[Present]

Adolpha awoke the next morning with a very groggy mind and blurry memory of the night before. Her head was pounding. She sat up in the bed, rubbing her eyes with the sleeves of her nightgown. A bit of early sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a glow in four squares along the hardwood floor. She felt embarrassed for what had happened the night before, although admittedly, she couldn't remember most of it. Most peculiarly, though, was the person sleeping in the bed beside her, curled onto their side and facing the opposite wall. It was Quince, breathing softly and sleeping into the morning soundly. Adolpha looked at her with a flustered admiration, smiling softly. Then, sighing contentedly, she stood from the mattress and began to rummage through her wardrobe. After some time, she decided to change into slacks and a pale tunic; it wasn't professional, but it was appealing nonetheless. Something about her felt brighter, warmer that morning, and she intended to take the day in stride.

It wasn't long after she had gotten dressed and headed to the kitchen for a cup of tea that Quince awoke, terribly groggy herself. She didn't bother to get ready for the day the way that Adolpha had; instead, she just sat up from the bed, a hand on her aching forehead, and then waddled into the kitchen, still wearing her loose night clothes. Her top hung loosely off the shoulder.

Adolpha glanced her way just as the kettle began to steam. She pulled it from the wood-powered stove top and poured the sweet tea into a delicate glass, shimmering with light. A bit of honey was stirred into it, and then she offered it to Quince as she stood in front of the hallway to the bedrooms, right at the back of the rounded living room. Bright morning light painted the furniture gold from the windows by the front door.

"You look tired," Adolpha said, and she couldn't help herself from smiling.

"You don't," Quince observed sarcastically, gratefully taking the warm cup and taking a sip. It was very sweet and warm, and very delicious, with a bit of bitterness at the edge from the floral taste. The cup warmed her hands, but the morning wasn't particularly chilly. It seemed summer was on its way once again, the sun warming the planet's surface, and the bulk of the crops in River's Bed would be harvested over the next few weeks.

Despite the warmth of the morning, it was evident that Adolpha hadn't been feeling well up until that point. The sink was filled with dishes; mornings of tea in which cups had gone unwashed, and even more worrisome were several wine glasses. There was even an empty wine bottle still sitting on the intricate marbled countertop, glistening under the shimmering sunlight wafting in. Adolpha felt a bit embarassed about the state of her home. She hadn't felt as if she'd really been living in this house for the past several weeks, and yet, it seemed there was clutter everywhere. Her dirty laundry pile in the bedroom had grown, and dust gathered at the edges of every corner that Adolpha used to throughly mop weekly.

"Adolpha," Quince spoke after some time of tranquil silence, and Adolpha, who now stood in front of the windows, taking in the morning, turned and looked at her. "I could help you..."

"Help me with what?" Quince gestured to her house, and Adolpha felt a pang of hot embarrassment.

"I know it has been hard for you since we returned," Quince suggested slowly, taking a few steps towards Adolpha, "But I could help you clean your house, manage the fire, and get you a better start... if you'd allow me to help, that is." Adolpha was magnificent as the sun painted her tan skin, igniting every brown freckle into a bright orange and lining the edge of her silhouette with fluttery white light. Her eyes were the most mesmerising, blue and shallow like a pool of crystal clear water in a tropical area. Quince was all the same; the light painted her dark skin to a beautifully vibrant brown with orange undertones, and every loose, curled hair atop of her head was white at the smooth edges. They both admired one another in suggestive silence.

Adolpha finally sighed, glancing away, "Alright. I suppose it would be quite nice to feel good again."

"It would, indeed," Quince chuckled. "You don't have to feel sorry or bad, Adolpha," she allowed her hand to reach for Adolpha's face, gently turning her head back towards her by the chin, "You can learn to live well again."

Adolpha slowly admitted, "I'm just not sure how to start."

"You can start today. You can attempt to have a positive outlook on the future. You can revel in the fact that River's Bed is finally safe. Your daughter is finally safe."

"But she wants nothing to do with me."

"She's hurt, yes," Quince said, "But that's alright. Let her be hurt. It doesn't mean she wants nothing to do with you. In fact, quite the opposite. For her to care so much about you having left... that is proof that she cares. She will come around eventually, but in the meantime, you need to focus on other things in life."

Adolpha spoke with an enriched sadness, "But what else is there, besides her?"

