Rookies

The sun rose gently over the trees, washing the forest in golden light.

Birdsong echoed faintly beyond the cabin walls. A breeze moved through the leaves, rustling gently as it always did.

Red was already awake.

His bedroll had long been folded. His gear checked and arranged. The room was clean, just as it always was.

But today, something was different.

There was another presence in the house.

Selena, the slum girl he had silently brought in the night before, was curled on the wooden floor near the cold hearth. She slept on the hard ground, the cloak he had given her wrapped tightly around her thin frame.

He'd prepared a cot for her in the adjoining room, a simple bed with clean linen and a spare blanket. But she hadn't taken it. She had chosen the floor.

Quietly, he stood, stretching with silent precision before stepping toward the far wall of the cabin.

She breathed softly, brow relaxed, as if her body finally remembered what peace was.

Red didn't disturb her.

He turned toward the kitchen.

The cabin was modest, but well-organized. Every tool had its place. Every shelf was stocked with purpose. The fire in the hearth was relit with practiced ease, and a small iron pan clinked softly as he began heating water.

Rice. A few strips of dried fish. Rehydrated greens with salt.

Nothing extravagant.

But this morning… he prepared enough for two.

He paused once, adding slightly more water to the rice.

Then he ground the coffee beans, the rhythmic crunch of the pestle echoing faintly.

As the aroma began to rise, rich and bitter, he heard movement behind him.

He turned slightly.

Selena had stirred.

She sat up groggily, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand, blinking at the morning light.

Her eyes fell on the food.

She perked up, starting to crawl toward the table.

Red: "Stop."

Red's voice was calm, but firm.

She froze in place, startled, not by anger, but by the command.

He pointed toward the door.

Red: "Clean first. Wash your face. Then eat."

Selena blinked. "O-Oh. Uh… okay. Right. Sorry…"

She stood, brushing her tangled hair back with her fingers, eyes slightly wide with embarrassment.

Red stepped over to her.

She flinched, not from fear, but surprise, as he held something out.

A small bar of soap, wrapped in leaf wrap.

And a carved wooden stick with bristles tied to the end.

Red: "Tooth cleaner. Use both."

Selena stared at the items for a moment.

Then she took them with both hands and nodded quickly. "Thank you…"

She rushed out the door, bare feet brushing the dirt with soft taps.

Red returned to the kitchen.

He didn't smile. He didn't frown.

But for a brief moment, as he stirred the pot, he paused.

This time… the cabin didn't feel quite so empty.

Selena knelt by the stream, the water cool on her face. She scrubbed gently, watching her reflection ripple and shimmer. Her hair clung to her cheeks. Her eyes, though ringed with fatigue, had color again.

She smiled faintly as she washed.

The toothbrush was crude, but effective. The mintroot powder Red had left near the stream left her breath sharp and fresh. She hadn't brushed in… weeks. Maybe more.

For the first time in a long while, she didn't feel like she was rotting from the inside.

When she returned to the cabin, Red had already plated the food, two bowls of rice, salted fish, a few leaves of herbs, and two cups of coffee steaming gently.

He didn't say anything as she stepped inside.

She sat quietly across from him.

There were no words.

Only the sounds of spoons scraping lightly, the fire crackling, the wind moving gently across the wooden walls.

Selena glanced up once, Red hadn't touched his food yet. He was waiting.

Not for her words.

Just for her to eat first.

She whispered a soft "Thank you…" and began eating slowly.

Red followed after.

It was the first time he had eaten with someone else.

No guild hall noise. No tavern crowd.

Just silence, and the warmth of another soul across the table.

He didn't realize how long it had been.

And maybe…

He didn't hate it.