Both Tharion and Ardis sat on a flat rock near the edge of the clearing, the sunlight filtering through the leaves above them. The quiet rustling of branches and distant bird calls made the moment feel calm and private.
They continued talking, the earlier awkwardness slowly fading.
After a pause, Tharion asked,
"Are they making things difficult for you?"
Ardis knew immediately who he meant, the other males competing for her.
She nodded lightly.
"A little."
Then she tilted her head slightly and asked,
"What do you think of everyone?"
Tharion looked thoughtful for a moment before answering.
"Well… I don't know," he said honestly. "It feels wrong to say bad or good things about my rivals."
Ardis nodded, a small smile appearing on her lips.
She hadn't asked because she wanted information. She had only wanted to see how he would answer.
And his answer told her a lot about his character.
After a moment, Ardis admitted something.
"When I first saw you, I thought we might have a hard time holding a conversation."
Tharion looked at her, curious.
"You looked very serious," she continued. "And a little prideful."
Tharion didn't seem offended.
Instead, he gave a small nod.
"Yes. Many people have told me that."
While they talked, his hands had begun absentmindedly picking small flowers growing beside the rock.
Ardis noticed but didn't interrupt.
"Now?" Tharion asked after a moment, glancing up at her. "What do you think of me now?"
There was genuine curiosity in his voice.
Ardis smiled slightly.
"Now?" she repeated.
She paused for a second before answering.
"I think you're a nice person."
She didn't reveal all her thoughts.
Tharion nodded slowly, accepting the answer without pressing further.
Meanwhile, his hands continued working with the flowers he had gathered.
Ardis watched quietly as he carefully wove the stems together with surprising patience.
Soon, the shape became clear.
A crown.
Tharion finished the final loop and adjusted it slightly, making sure the flowers were secure.
Then he looked at Ardis.
"I saw you wearing one before," he said. "And I thought you looked beautiful in it."
He held the flower crown out to her.
Ardis blinked slightly in surprise before smiling.
She reached out and accepted it.
"Thank you," she said softly.
As she turned the crown in her hands, she couldn't help feeling amused.
Mentally, she added another point to Tharion.
So far, out of everyone she had met…
She liked him the most.
They continued talking for a while longer.
At some point, Tharion took out a small wrapped bundle he had brought with him.
"I brought this," he said, placing it between them.
Ardis looked at it curiously.
Inside was some dried meat.
"A snack," Tharion explained. "In case you were hungry."
Ardis accepted a small piece, slightly surprised.
Despite his serious appearance, he seemed thoughtful in small ways.
As they talked, Ardis began to notice more things about him. Beneath his stern expression, Tharion was actually gentle, observant, and decisive when he spoke.
He listened carefully before answering, and when he did answer, his words were clear and confident.
The time passed faster than she expected.
Soon the sun had begun to lower, signaling that their meeting was coming to an end.
They both stood.
"It was good speaking with you," Tharion said.
"You too," Ardis replied.
They said their farewells.
Ardis began walking back toward the path where she knew Averin would be waiting.
Behind her, Tharion remained standing in the clearing, watching quietly until Averin finally approached and led Ardis away.
Averin glanced back briefly before looking at Ardis with a knowing smile.
"So," she said lightly. "Do you like him?"
Ardis hesitated for a moment.
Then she nodded.
"He seems good."
Averin's smile widened slightly.
"Did the dried meat taste good?" she asked teasingly.
Ardis's cheeks warmed faintly as she nodded again.
The meat, it had been carefully prepared, lightly flavored with herbs, and much softer.
Averin chuckled softly.
"He seems like a good choice," she commented.
But she didn't say more than that.
After walking a short distance, Ardis remembered something.
"I heard you're leaving?" she asked.
Averin nodded.
"Yes. Some of my snaklings have found females who accepted them," she explained. "I'm going to visit them and spend the winter with that tribe."
"It's another snake tribe," she added. "A bit far from here. Nyssor is from that tribe."
Then she reassured her,
"But I'll return when the priestess heir selection begins."
Ardis grew curious.
"How is the tribe?" she asked.
Averin thought for a moment.
"The snakes there are mostly venomous, unlike here," she said. "And many of them are water serpents."
She smiled slightly.
"Nyssor is a sea serpent."
Then suddenly, as if remembering something amusing, Averin looked at Ardis.
"Did you know," she said casually, "that if a male rejects you, you can actually kidnap him for a while?"
Ardis stopped walking.
Her eyes widened.
"No…"
Averin laughed at her reaction.
"If he still rejects you after that, you have to let him go," she added.
Ardis stared at her.
"In our tribe it isn't very common," Averin explained. "But in some tribes, it happens quite often."
Then she grinned mischievously.
"I actually kidnapped Nyssor."
Ardis blinked in shock.
Now she was completely interested.
"What happened?" she asked immediately.
Averin smirked when she saw the curiosity shining in Ardis's eyes.
"Alright, I'll tell you."
She began gesturing animatedly as she spoke.
"Nyssor was the village chief's snakling," she explained. "Very proud. Every spring, that tribe holds a big celebration."
"So I saw him there," she continued. "And I thought he was handsome."
Ardis listened carefully.
"So I casually gave him a flower," Averin said with a shrug. "But I was new there, and many females were giving him flowers that day. I didn't think much of it."
She paused dramatically.
"But he came to me and rejected me."
Ardis blinked again.
Averin crossed her arms.
"So," she continued, "I informed the village chief of my plan."
"And then I kidnapped him."
She said it with obvious pride.
"Even though he was the chief's favorite son, the chief couldn't say anything," Averin added. "It was part of the tribe's customs. It also showed the strength and ability of the female's family."
Ardis was fascinated.
"Who helped you kidnap him?" she asked.
Averin grinned.
"Of course, I sent three of my partners. Vayreth, Vaelrix, and Korvahn."
At that moment, Vaelrix laughed.
"We knocked him out and stuffed him into a fur sack," he said with a grin.
"He was on night patrol," he added proudly.
Vayreth nodded, looking equally satisfied.
"I originally wanted to drug him and do it gently," he said thoughtfully.
"But he looked too overconfident."
"So I knocked him out."
He looked quite pleased with that decision.