Dian slipped us around the crowds and up the short flight of steps to the wraparound porch. I was curious to see what the inside of one of the homes looked like. The interior was as rustic as the exterior, with wood boards for walls and thick furniture hewn from more logs. The unique ornament was long, sharp teeth that hung from the ceiling.

  I gaped at them and Dian laughed. “How do you like our trophies?”

  I snapped my mouth shut and lifted an eyebrow. “Trophies of what?”

  “Of the Great War,” he explained as he guided me down the lamp-lit central hall. There were no windows along the passage but doors on either side hinted at rooms with natural light. “It happened before Arian and I were born, and was between our old foe the wolves, and my father.”

  “Arian told me about-” I froze when my foot stepped on a board. This piece of wood was particularly in need of oiling because it made a squeak loud enough to echo up and down the hall.

  I looked up to find Dian grinning down at me. “Some of these boards are quite old and worn.”

  “No kidding,” I replied as we continued to the end of the hall. A door led out to the porch and the stone-tossing field beyond that.

  Dian turned to face me and I jerked my head over my shoulders. “Were those all the wolves that were killed in that battle?”

  He leaned a palm against the door on my left and shook his head. “Nope. Those were from the battles before that. The war lasted two dozen years before it was finally stopped by the Gods On High.”

  I stifled a snort and feigned ignorance. “Gods On High? I don’t think Arian told me about them.”

  “They were a prince and an ancient god from the heaven realm,” he revealed as he swung open the door. “I don’t know too much about them except they were strong enough to pull my dad out of the fighting and convince him to stop. But enough about history. What do you think about this bedroom?”

  I stepped inside and beheld a small but cozy room. Fur rugs covered the wooden floor planks and the wall on the left had a chimney shared by the adjoining room. A small bed draped with blankets stood in the middle of the room a half feet from the fire and a dresser stood on the wall beyond there. The oddity in the room was a small door opposite where we entered.

  Dian nodded at that door. “There is a bathhouse through that door where you can clean yourself with warm or cold water. There are towels in the dresser.”

  “Gladly,” I replied as I tried not to breathe in my own noticeable odor.

  I gingerly laid Arian’s pack on the bed and tossed my own onto the floor. Dian came up to me and studied his sister’s luggage. “You’re treating that like it has something valuable in it.”

  “Let’s just say it’s very important,” I replied.

  His eyes danced with mischief. “Really?” He snatched the pack off the bed and hurried out of reach of my grasping hands. “Then you won’t mind me taking a peek at it?”

  “Be careful, Dian!” I scolded him as I tried to grab the bag from him but he held it above his head well out of reach of my flailing arms. “It’s really valuable!”

  “What is it?” he persisted as he swung the bag to and fro.

  “It’s a gift someone gave to Arian, now will you set it down please?” I pleaded.

  He lifted an eyebrow and a smile drew across his face but lowered the bag. “Truly? Perhaps an admirer? What will Jin say when he returns from his old homeland?”

  I grabbed the bag from him and gingerly set the pack on the bed. My heart pounded in my chest as I gently lay my hands on the pack and tried not to look at my companion for fear of giving away how much his antics had worried me. “I kind of hope you won’t tell him anything about this.”

  The young man stood at attention and bowed his head. “Anything for you, Lady Roberts. I won’t tell a soul about my sister’s little keepsakes.”

  “Thank you.”

  “No thanks needed,” he countered as he sauntered about the room. “You are a guest of my people, after all, and the bear clan is known for their hospitality.”

  I turned and managed a smile as I clasped my hands behind my back. “Then I know I’ll be happy here.”

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  Something behind him caught my attention. The only window was at the back but it was worth the view. I slipped past Dian and over to the glass where I beheld a wondrous aspect of the rear of the valley. The elegant mountaintops were speckled dew and a faint mist covered much of their sharp and rocky tips.

  “Wow,” I breathed as I draped my folded arms on the sill. “The views of your home are as nice as the people.”

  “We think so,” he agreed as he sauntered up to my side and admired the view. “Our clan has been here since the world was ruled by the emperor. I expect we’ll still be here long after even he’s gone.”