"When is the last time you focused on yourself?" Quince asked, and suddenly her voice was passionately booming, almost as if with anger. She seemed to visibly rise. "Ever since you were young, you'd had the weight of the world on your shoulders. I can relate to that. But unlike me, you had it even worse. You had to deal with your oppressor, and then by some miracle you birthed his child, didn't you?"

"What?!"

"May's life is a miracle, but her father's was not. Ever since a young age, you were a mother. You have never had even a second to consider yourself, have you? When was the last time you did something you enjoyed, just for yourself?"

Adolpha thought for a moment, taken aback, "I'm... not truly sure."

"I know you're not sure, because the answer is you never have," Quince's voice finally lowered once again, and she looked up at Adolpha kindly. "You have all of the time in the world now to figure out who you are and who you want to be. Not some magical being... but a person, a Lycanthrope, with hobbies and a social life and a passion. You need to search and find that again."

"But how?"

"Let's start today," she said, confident, "As I said. We will begin by cleaning your abode. A fresh home, and a fresh you."

Adolpha couldn't hide the curves of her smile, "Well, alright. Suppose we get started, then?"

"We should," Quince huffed, but she crept a small smile, too, and even a bit of redness in her raised cheeks. With that, the two swiftly got to work. Quince began in the kitchen, making her way to the sink and allowing the water the spill from the faucet's pump; it was cold from the ground it pulled from, so she filled an enamel pot with it and placed it on the cast iron stovetop above a bit of ignited coal. Once the water was warmed, but not boiling, she removed it and placed it beside the sink, dipping a foil scrub into it to warm it. The warmth from the water would make the dishes easier to clean, and would help with disinfecting purposes. Using the bar of soap beside the sink, she began to scrub away.

Adolpha watched from her place under the sun by the tall, squared windows. She felt embarassed once again, that same hot, aching feeling, making her skin feel sticky and her clothes uncomfortable. She tried to keep her breathing steady, focusing on slowing the beat of her heart; this wasn't just embarrassment, but nervousness. She knew she didn't have to be perfect in front of Quince; Quince had seen her at her worst many times before. But for some reason, she still wanted to impress the Lycanthrope.

Adolpha paced to the kitchen and up behind Quince, asking softly, "Do you need help?"

"No," Quince replied, calm and content, "I enjoy washing dishes. It's like an excuse to wash your hands with warm water for once."

Adolpha chuckled, "Alright. I only feel bad that you're doing the work, and I am not."

"Well, I hadn't planned in doing it all for you," Quince said, a bit of coyness to her tone, "So why don't you begin on the living room?"

"Yes, ma'am," Adolpha replied sarcastically, and Quince chuckled quietly. Adolpha almost wouldn't have noticed it, but her shoulders raised and fell slightly. Adolpha found herself staring at Quince's loosely fitting gown, hung at the shoulder, and considered that Quince hadn't had a moment to herself that morning, yet. The guilt began, but Adolpha made the decision to fight back, just as she had once done. "Quince, if you want to pause for a moment and get dressed or bathe, you are more than welcome to," Adolpha said. Her voice was full of timidness, but she spoke nonetheless, and that was a win.

Quince turned around from the sink to face Adolpha, and for a second, the red-haired Lycanthrope found herself out of breath as Quince stared up at her from beneath hooded eyes. Her hands were touching the sink behind her at the palms, and she leaned back against the edge of the counter. Quince recognised that flustered look from Adolpha immediately, and hiding a smile of amusement, she flicked her fingertips directly at Adolpha's face, scattering water droplets across her skin and top.

"Ugh, Quince!" Adolpha exclaimed, but she laughed, too. "That's dirty water!"

"It's soapy water. It's perfectly clean."

Adolpha rested a hand on her hip, raising an eyebrow, "You're cleaning dirty dishes with it. You know very well that it's dirty."

"Well," Quince suggested, taking a step closer to Adolpha, "Then I'd might suggest you go wash up and change, then, too."

Adolpha wanted to complain about the effort she'd put into her fitting outfit that morning, and she also wanted to make a remark about how a few droplets of water wasn't any reason to wash up or change clothes; but instead, she found herself completely silent. Quince was so close to her, close enough that she could feel her warm breath drift over her chin, and suddenly, Adolpha was starstruck, unable to move or breathe herself. She had considered this feeling for quite some time then, and even revealed a bit of it to Quince only the night before in a drunken haze, but only in that moment did she consider the rhythmic thump of her heart and how terribly she ached to kiss Quince just then. But her fear won her over, and she remained motionless, only stunned. There was a soft silence, interrupted only by the drum of Adolpha's heart and her breathing which she struggled to control.

