Valoria

Thalos paused, his eyes scanning Seraphina’s face. He knew he needed her help, but the weight of what he was asking pressed down on him. Involving her could make things worse in the eyes of his already suspicious tribe. “I need your instincts,” he finally admitted, his voice low. “You’ve seen more than I have, and you’re quicker to notice things I might miss. But... my tribe won’t like you getting involved.”

Seraphina smirked, leaning back in her chair, hooves still crossed. “I gathered that much when half the village looked ready to skewer me,” she said, her voice edged with humor but her eyes sharp. “But let’s be honest, Thalos, you didn’t bring me back here just to play nice with your people. You knew you’d need me. So, what’s the plan?” Her confidence was unshakable, and it reassured Thalos more than he’d expected.

He sat down across from her, running a hoof through his antlers. “We need to get to the northern border and assess the situation before anyone from my tribe makes rash decisions. They’re scared, and fear leads to bad choices.” His voice softened as he added, “I’ll speak with the scouts first, but I’ll need you to help me get a clear picture of what’s happening. They won’t like it, but you’ve been through more hostile environments than any of them.”

Seraphina gave him a sly grin, the tension easing between them. “I knew there was a reason I kept you around, Plains boy,” she teased, though there was a note of seriousness beneath her words. “You know I’m in. Let’s just hope your tribe doesn’t kick us both out before we get a chance to sort this out.”

Thalos chuckled, the sound a little strained, but her bravado helped steady him. “I don’t think they’re that drastic... yet.” He stood, grabbing his satchel and securing it across his body. “We’ll head out at dawn. I’ll talk to the scouts tonight and gather what information I can. In the meantime, try to keep a low profile. The last thing we need is to stir up more trouble.”

Seraphina raised an eyebrow, amused. “Me? Stir up trouble? Never.” But as she stood and wrapped her rope necklace back around her neck, she gave Thalos a serious nod. “I’ll be ready. Just make sure you are too.”

Thalos gave her a nod of his own, the weight of their task already settling in. As he headed toward the door to find the scouts, he glanced back at Seraphina, who was already inspecting a scroll from his shelves. He couldn't help but smile. They made an unlikely pair, but together, they might just be what both their tribes needed to prevent a crisis.