  His words caused a twinge of pain in my heart and I turned my face away from the sight.

  Dian’s lips drooped into a frown. “Did I say something wrong?”

  I shook my head. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking about something.”

  “Something or someone?” he guessed.

  I laughed and smiled up at him. “You’re as perceptive as your sister, you know that?”

  He grinned and shrugged. “I try but my father still says I’m still twice as stupid and so get into more trouble.”

  I clapped my hand on his shoulder. “Then we’re a lot alike.”

  His cheeks blushed a little but he recovered by stepping back and out of my grasp. “W-well, I should let you get some rest. If you should need anything else don’t be afraid to ask.”

  I half-turned to him and cocked my head to one side at his adorable expression of embarrassment. “Thanks so much. It’s already starting to feel like home here.”

  He straightened and cleared his throat. “I’m glad to hear that. If you’ll excuse me.” He bowed his head and hurried from the room, though not before his arm knocked against the doorway on his way out. That only quickened his exit and he shut the door a little louder than he meant to. “Sorry!” came the shout from the other side.

  “It’s alright!” I called back, trying hard not to laugh.

  His footsteps hurried away down the hall and I returned to admiring the scene from the window. The warm sunlight lapped over me and I felt a soothing drowsiness work over me.

  No! Go and clean off all that road dust or you’ll wake up in a cloud of it!

  She had a point. I snatched a towel from the dresser and peeked out the exterior door. The wraparound porch was laid out in front of me and a set of steps led down to a stone path. The trail wound its way through a few trees before coming to a stop at a small round hut with a square porch attached to the front. A stone chimney puffed out white steam. I could hear the raucous shouts as the coming home party reached new heights of revelry.

  I strolled down the path and peeked in the front door. The porch featured a few shelves and hangers for clothing, and beyond that sunken into the floor was a luxurious round bath. I slipped inside and slipped out of my clothes. A cautious dip of my toe told me the water was warm but not hot.

  I eased myself into the soothing waters and let out a sigh. This was the way to live.

  The din from the partygoers was a soft murmur inside the hut. I closed my eyes and recalled the last time I’d dipped into a pool. That had been when I was a cat and Puren had the unfortunate task of scrubbing me after my adventures in the land realm.

  Those memories were bittersweet. I loved that I had them but I knew deep down that I wish I had some to look forward to in the future.

  “Not happy thoughts,” I mumbled to myself. I opened my eyes and stared up at the cone-shaped roof with its open rafters. “You can make some nice ones here. The people are nice. Arian is nice.” A smile touched my lips. “Dian seems to be nice.”

  “I do hope so.”

  I yelped and wrapped my arms around my chest. My eyes flitted about the place but I didn’t see anyone.

  A chuckle came from the other side of the wall behind me. “I hear you splashing around. Sorry if I startled you.”

  I spun around and glared at the wood boards. “Dian! What in the world are you doing out there?”

  “Just making sure you had everything you needed,” he defended himself but every one of his words danced with glee. “And I couldn’t help but overhear you talking to yourself.”

  A heavy blush accented my cheeks. “W-well, I do, so you can leave now!”

  “Are you sure you don’t want some company?” he teased.

  A devilish thought slipped into my mind and I drifted to the edge of the pool where I draped my crossed arms over the floor. “Actually, I would like some company.”

  “Really?” I could practically hear him bounce up from wherever he was seated.

  “Yep,” I confirmed as a sly grin graced my lips. “Could you go get Arian for me?”

  There came a stifled groan of disappointment. “Arian? You’re sure?”

  I had to give myself a moment to keep from laughing and then I cleared my throat. “I’m sure.”

  “I don’t think she’ll come. The last I saw Father was hoisting her on his shoulders.”

  I gave an exaggerated sigh. “Alright. I guess I’ll just have to be alone.”

  I heard the faint scuffing of feet. “Are you sure?”

  “I’ll be fine. You go and enjoy the party.”

  “Alright.” I clapped a hand over my mouth as I heard him shuffle away.

  A few giggles hit me but I stifled them until Dian had gone. I didn’t feel the urge to laugh but a broad smile graced my lips as I turned and leaned my back against the side of the pool. “I think it’s going to be fun being here.”