The morning light poured through the cave's entrance, a soft golden hue brushing over the stone walls and furs scattered around.
Leo yawned, rubbing his sleepy eyes, and blinked around.
"Why didn't Mama wake us up?" he mumbled, confused. Usually, Evan was the first one bustling around, warming food or fussing over them.
He turned to Milo, who was still curled under a fur blanket, drooling.
"Milo! Wake up! Something's weird."
Milo just mumbled, "Five more minutes…" and buried himself deeper into the blanket.
" Wake up....Mama's not here."
Milo groaned, refusing to open his eyes. "Maybe they went hunting with Silas again…"
Leo puffed his cheeks. "Without us? No way."
Leo pouted. "Ugh, fine, I'll check myself."
He moved toward their parents' chamber, his small tail flicking in annoyance. But the moment he peeked inside, his jaw dropped, and his expression softened.
Silas was there — sprawled beside Evan on the large bed of new furs. His silver-white scales gleamed faintly in the light, looking freshly polished, almost translucent. His long hair, that deep shade of emerald, spread across the bedding like a soft wave. Evan was curled against his chest, breathing evenly.
And near the corner of the bed — a faint shimmer caught Leo's eye. A translucent, silvery snakeskin, thin as silk and beautiful like moonlight.
"Ohhh…" Leo whispered in awe.
He'd remember from his inherited memories about snake orcs shedding their old scales, but seeing it was different. His father looked… even more handsome now, his features sharper, his scales glossier.
Without making a sound, Leo quietly stepped back and went to nudge Milo.
"Hey, wake up now. Don't go inside. Papa's shedding's done — and he's sleeping with Mama."
Milo rubbed his eyes. "Hnn?"
"I mean— never mind." Leo rolled his eyes and just went to the cooking area. "Come on, let's eat the leftover meat before Mama yells at us."
They gnawed on some roasted pieces from last night, chatting softly while trying not to wake their parents.
---
By the time the sun was high, Silas stirred. His emerald eyes blinked open slowly, a lazy gleam in them as he adjusted to the light.
He glanced at Evan beside him — the smaller human still fast asleep, hair messy, lips slightly parted.
Silas's mouth softened into a smile. He quietly brushed a lock of hair from Evan's forehead.
Last night's images flickered in his mind — Evan's flushed face, shy eyes, trembling hands. Silas's heart squeezed warmly.
He sighed softly, then shifted his body to sit up. His muscles flexed under the morning light, and the thin layer of his scales caught the glow like polished metal — each movement making them glint in shades of silver and faint green. The air around him felt different, too; even breathing seemed easier. He felt lighter, stronger, as if all the heaviness of the last few weeks had been peeled away along with his old skin.
When he glanced down, the shed skin lay draped across the floor beside the bed — delicate, silvery-white, and almost shimmering like woven glass threads. It was strange, even for him. Shedding had always been an instinctive thing — necessary, ordinary — but this time, with Evan sleeping beside him, it felt oddly meaningful, like leaving behind more than just an old layer.
He carefully gathered the skin, folding it so it wouldn't tear. The texture was thin and crisp, catching light with every small movement. "You're not completely useless, huh?" he murmured to it with a faint smirk. "Evan might turn you into something fancy later."
When he stepped outside, a cool breeze brushed against his bare chest, carrying the earthy scent of wet grass and stone. He stretched his arms and tail lazily, the muscles along his back shifting beneath gleaming scales. The warmth of the sun soaked into his body, and his silver scales glowed faintly gold at the edges. It felt… good. Refreshing.
The lake nearby rippled softly as he approached. A few wild birds scattered from the shore, their cries echoing in the morning air. He crouched near the water's edge, dipping the snakeskin in slowly. It caught the sunlight, turning into a transparent shimmer that danced across the surface.
Silas rinsed it carefully, making sure not to tear the thinner parts. He ran his hand along it, his claws lightly brushing over the texture. "Still beautiful," he murmured to himself. The way it gleamed in the sunlight reminded him of moonlight — soft, clean, and alive.
Once clean, he spread it out over a flat rock to dry. The air was crisp and quiet except for the rustle of trees and the sound of distant laughter — Leo and Milo, no doubt already awake and playing somewhere near the cave.
He tilted his head toward the sound, the corners of his mouth softening. His sharp eyes drifted toward the direction of the cave where Evan still slept, completely unaware of the sunlight creeping toward his side of the bed.
Silas chuckled lowly. "Lazy little mate," he whispered.
For a long while, he stayed there — sitting on the smooth rock, watching the light shift over his skin and the ripples of the lake. His emerald hair caught the wind, brushing against his shoulders as his tail lazily swayed behind him. It was a rare, peaceful moment — the kind that only came after chaos, the kind he quietly wished would last.
When he returned to the cave, it was almost noon. Leo and Milo were playing near the firepit, pretending to fight with wooden sticks.
"Where's your Mama?" Silas asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Still sleeping," Milo said innocently.
Silas chuckled quietly. "Is that so?"
His tail swayed behind him as he walked back to the chamber.
---
Evan was still tangled in the furs, half-buried, his hair a wild mess. His eyelids fluttered as Silas leaned down.
"Evan," Silas murmured close to his ear, voice low and smooth. "It's already noon."
"Mmm… five more minutes…" Evan mumbled, turning his face away and pulling the blanket higher.
Silas smiled — and then decided to tease.
He brushed his lips against Evan's forehead, then his cheek. "If you sleep any longer, I might just eat your share of lunch."
That made Evan blink awake, startled. "Huh? Silas?"
He sat up quickly — and winced. His body felt oddly sore. Every little movement made him aware of muscles he didn't even remember having.
When he realized what exactly had made him this sore, his face turned scarlet.
"You— you were too rough last night!" he accused, lightly smacking Silas's arm.
Silas laughed quietly, clearly amused. "Too rough? You didn't complain then."
Evan's ears went red. "I— I didn't want to hurt your feelings!"
"Oh?" Silas leaned closer, eyes glinting mischievously. "Then should I make it up to you?"
Evan immediately pushed at his chest, flustered. "No! You stay away for now! My back still hurts!"
Silas chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Alright, alright. I'll behave."
He reached out anyway and pressed a gentle kiss to Evan's forehead.
"I'm sorry," he murmured softly, genuine this time. "I'll be more careful next time."
Evan mumbled something incoherent, his cheeks still red. "There won't be a next time if you break me in half."
Silas grinned. "Noted, little mate."
Evan huffed, trying to hide his fluster behind irritation, but the corner of his lips curved upward.
---
By afternoon, the family was back to their usual rhythm — Leo and Milo chasing each other outside, Evan busy checking the food storage, and Silas drying his cleaned snakeskin in the sun.
The air around them felt calm, light — and a little sweeter than before.
Every now and then, Evan would glance toward Silas — and every single time, those emerald eyes would already be looking back at him.
And even though he'd never admit it aloud, his heart always skipped a beat.
That night, as they all settled down, the cave felt warmer than usual. Maybe it was the fire, or maybe it was something else — something quiet and new blooming between them.
[System Notification]
Hidden Mission: Mate Bonding – Complete!
Reward: Location of 100 kg of wild taro plants discovered near the southern ridge.
New Quest Unlocked: "Harvest the taros."
"Ahhh.....work again....!!!"