Then, abruptly, Quince let out a loud laugh, lowering her head and losing her composure.

"What's so funny?" Adolpha asked, defensive and confused, but the still feeling she'd had had dissipated, and the moment frozen in time was now in the past.

"You are so serious," Quince chuckled, "I can't wait to see you loosen up again. I know you're not the same person you used to be, but it's going to be really nice whenever you feel like yourself again." The last sentence she spoke with more sincerity, and Adolpha smiled softly.

"I think so, too." With that, Adolpha turned away and towards the warmed living area, leaving Quince to finish the dishes. She could hear the water sloshing and running and the dishes clinking together, echoing in the sink, as she scrubbed away. Adolpha turned her eyes and focus towards the open living area; her comfortable love seat, the fireplace, the large windows and the wooden floors. She began by picking up anything off of the floors, moving a blanket, a few clothing items, and a pillow. Then, she worked her way back to the kitchen and allowed herself another enamel pan, walking with it over to the sink where Quince stood, bouncing back on her heels absent-mindedly while her hands worked away beneath the water. To her right on the gleaming countertop was a stack of freshly washed dishes, ready to be dried and then put away into cupboards.

"Excuse me," Adolpha said, pushing past Quince to access the running water from the sink. She lifted the pan to it, and the water hit the bottom of it with a pang.

"Adolpha!" Quince hissed playfully, pushing Adolpha back with her hands, and Adolpha pushed her, too. Finally, Quince gave way and allowed Adolpha to stand freely behind the sink, pausing the wash of her dishes.

"Thank you Quince!" Adolpha said with a smile as she walked the pan of water to the opposite side of the kitchen, placing it down on the counter.

"Don't thank me," Quince said sarcastically, "You took the sink by force! Out of the kitchen while I am cleaning!"

"As you wish," Adolpha said back. Their banter was something that always made Adolpha feel at ease, and her smile remained widely on her face as she left the kitchen to grab a towel from the restroom. Once done, she walked back down the hallway and used the pan she had filled with water to soak the towel. Then, she began to use that to clean various spots around the house; a bit of mud stain on the wood floor by the door, the dust built up on the rims of the windows, and any speck of dust that could be seen on the mantle along the back wall. She drug the wet cloth across the walls, gathering dust and clearing away any grime that had settled. It felt cold in her hand, and tugged at any inconsistencies in the building. By the end of it, the once white rag was plenty brown with dirt, and she tossed it in the bedroom with the rest of the dirty laundry, mentally noting that that was another item on their list of chores to get done that day. By then, Quince had successfully finished washing all of the dirty dishes and cutlery, and had begun to clean the rest of the kitchen, including the countertops, cabinets, and organising the pantry. Already, the space felt and smelled fresher.

Quince took her time putting away the dishes into cupboards and hiding the utensils away in a drawer beside the side. The metal forks and spoons clinked as she placed them in organised stacks. They were beautiful made by a metal worker, with intricate details on the handles. She kept a soft smile on her face, feeling pleasant. She was happy to help, but even more so, she was happy that Adolpha seemed so bright this morning. She'd hoped only that life had begun to turn around for her dear friend, and that Adolpha would heal from all of their troubles. Truth be told, Quince had struggled too, especially within the first few nights of their return home. The nightmares persisted, and she felt like she had failed in more ways than one, despite having completed their original mission successfully. Adolpha might not have seen it, but Quince understood her troubles. Unlike Adolpha, Quince had her family, her brothers and her parents to help guide her through the emotional change and hard memories. She'd almost immediately thrown herself into her hobbies, taking hot baths frequently and galloping out with her mule, caring for her mother and helping cook dinner almost every night. While Annabelle and Nord, Quince's parents, were like family to Adolpha in a lot of ways, she didn't want to intrude. Her closest father figure was Mayor Kelo; but he was constantly busy with his work. The thought to ask Kelo to dinner sometime had occurred to her, but as with most everything else these days, Adolpha lacked the confidence to pursue. It was a sudden change; on their long journey, she'd seemed nothing but confident. But one too many wrong calls would do that to a person.

"Are you ready for a break?" Quince asked. She walked from the kitchen and into the open livingroom where Adolpha was just finishing up. The space felt brand new, and the morning's sunlight had dimmed slightly into afternoon.

"I am, and I am ready for lunch, too."

"Me too."

