"This white fur is really soft, where did you get this?"
"From my hunt. Since I'll be your guide today, I figured I should give you a proper gift. And when I saw the fur, I immediately thought of you. Do you like it?"
"Yeah more than like, I love it! It's really pretty and soft."
"Glad you liked it. The village chief asked me to be on patrolling duty today, since many beastmen are coming today, so I gotta go right now. Do wear this dress today, I'll come pick you up in the evening. The festival starts at night."
"Okay, got it! I'll be ready."
Rayna admired the soft white fur dress given by Ezra. She was bored of wearing the same dress for two days now. (she last changed into the dress given by Soren)
And this white dress looked so elegant. Plus since today is the festival, she wanted to dress up today. After all, today was a special day. Rayna was thinking of choosing mates tonight.
Yes! Finally!
Rayna bartered a lot of things the previous day. Clay pots, certain food items, herbs to add flavor to her food, and also some timber- logs of wood, to build the shelves in her kitchen. She bartered the extra fish she caught, and fruits. When she asked Ezra about the source of the fruits so she could gather them for barter, Ezra offered to help her and gave her a lot of fruits.
Rayna went to take a dip in the river. She had bartered those mirael fruits from Soren in exchange of roasted fish. Rayna really liked the scent of these fruits. She also washed her hair.
Grrrnnnkk. Rayna's stomach let out a loud, grumbling protest, reminding her she hadn't eaten since morning.
She was told by Ezra that tonight there will be a grand feast so in order to keep her appetite capacity at maximum, Rayna decided to keep her stomach empty.
While Rayna was returning to her hut, she saw some pretty pink flowers blooming in the bush.
"Wow, I can use them to put in my hair." Rayna smiled.
She picked those flowers from the bush.
Rayna went to her hut, wore the dress and decided to braid her hair. She used the flowers to decorate her hair. She sniffed her hands. "I smell nice. Maybe if I had some makeup I could apply it."
She went to her fruit basket and crushed a small fruit which was similar to raspberries. She used it as blush and on her lips and some on her eyes.
"Natural blush and lip gloss. Plus— it tastes sweet."
Rayna didn't have a mirror though. So, she decided to go to the river to see how she looked.
Just as Rayna stepped out of her hut, humming to herself and not looking where she was going, she smacked straight into something firm.
"Ow—!" she squeaked, stumbling back and strong arms steadied her before she could completely lose balance. "What the—?!"
It was Soren.
He stood there like a silent mountain, arms crossed, wings half-folded behind him, staring down at her with an expression that clearly said, Really? Again?
Rayna opened her mouth for a snarky retort, but Soren held up something in his hands—two flat pieces of softened beast hide, shaped to the curve of a foot, with long bark-fiber straps attached to each side.
"What's that?" she asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
Soren replied calmly, "I noticed your feet were getting scratched up from walking around barefoot. So... here.". He held them out to her. "They'll protect your feet. Tie the straps around your ankles and calves. They'll stay on well enough."
Rayna blinked at the offering—more surprised by the gesture than the object itself.
"Did you... make these?" Rayna asked.
"I don't hand out random foot coverings I find lying around," he replied dryly.
Rayna looked at the hide sandals in her hands, then back at him, one brow raised.
"So... you really made these?" she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
Soren crossed his arms, his expression neutral. "Didn't have much else to do last night."
A small smile tugged at Rayna's lips. She ran her fingers over the soft inner side of the hide, feeling how it had been carefully cut and shaped.
"Thank you," she said, more sincerely this time. "Really."
Soren shrugged like it was nothing, but the flicker of satisfaction in his golden eyes didn't go unnoticed.
Rayna looked up just as Soren was turning to leave—but he paused.
For a heartbeat, his gaze lingered on her, eyes tracing the curve of her jaw, the way the morning sun caught the strands of her hair. Then their eyes met, and something in his expression softened—just slightly.
"You look... beautiful," he said, voice low, like he hadn't meant to say it aloud.
Rayna blinked, momentarily thrown off. "Uh... thanks," she murmured, adjusting the straps of the sandals, her fingers suddenly fidgety.
Soren's gaze dipped briefly to the outfit she was wearing—a dress made of soft white fur that reached till her knees.
"Where did you get the dress?" he asked casually.
"Ezra gave them to me," Rayna replied, brushing her hand over the fur.
Soren gave a short nod, but the flicker in his eyes reflected his dissatisfaction. He didn't comment further, only said, "See you tonight," and with a swift beat of his wings, he lifted into the sky and vanished between the trees.
Rayna watched him go, her heart doing something weird and fluttery.
"...Beautiful, huh?" she muttered while smiling to herself.
As the golden hue of evening settled over the village, Ezra arrived to pick up Rayna.
He had his usual easy grin. He wore a dark fur sash draped across his shoulder, and his auburn hair looked freshly tousled, as though he'd actually tried to tame it—and failed just enough to still look effortlessly charming.
"You look lovely like a moon goddess. Surely you will attract many beastmens' attention tonight. Ready for your first Nomei Festival, Rayna?"
Rayna blushed at Ezra's compliment. "Yes, totally ready. Let's go."