THE NEXT MORNING:
Alex woke up to arguing. Again.
"—absolutely NOT putting flowers in his hair!"
"It is a traditional courtship gesture! The females of my tribe adore—"
"He is NOT one of your tribe's females! He is MY mate and he does NOT need flowers!"
"Perhaps we should ask him what he—"
"NO."
Alex cracked one eye open to see Naga and Leo facing off across the cave, the morning sun streaming through the entrance and illuminating them both like they were in some kind of dramatic anime showdown.
Except instead of swords, Leo was holding... a bunch of wildflowers?
"What is happening," Alex said flatly, voice still rough with sleep.
Both beastmen whipped around to face him.
"Good morning, little mate!" Naga said quickly, slithering over to scoop Alex up before he could even sit fully upright. "Did you sleep well? Are you hungry? Thirsty? Do you need to use the—"
"I picked flowers," Leo interrupted, padding over with his bouquet held carefully in his jaws. He set them down at Alex's feet—well, at Naga's coiled tail, since Alex was currently being held three feet off the ground. "Morning blossoms. They bloom only at dawn. I thought... you might appreciate their beauty."
The flowers were actually gorgeous—soft pink and white petals that seemed to glow faintly, with a sweet scent like honey and vanilla.
[System: Awww, he got you MAGIC flowers! Leo's Courtship Attempt #1: SUCCESS. Naga's Jealousy Meter: 88% and climbing!]
"Those are very pretty," Alex said diplomatically, trying to ignore the way Naga's grip tightened possessively. "Thank you, Leo. That's... really thoughtful."
Leo's entire face brightened. His tail did the swish. His ears perked forward. If he could have smiled any wider, he would have.
Naga made a sound like a boiling kettle.
"However," Alex added quickly, "maybe save the courtship gestures until AFTER we survive the heist? Just a thought. Priorities and all."
"Of course," Leo said, but he looked way too pleased with himself. "I merely thought to brighten your morning."
"Mission accomplished. Now can someone put me down so I can pee? I'm not a doll."
Naga reluctantly set Alex on his feet, but his tail remained wrapped loosely around Alex's ankle. Leash mode: activated.
[System: Possessive Snake Protocol engaged! Current ankle bracelet: inescapable but fashionable!]
After taking care of morning business (behind a VERY large rock, with both beastmen standing guard like he was the president, which was both sweet and deeply embarrassing), Alex returned to find that Naga had prepared breakfast.
And by "prepared," he meant "hunted an entire antelope and was currently roasting it over a fire that definitely hadn't been there ten minutes ago."
"How did you—when did you—?" Alex gestured at the setup.
"I am efficient," Naga said smugly. "Unlike SOME people who waste time picking flowers."
"The flowers took thirty seconds," Leo said mildly, already lounging by the fire looking completely healed. The bandages were off, and his white fur was pristine. "Your inability to multitask is not my problem."
"I can multitask just fine!"
"Can you? Because right now you're burning the meat while arguing with me."
Naga looked down. The antelope haunch was indeed starting to char. He hissed and quickly adjusted it, looking deeply offended.
Alex bit back a laugh. "You two are ridiculous."
"HE STARTED IT," both beastmen said in unison, then glared at each other for the jinx.
[System: Congratulations! You've unlocked the "Two Idiots, One Brain Cell" achievement! +15 Comedy Points!]
Breakfast was... tense.
They sat around the fire—Alex cross-legged on the furs, Naga coiled protectively behind him like a scaly throne, and Leo sitting just slightly too close for Naga's comfort on Alex's other side.
"So," Alex said, biting into perfectly cooked antelope (Naga had recovered from the charring incident), "let's talk heist plans. We've got five days. What do we need to know?"
Leo's expression shifted from soft and courtship-y to sharp and tactical. It was actually kind of impressive how fast he could switch modes.
"The temple is located in the heart of Lion Tribe territory," Leo began, using a claw to sketch a rough map in the dirt. "Here. It's built into a massive baobab tree—hollow inside, three levels. The golden stone is kept on the top level, in Raqasha's personal meditation chamber."
"Guards?" Alex asked.
"Normally? Twelve warriors in rotating shifts. But on the new moon, during the Ceremony of the First Hunt, everyone—and I mean everyone—will be at the sacred grove." Leo tapped the map. "Here.
About two miles from the temple. The ceremony lasts from sunset to midnight."
"That's our window," Alex said, thinking. "Sunset to midnight. Four hours to get in, grab the stone, and get out."
"Less than that," Leo corrected. "We need to factor in travel time to and from the temple, and we cannot afford to be there when the ceremony ends. I'd say we have two hours, maximum."
Naga's tail thumped thoughtfully. "What about the saintess? Will she be at the ceremony?"
"She leads it," Leo confirmed. "Raqasha is the one who performs the ritual blessing. She'll be occupied the entire time."
"What about traps? Magic wards? Curses?" Alex had read enough fantasy novels to know that sacred temples were never just "walk in and take the shiny thing."
Leo's ears flicked. "There are... protections. The door to the meditation chamber is sealed with a blood lock. Only lion tribe blood can open it."
"Convenient," Naga said dryly. "You have lion tribe blood."
"I do." Leo looked uncomfortable. "But using it will alert Raqasha that someone with tribe blood accessed the chamber. She'll know it was me."
"So we'd be on a timer even faster," Alex muttered. "Great. Any other fun surprises?"
"The chamber itself is warded against violent intent. If you enter planning to harm someone or steal with malicious purpose, the wards will trigger and alert the entire tribe." Leo paused. "However, if you enter with... let's say, 'righteous intent' or 'for the greater good,' the wards remain dormant."
[System: Translation: You need to BELIEVE you're doing the right thing, or the magic burglar alarm goes off. Morality-based security! Fancy!]
"So I just have to... really believe I deserve the stone?" Alex asked.
"Essentially, yes. The wards read intent, not action."
"That's the most philosophical security system I've ever heard of."
Naga leaned forward, his chest pressing against Alex's back. "And if the wards DO trigger?"
"Then every warrior in the sacred grove will return immediately, and we'll be surrounded by two hundred very angry lions who think we're defiling their holy site." Leo smiled grimly. "I recommend we avoid that."
"NOTED," Alex said loudly. "Okay, so: Step one, sneak into lion territory during the ceremony. Step two, Leo opens the blood lock. Step three, I go in with pure intentions and grab the stone. Step four, we run like hell. Does that sum it up?"
"Crudely, but yes."
"Great! I love plans that are 70% 'run like hell.' Very reassuring."