Adolpha thought for a moment, "Do you want to go out somewhere so that we don't dirty up another set of dishes?"

Quince smiled, "I'd love to."

"You'll have to get cleaned up first," Adolpha laughed.

"Do you have any clothes I could wear?"

"Well, sure. They may fit a bit loose." It was already apparent with the looseness of Adolpha's nightgown on her.

Quince nodded, "That's just fine." With that, she made her way to the bedroom down the hall, and Adolpha watched as she disappeared behind the closed door. Adolpha walked over to the loveseat, making herself at home as she plopped down in it. She admired the cleanliness of the home; it was really beginning to feel like home again, but there was a lot more that still needed to be done. She sighed contentedly, leaning back into the comfort of the cushions and allowing herself to truly relax. There really was something warmer and brighter about that day.

Quince returned to the livingroom not long after; her short, wiry hair had been made by a rolled brush and a bit of water, and her outfit suited her well; simple leathers, a pale top and brown pants. It was a plain outfit, good for just about any situation, but it still managed to take Adolpha's breath away. As Quince walked into the living area, Adolpha stood from the couch with a smile to greet her.

"It feels better in here already, doesn't it?" Quince said, admiring the work Adolpha had done to polish the livingroom.

"Yes, very," She chuckled. "Thank you... for helping me."

"Adolpha," Quince said, taking several paces closer to her, "I am always here to help you."

Adolpha smiled softly but genuinely, "I know. And you don't know how much I appreciate that."

"Oh, I know," Quince said, smiling coyly, "How could any one not appreciate me?"

She laughed, "You are too full of yourself."

"I think the word you are looking for is confident." They both found humour in that, and with it, they made their way to the door. Quince opened it, gesturing for Adolpha to walk ahead of her, which she did so gratefully. Quince closed the door behind them both as they stepped outside. The air was gently warm and breezy; enough for a long-sleeved tunic and pants, but not enough for a coat. It was turning into spring then, and the smoke from chimney stacks across River's Bed would slowly begin to dim and then cease. The air smelt of fresh straw and hay, upturned, wet dirt, and grains beginning to be harvested and preserved by farmers for the long summer ahead.

Adolpha and Quince walked in unison down the familiar and beautiful path from the top of the terrace. Although they took their sweet time walking and chatting and admiring the blue and bright day, it wasn't long before they'd reached the main dirt path at the bottom of the grassy hill. It was muddy, but not soppy, instead beginning to crack and harden as the rain water dried up. Adolpha knew that this time of year, potters would be pulling sweet clay from the ground and turning it into beautiful dishes and large terracotta urns for food storage, households, and trade.

Quince scanned the rows of buildings, including her own home, and she smiled warmly as she considered, "How about we go to a bakery?"

Adolpha replied, "Mmm... I could use a sweet roll."

"As could I," Quince said, chuckling softly. "I know just the place to go."

"Oh, don't tell me..."

"Yes," she laughed. When she and Adolpha were kids, they frequently would go to a bakery just down the strip, begging and begging for a sweet roll or two until the baker would finally cave in and give them some for free. As kids, their cute and annoying charm worked well, but as adults, they knew they'd have to pay for their sweet, buttery breads. Adolpha's mouth was already watering as they began to walk down the road, passing by many others. People walked along the streets to and from work or places for lunch, and some trotted along on mules or pushed along a sheep or two on a lead. Many were carrying items, such as furs or wool or bows and arrows for some hunting. The town was busy and alive, noisy and smelly. It was home, and it was safe, and for that, Adolpha would forever be grateful. She considered the future she had; not only here, but after she would die. The thought of looking after this town from above for centuries to come suddenly seemed less tiresome, and more like the privilege it was.

The two women walked side-by-side down the street, past people and buildings, until they reached the warm and familiar bakery. It was built from impressive red brick with a beautiful shingled roof; truly a modern building for its time. Even from outside, the smell of freshly baked bread and sweets was unmistakeable and mouth-watering. Adolpha gave Quince a small glance and smile, and Quince returned it, and then the two walked on inside. The door was just as beautiful as the building, a beautiful dark spruce with intricate designs having been carved into it. The handle was bronze and beautifully designed, gleaming in the noon's bright light. Not a cloud was in the sky, and the sun's rays were magnificent and blinding. They walked inside, closing the door behind them and allowing their noses to fill with the enriching scent. Adolpha's skin prickled slightly at the heat of the house; baking all day long, it was certainly warmer inside than it was outside.

