The last of the rabbit pelts slipped free from the carcass with a satisfying whisper, and I carefully folded it alongside the others in my hunting bucket.
"That should do it for today," I murmured, wiping my hands on the rough cloth Lisa had provided.
I gathered my things, securing the bucket's leather strap across my shoulder. As I moved toward the door, I caught sight of Lisa organizing her own tools.
"Thank you for the lesson," I said, pausing at the threshold.
Lisa looked up, a soft smile playing at the corners of her mouth. The earlier flush had faded from her cheeks, but there was still something different in her eyes—a new awareness that hadn't been there this morning. "You're a quick learner, Hal. Much quicker than boys your age."
I smiled and raised my hand in farewell, and she returned the gesture, her fingers lingering in the air for just a moment longer than necessary.
As I stepped into the cool evening air, I couldn't help but feel satisfied with more than just the day's hunt. Lisa was four years my senior and I knew that in her eyes, I was still just a boy playing at being a man. But time had a way of changing perspectives, and I was patient. I had already planted something in her heart that no other boy or man had managed before. When I came of age, when my shoulders broadened and my voice deepened fully, I would simply need to awaken what was already sleeping there.
The path home wound through patches of silver moonlight filtering through the canopy above. I had spent far longer at Lisa's than intended, but the time had been well invested.
The warm glow of our cottage windows came into view as I crested the small hill leading to our property. Smoke curled lazily from the chimney, and I could make out the silhouettes of Mother and Rosaluna through the kitchen window. They were seated at our worn wooden table, sharing what appeared to be a late dinner.
I pushed through the front door, the familiar creak of the hinges announcing my arrival. The warmth of the house enveloped me immediately, carrying with it the savory aroma of Mother's cooking and the faint scent of the wildflowers Rosaluna often brought in from her afternoon walks.
"Oh, my boy, you're back," Mother called out, setting down her spoon and turning to greet me with a warm smile.
"I'm back," I replied, hefting the bucket slightly to show its contents. "And I brought quite a lot of game with me."
Rosaluna's nose wrinkled in disgust as she caught sight of the pelts. "Ugh, little brother, put that away! We're trying to eat here." She gestured at the table, where their bowls of stew sat steaming.
"Sorry, sorry," I said, making my way to the back of the kitchen where I set the bucket down beside our storage shelves.
The kitchen was small but well-organized, with copper pots hanging from hooks on the wall and dried herbs bundled in the corners. Mother had always maintained that a proper kitchen was the heart of any home, and she had made ours beat with warmth and the promise of good meals.
I washed my hands in the basin by the window before joining them at the table. Mother had already set out a bowl and spoon for me, anticipating my return. The stew was rich with vegetables from our garden and seasoned with the herbs Rosaluna cultivated with such care.
"You certainly took your time at Lisa's house," Rosaluna observed.
"She was teaching me proper skinning and pelting techniques," I replied, focusing on my stew to avoid her scrutinizing gaze. "It's more complex than I initially thought. There's a real art to it."
Rosaluna's expression shifted, and I caught the faint pout that crossed her features. "I could have taught you that..." she muttered, stabbing at a piece of carrot with perhaps more force than necessary.
I looked up at her, noting the slight downturn of her mouth. "Well, Lisa is more experienced in that particular area," I said gently. "She's been doing it for years, ever since her father started taking her on hunts. I thought it would be best to learn from someone who truly mastered the skill."
The pout deepened, and Rosaluna set down her spoon with a soft clink. "You shouldn't get too close to her, Hal. People might start getting the wrong idea about you two."
I considered her words for a moment, then decided this was as good a time as any to plant the seeds of what was to come. A smile tugged at my lips as I made my decision. "Actually, there wouldn't be anything to misunderstand. I'm seriously considering asking Lisa to marry me when I'm old enough."
The effect was immediate and dramatic. Mother's eyes widened with amused surprise, a knowing smile spreading across her face as if she had been expecting something like this. But Rosaluna... Rosaluna's fork clattered to the table as she shot to her feet, her chair scraping loudly against the wooden floor.
"W—W—what?!" She sputtered, her face cycling through several shades of red. "Did you just say—? You can't be serious!"
"Rosaluna, dear, calm yourself," Mother said with a gentle sigh, though her eyes still sparkled with amusement. She had always found our dramatic moments entertaining rather than concerning.
"But Mother, did you hear what he just said? And you're not going to say anything about it?!" Rosaluna's voice pitched higher, and she gestured wildly between Mother and me as if we had both lost our minds.
Mother took a measured sip of her tea before responding. "What exactly should I say? He's still young, and besides, Lisa is a wonderful girl. She's skilled, kind, and comes from a good family. If Hal has feelings for her, I see no harm in it."
"B—but..." Rosaluna's hands clenched into fists at her sides, and I could see her struggling with emotions she couldn't quite name or understand. The protective instinct she'd always had for me was warring with something deeper, something she wasn't ready to acknowledge.
"Sweetie," Mother continued in that patient tone she used when one of us was being particularly unreasonable, "you can't keep your brother by your side forever. He's going to grow up, just like you will. Eventually, he'll want a family of his own, just as you will someday. It's the natural order of things."
Rosaluna seemed to deflate at Mother's words, confusion replacing the initial shock and anger. She sank back into her chair slowly, her brow furrowed as she stared down at her hands. "I... I don't know..."
She picked up her fork again but only pushed her food around absently, clearly lost in thoughts she couldn't untangle.
She was clearly jealous of my closeness with Lisa but she shouldn't be since she was even closer to me than Lisa.