Only two figures moved through the forest.
Tyler walked along the riverbank, boots crunching softly against damp soil and scattered pebbles. Beside him, Serena padded silently, her orange fur standing out against the green and brown surroundings. The pearl tied around her neck glimmered faintly every time sunlight slipped through the canopy above.
The river flowed steadily at their side, its surface reflecting broken fragments of the sky.
Tyler glanced at it and nodded to himself.
"Yeah… sticking close to the river is still better," he muttered.
Serena flicked an ear.
"I know, I know," Tyler said, hands resting behind his head as he walked. "Last time it caused trouble. But rivers are still convenient. Water, monsters, fertile soil… everything gathers here."
Serena looked at him.
He smirked. "Relax. I won't dump those rotten trash into it again."
The cat huffed.
