Lif stirred awake to the soft rhythm of breathing beside him.
Liora lay curled up next to him, her eyes still closed, strands of blonde hair drifting gently over her face in the early morning breeze. He slowly sat up, brushing dirt from his clothes. The sun had barely risen, painting the sky in a soft orange glow.
She shifted at the movement, opening one eye. "What are you doing?"
"Getting up, duh," Lif replied, stretching his arms.
Liora sighed through her nose and pushed herself up. "A good morning would've been nice…"
Lif glanced at the horizon. "Should we start walking?"
"I suppose," she mumbled, brushing leaves from her clothes.
They gathered what little they had and resumed their journey, feet crunching over the forest path. The woods were quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves or birdcall. Light streamed through the trees in thin golden beams, catching the mist in the air.
After a while, Lif broke the silence. "You know… I don't think I've ever asked. What's your favorite food?"
Liora blinked. "That's a sudden question."
"I'm bored," he shrugged. "Might as well talk while we walk."
She considered it for a moment. "Sweetberry pie. My mom used to make it. Not too sweet, just right."
"Sweetberry, huh? Sounds good," Lif smirked.
"What about you?" she asked.
"Stew."
Liora tilted her head. "That sounds… dull."
Lif chuckled. "Nah, it was amazing, the way my mom made it." After a slight pause, then muttered, "I miss it. I miss her…"
They walked a bit more in silence.
"Um… did you have hobbies?" Liora asked next.
"Not really," Lif said. "I helped my dad with gathering wood. He taught me how to wield weapons and stuff though. Never really had time for hobbies. What about you?"
"Flower picking," Liora said with a small smile. "My mom used to take me to the valley near our home. We'd spend hours just gathering them. After she passed… my dad started coming with me."
Lif looked over at her, his expression softening. "You were close?"
"Very."
"I'm glad you had that," he said quietly.
Liora gave him a faint smile. "What about you and your parents, were you guys close?"
Lif nodded, but didn't say anything.
Their steps slowed, the weight of memory settling between them.
Then, suddenly, a rustle in the brush caught Lif's ear.
A small creature stepped out of the thicket—a strange, deer-like animal with soft bunny fur, floppy ears, and long legs. Its eyes were huge and glassy, like moonstones. Its movements were cautious but not afraid.
"Woah," Lif said, crouching down slightly. "It's adorable…"
"What is that?" Liora whispered.
"I dunno… let's call it a Fluffhorn."
"Fluffhorn?" she repeated, raising a brow.
"Yeah," he grinned. "Sounds cute enough, right?"
Lif slowly approached it, hand outstretched. "Hey there, little guy…"
The Fluffhorn twitched its nose, sniffing at his hand. Lif chuckled. "See? Harmless."
Just as his fingers reached its head, the creature's mouth opened—revealing razor-sharp fangs.
"Whoa—!"
It lunged.
Lif jerked back just in time, the jaws snapping shut where his hand had been. The Fluffhorn let out a shrill, almost metallic screech, then turned and bolted straight toward Liora.
"Liora, look out!" Lif shouted, drawing his sword in a flash.
A sharp breath left her lips as she raised a hand. From her palm, water surged. It swirled around her arm in a coiled dance, then snapped forward like a whip.
Slash.
The Fluffhorn didn't even make a sound. The water cut across its neck cleanly, a shining arc of blue trailing behind. It collapsed mid-charge, twitching once, then falling still.
Silence fell.
Lif lowered his blade, staring in quiet awe. "That was…"
Liora's arm dropped to her side. Her breath was steady. "That's why I hate fluffy things."
And the woods carried on, as if nothing had happened.