Side Story 4.103 - For a Moment

Johanis’ POV

Evening fell soft and slow, the way it always did in the hills of the Midnight Pack. The lanterns had taken on a softer glow, gold and pale blue swaying from high tree limbs. Somewhere near the river, someone played a flute—probably uncle Rio, who only remembered how to play after eating three berry cakes. 

The last family game before dinner was called Thread and Bond.

Sounds elegant. In reality, it was chaos dressed up in sentiment. Pairs were given one long cloth ribbon and had to braid it together while doing a three-legged race through a winding trail. A test of cooperation. Balance. And, most importantly, not yeeting your partner into the bushes.

“I can’t feel my leg anymore,” Brinn muttered as his mother dragged him down the hill at what could only be described as breakneck ‘mom speed.’