Ryan stood in the snow, grinning as he held something cupped in his hands. His eyes darted between Lyra and Tessa, waiting for their reaction.
Lyra hurried across the snow, boots sinking with each step. She felt clumsy in her thick layers, but she smiled anyway. She wasn't fully healed but it felt nice when they treated her normal. Not like... a weak and sick person she was.
"What is it?" Tessa asked, stepping closer with curiosity written all over her face.
Ryan shifted his hands a little so they could see. A small tiny yellow bird lay in his palms, feathers puffed and ruffled and trembling. It didn't even make a sound.
Lyra's eyes lit up. "Oh… it's so small." She leaned in, her breath catching. "Can I hold it?"
Ryan nodded and, without hesitation, carefully passed the little creature into her hands. Lyra cradled it as if it were made of glass. The bird gave a faint twitch, its wings fluttering weakly against her fingers. As it lay on her palms like it belonged there.