That evening, the moment Ardis returned home, Astra was already waiting for her with bright, eager eyes.
"Well?" Astra asked immediately, unable to hide her excitement. "Tell me everything. How were they? Who did you like? Who looked the strongest?"
Ardis sat down slowly, still feeling the weight of the day. One by one, she described the males, their personalities, the way they spoke, and how they carried themselves. Astra listened with complete attention, occasionally gasping or nodding thoughtfully as if the decision were her own.
By the time Ardis finished, Astra had already begun planning.
"I know exactly what you should wear on the last day," Astra declared proudly. "When you make your final choice, you should wear the skin you shed. It will show you've grown, that you're stepping into a new stage of life."
Ardis blinked in surprise but nodded slowly. The idea felt meaningful.
For the earlier meetings, however, Astra had prepared something else.
The next day, Ardis wore a soft white fur garment dotted with small black spots. The material was light and elegant, simple yet beautiful. Astra carefully braided Ardis's hair, her fingers working with gentle precision.
"Stay still," Astra murmured.
When she finished the braids, Astra crushed a few red berries and gently brushed the juice across Ardis's lips.
Ardis wrinkled her nose slightly. "It's sticky."
"Just wait," Astra said.
After a moment, Astra wiped the juice away with a cloth, leaving behind only a faint reddish tint.
"There," she said with satisfaction. "Now you look perfect."
Ardis felt both embarrassed and touched by the effort.
Soon after, Aeron and Varos accompanied her toward the meeting place. They walked quietly, the atmosphere heavier than usual. Neither male spoke much along the way.
They stopped some distance from the clearing.
For a moment, no one moved.
Everyone felt that Ardis had grown too quickly, but none more than Aeron. His tired eyes and drawn expression made it clear he had not slept well.
"Averin will guard you with her partners," Aeron said at last, his voice low but firm. "If anything happens, if you feel uncomfortable, call out. We will come immediately."
Ardis nodded obediently.
In the distance, Averin could already be seen, standing with her mates. She lifted a hand and waved warmly.
Ardis gave a small, shy nod in return.
Varos stepped forward and gently placed a simple flower crown on Ardis's head. The small blossoms rested lightly against her braids.
"Don't worry," Varos said softly, patting her head.
Ardis gave him a small smile.
Neither Aeron nor Varos lingered. They turned and walked away, though both glanced back more than once before finally disappearing from sight.
Left alone, Ardis took a slow breath and steadied herself.
Her heart beat faster than usual.
Then she began walking toward the clearing.
The male was already there, waiting.
He stood tall and composed beneath the morning light, as though he had arrived long before her and had not moved since. His posture was straight, his expression calm, but his eyes followed her every step.
Ardis slowed slightly as she approached, suddenly aware of every movement, the rustle of her clothes, the soft crunch of earth beneath her feet, the quiet rhythm of her breathing.
This was the first day she would spend alone with one of the males.
And the first step toward choosing.
When she finally reached him, she stopped a few steps away, her hands lightly clasped in front of her.
"Good morning," she said softly.
Vaelor inclined his head slightly when Ardis greeted him.
"Good morning," he replied. His voice was deep and steady, without hesitation. "You came on time."
Ardis nodded. "I didn't want to keep you waiting."
"I arrived early," Vaelor said simply, a response that nearly ended the conversation before it began.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence felt stiff, but not uncomfortable. It was the kind of quiet that came from two people still learning how to stand beside one another.
Vaelor studied her carefully, though not in an intrusive way.
"You look different today," he said at last.
Ardis touched the flower crown unconsciously. "My mother insisted."
Vaelor gave a small nod. "It suits you."
The compliment was straightforward, without embellishment, and somehow that made it feel sincere.
Ardis relaxed slightly.
"What should we do today?" she asked softly, both curious and shy.
"Let's walk." Vaelor gestured toward the forest path.
They began moving side by side.
Vaelor's steps were steady and measured. Without seeming to think about it, he walked slightly to the outer side of the path, placing himself between Ardis and the deeper woods.
Ardis noticed.
"You're very quiet," she said after a while.
"I prefer listening," Vaelor answered.
"That sounds more like a strategist," Ardis said thoughtfully.
Vaelor shook his head.
"I am not Sereth."
There was no competitiveness in his voice, only certainty.
"I fight," he continued. "I train. I protect. That is what I do best."
Ardis glanced at him.
"And if your partner wanted long conversations?" she asked.
Vaelor considered the question seriously.
"I would listen," he said at last. "Even if I had little to say."
Ardis blinked at the honest answer, then smiled faintly.
"Good."
They walked a bit farther before Vaelor spoke again.
"You want to know how strong I am."
It wasn't a question.
Ardis hesitated before pinching her fingers together slightly.
"A little."
Vaelor nodded.
He stepped off the path toward a fallen tree trunk, thick and heavy with age. Without drama, he crouched, gripped the wood, and lifted it just enough to shift it aside before letting it settle again.
It was effortless.
Vaelor returned calmly as if nothing unusual had happened.
"I can defend territory," he said. "I can hunt and fight enemies."
Then he looked at her directly.
"But strength is useless if I cannot protect my female."
The words were firm and absolute.
Ardis felt the seriousness behind them.
"You sound very confident," she said.
"I am," Vaelor answered.
Then, after a pause, he added,
"But choosing is your right. I will not pressure you."
That surprised her.
"You're not worried?" she asked curiously.
Vaelor shook his head.
"If I am worthy, you will see it."
Then he added quietly,
"And if I am not, forcing you would be dishonorable."
Ardis felt some of her tension loosen.
They walked again.
After a while, Vaelor spoke once more.
"What do you want from a partner?"
Ardis thought carefully.
"Someone I can talk to… someone steady… someone I can trust."
Vaelor nodded slowly.
"I am steady."
Then after a pause:
"And I do not betray."
Simple words.
After a while, he added:
"If danger came… I would stand in front of you."
Ardis looked at him.
He said it as if it were obvious — as if there was no other possible answer.
For the first time, Ardis understood why everyone called Vaelor the strongest.
Vaelor wasn't impressive because he tried to be.
He simply was.
And that made him difficult to ignore.
Slowly, the meeting came to an end. The sun had shifted lower in the sky, and the forest shadows had grown longer.
From a distance, familiar figures approached.
Averin walked at the front, her movements graceful and unhurried. Behind her were Zayreth and Vaelrix, talking quietly between themselves. Maelor was walking beside her.
Averin's eyes moved between Ardis and Vaelor as she arrived, her knowing smile already forming.
"So," Averin said lightly, "did the strongest behave properly?"
Vaelor inclined his head respectfully."I did."
Averin's lips curved in amusement.
"I was asking Ardis."
Ardis flushed slightly but nodded.
"Yes… we had a good walk."
Averin looked satisfied.
"Good."
Vaelor gave a final respectful bow before turning and leaving without another word.
Ardis watched him go for a moment before Averin slipped an arm loosely around her shoulders.
"Well?" Averin asked softly as they began walking back.
Ardis hesitated.
"He feels… reliable."
Averin smiled slightly.
"That is rare."
Ardis glanced at her.
"Is it?"
Averin nodded.
"Strength is common. Steadiness is not."
Ardis thought about that quietly as they walked.
By the time they reached the edge of the tribe, Ardis realized something unexpected.
She had not felt nervous with Vaelor.
Only… safe.