan whistled. "Show-off."
"You'd rather I drag it?" Silas teased.
"I'd rather you teach me how you do that."
Silas smirked. "Mate's privilege."
"Stop calling me that!"
The rest of the walk was filled with light teasing—Evan muttering about recipes and Silas occasionally poking him with the tail tip whenever he got too distracted by plants.
---
Leo and Milo were already waiting at the cave entrance, eyes wide at the sight of the enormous beast.
"Whoa!" Leo gasped. "You fought that?"
Silas nodded. "It tried to eat us. Now we'll eat it."
Milo wrinkled his nose. "Smells weird."
Evan held up a chili. "That's not the beast, it's this. The smell of greatness!"
Leo sniffed. "Smells weird"
"Exactly," Evan said proudly. "Tonight,I will make new type of food .It magic...hahaha.."
Silas chuckled behind him. "Magic? I thought it was science."
Evan glanced over his shoulder, smiling. "Same thing when I do it."
.....