The restaurant was lit up by candles and lanterns hanging overhead or against the brick walls; the floor was the same beautiful shade of glossy wood as the door, and there were sets of small wooden tables and chairs placed evenly throughout. It was warm and tender, and gave Adolpha a strong sense of nostalgia. For once, the nostalgia didn't come as sadness, but rather as joy.

"Can you remember the last time we stepped foot in this place?" Adolpha asked.

Quince chuckled, "It's been some time. I forgot how beautiful this bakery is."

"They must have spent a fortune."

"I heard they just offered the constructors a lifetime of free sweet breads," Quince joked, and Adolpha let out a Ha! The two made their way through the bakery. It was decently busy, with most tables being taken and even more persons standing at the counter, deciding what bread or baked goods they wanted to buy. The baker worked with ovens in a back room which was the kitchen, and a cashier stood behind the desk, giving bread to those that bought it and counting the coins. A few other employees waited the tables, refilling waters or brewing coffee on one of the stoves in the kitchen. The bakery was easy to identify on the outside, not only for its unique build, but also for the multitude of chimneys on the backside where the kitchen was. They ran multiple ovens at any given time, and certainly bought more firewood than any other home in River's Bed. They picked an empty table for two and sat down. The chairs were just as comfortable as they'd remembered, although they seemed smaller than from when they were kids.

"Have you decided what to eat yet?" Quince asked excitedly. There was a bit of muted chatter around them as other customers talked, laughed, and walked. It was a warm and bustling background noise, and one that they were both very comfortable with.

"You already know what I'm getting," Adolpha chuckled, "I have been craving a sweet roll for as long as I can remember. I just never thought to actually come and get one." She turned to Quince, "So, thank you."

"Of course! I know we certainly needed some good food after all of that hard work we did this morning."

"Definitely," Adolpha said. "Thank you for helping me, also... My house hasn't felt this clean since before we left."

"I'm sure your house appreciates it," Quince joked, "And I know you are going to feel much better whenever you go home now."

"I know I will," Adolpha said, smiling. "I feel better already."

"I can tell," Quince said, "You seem brighter already."

"I've thought about what you said," Adolpha continued, "And I think that I ought to get a job. I think that it would help me, and allow me to make some income."

Quince seemed surprised, her eyes widening slightly, "Oh? That's fantastic to hear. Have you thought of any ideas yet?"

"Honestly," Adolpha said, glancing away. The shyness crept up on her once again, and suddenly, she was sickeningly nervous. She had considered this for a while then— although she enjoyed to garden, she did not want to do it for a living. She wanted to continue to enjoy it leisurely, as a hobby. Instead, Adolpha had considered something else that she might enjoy. She had continually thought about their journey; not only her friends and sister, but the journey itself and the dangers they'd faced. All of the movement and action and excitement. It was addictive, in a way, and especially once she had returned to her happy, simple, and boring life.

She'd considered how Danica and Ajax had immediately wanted to help Adam's Peak's recovery after the war. At the time, Adolpha had simply been appalled. How could they have left the safety of their home right after returning to it? But in that moment, Adolpha understood very well. She felt at ease in the familiarity, the warmness, and the safety of that bakery, but after her experiences, she didn't to feel like that all of the time. She wasn't meant to be sitting in a bakery, safe and sound, while there were thousands of people around her working hard to provide for a family they loved, or working without payment for the effort of recovery after the war. No, what Adolpha wanted more than anything was a purpose, and a noble one, at that. Perhaps deeper down, it was a way to atone for what she had considered her sins; but on the surface, it was a way to exercise, get out of the house, and help the town she loves.

So, after a bit of hesitation, Adolpha said, "I think I would like to try and be a guardsman."

"A guardsman?!" Quince said, a bit too loudly. She was stunned, but not unhappy. "Adolpha, I never took you for one."

"Neither did I. But I've considered it, and the more than I have, the more appealing the profession seems to me. I think that I would enjoy it, and after our losses in the war..." she darkened slightly, "Well, I know that Mayor Kelo could use the extra hands. And right now, things are settling down... there isn't much danger, but maybe, there would be some adventure, and a goal to look forward to."

The surprise melted from Quince's face and shifted into a tender smile, "You know, whenever you word it like that, it does sound like something you would enjoy."

Adolpha smiled back, and she suddenly wondered what had made her so nervous to begin with. Quince had done nothing but support her, and she knew that she would only continue to do so. For that, she would forever be thankful.