Sunlight, warm and golden, streamed through the small window, painting stripes across the simple room. Amor stirred, blinking slowly. For the first time in twelve long, shadowed years, he'd slept deeply – a dreamless, peaceful oblivion that left him feeling strangely refreshed. He stretched, the roughspun blanket surprisingly comforting.
His gaze drifted downwards, and he froze. Obsessio wasn't in a bed. He was sprawled on the floor directly below Amor's raised sleeping pallet, resting on what looked like a woven bamboo mat laid over a thin rubber sheet.
Whoa... He sleeps down there? On the floor? Amor's brow furrowed.
That can't be comfortable. Doesn't it hurt? The contrast between the meager pallet he'd just left and Obsessio's spot on the hard floor was stark, another reminder of the rugged life Sio lived.
Amor carefully climbed down. Crouching beside the sleeping Alpha, he gently shook his shoulder. "Siooooo... Rise and shine, dude. It's morning already. We totally crashed hard – pretty sure we conked out just as the sun was dipping below the trees!"
Obsessio only mumbled, burrowing deeper into his thin blanket.
"Heyyyy... Wake uuuup!" Amor insisted, giving Sio's shoulder a more insistent wiggle.
"Arghhh... Yeah, yeah..." A groggy voice emerged from the blanket cocoon. Obsessio finally pushed himself up onto one elbow, rubbing his eyes fiercely with the heel of his hand. His dark hair stuck up in wild tufts, and he squinted against the morning light. "Five more minutes..." he grumbled, though he was already hauling his body upright with the effortless strength Amor still found astonishing.
The boys finally dragged themselves fully awake. Morning routines in the forest were simple: they scrubbed their teeth with fibrous, minty leaves Amor found weirdly effective, splashed icy water from the spring over their faces and bodies for a shockingly brisk wash, and finally headed towards the kitchen, drawn by the lingering, comforting scent.
"Whoa! Food's already here?" Obsessio exclaimed, spotting the steaming bowls. "And it's my fave! Score! Thanks, Nana!" He didn't wait, immediately digging into the thick Puls with gusto.
Amor blinked, looking around the empty cottage. "Btw, Sio? Where's your grandma? Shouldn't we wait for her? Eat together?"
Obsessio waved a dismissive hand, his mouth full. "Relax, Ve. She's out scavenging – hunting for grub, herbs, maybe some goat milk. She'll be back tonight. Dig in before it gets cold."
Amor paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. Just... start without her? Back home, elaborate meals were rigidly scheduled affairs. But then it hit him – this was forest life. No servants, no stocked pantries. Just hard work, self-reliance, and eating when you could. Survival here was gritty and real, demanding everyone pull their weight. He picked up his spoon, the simple clay bowl feeling heavy with that new understanding. "Right," he murmured, taking his first deliberate bite of this rugged, necessary life.
As they shoveled down the hearty Puls, Amor's curiosity finally bubbled over. "Sio," he started, wiping his mouth. "Wasn't your grandma freaked out yesterday? I mean..." He gestured vaguely at Obsessio's torso, now miraculously clear of the scrapes and bruises from the day before. "You were pretty banged up."
Obsessio snorted, swallowing a huge mouthful. "Nah, dude. Nana's totally chill about that stuff. Used to it." He flexed his arm for emphasis, showing smooth, unmarked skin. "Check it – gone by morning. Alpha perk. Minor stuff like that heals crazy fast. Like, overnight." He tapped his temple. "Betas? Different story. No built-in fixer. They gotta actually *heal*, takes time, needs medicine. Sucks for them."
Amor's eyes widened slightly. "What about Omegas?" He leaned in, genuinely intrigued.
Obsessio's spoon paused mid-air. "Omegas? Uh... yeah, they heal fast too. If..." He trailed off, suddenly looking awkward.
"If what?" Amor pressed.
"Nothing! Just... drop it," Obsessio mumbled, stuffing his face again, avoiding eye contact. "Nana says it's... grown-up stuff. Don't really get it myself, honestly." His ears looked suspiciously pink.
Amor sighed dramatically. "Ahhh, gotta be all grown up first to know the secret Omega stuff, huh?"
"Exactly!" Obsessio seized the excuse, visibly relieved. "Now quit yapping and eat." He grabbed the pot and dumped another generous serving of steaming Puls into Amor's nearly empty bowl. "Before it turns into cold glue."
Bowls scraped clean, Obsessio practically bounced on his heels. "Finally done! Heck yeah, waterfall time! C'mon, Ve!" He jerked his thumb towards the door. "Sun's getting high – gonna be baking out there soon. Perfect for a dip."
"Water...fall?" Amor tilted his head, genuinely perplexed. His maid's stories had painted palaces and cities, never mentioning such wild wonders. "What's that?"
"Think massive, epic walls of water crashing down! Huge, loud, and totally off the charts beautiful!" Obsessio grabbed Amor's wrist, already pulling him towards the door. "Stop asking questions, just move!"
"O-okay!" Amor stammered, letting himself be tugged along.
First, duty called. They quickly tidied their eating spot, scrubbed the simple clay bowls clean in a bucket of spring water, and gave the small cottage a once-over. Efficiency born of routine.
"Done! Let's roll!" Obsessio declared, bursting out the door. Amor followed, a hesitant smile blooming into genuine excitement.
They took off running. Not the controlled jog of nobles in a garden, but a full-throttle, whooping dash through the trees. They belted out half-remembered tunes, their voices mingling with the forest sounds. The path quickly turned challenging: scaling steep, rocky outcrops, pushing through dense thickets that snagged their clothes, swatting at a relentless swarm of mosquitoes dive-bombing them, and navigating slippery moss-covered logs. Every obstacle was new, slightly terrifying, and utterly exhilarating for Amor.
Breathless and scratched, but eyes shining, Amor finally gasped as they reached a brief plateau, "This... this is incredible! So much fun!"
Obsessio grinned back, sweat beading on his forehead, pure Alpha vitality radiating from him. "Told ya! Nothing beats it! Pure awesome!" He clapped Amor on the back, the touch firm but brief, mindful of boundaries, yet full of shared triumph. The roar of the unseen waterfall grew louder, promising the grand finale to their wild adventure.