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You're a little surprised that you're even thinking this—after all, you thought you had settled in to Silvertree quite well. But for whatever reason, even if it's only for today, the town just doesn't feel like your home.

Even with so many things to look at, it's only when you reach the Leaf and Stem flower shop that you actually stop, and head through the open door. You only have to walk a single step before you're met with the scent of a hundred different types of flowers and plants, and you're reminded at once of some of the flowers you used to see in your grandma's back yard as you look around at the shelves full of lush green houseplants, delicate bouquets, and colorful packets of seeds. It's not a big store, but what space there is is filled with bright petals and broad leaves, and the sunlight coming through the window helps make the place feel almost like a miniature garden.

When you walk past some racks of gardening tools towards the rear of the store, the counter comes into view—and there you see Zoe, the store's owner, already serving two older men who, based on their friendly conversation, seem to know Zoe well. And although you're not sure you've spoken to either of the men before, you think you recognize the man on the left as the owner of the craft store a few doors away.

"Well, I hope these last longer than last time," Zoe is saying with a laugh as she packages up a strawberry plant. "What did you say happened, Mitch? They all got stolen by crows?"

"Ravens, actually," the man on the left replies matter-of-factly—though something about the way he's grinning as he says it tells you he may not be entirely serious. "It was the funniest thing; they all flew down all at once and carried them off into the night. I'm pretty sure it was a targeted attack. I think they've joined forces with the squirrels who keep eating Lyle's birdseed."

The man on his right snickers.

"Yes, I think that must have been it," he agrees. "You have to hand it to them, really; it's certainly an impressive heist. You saw it all yourself, didn't you, Mitch?"

"Oh, I did. They swooped down in formation, talons sharpened—it was a bloodbath. And we never even got to taste them."

"It really was a shame," Lyle adds with a solemn nod. "But—sadly, there was nothing we could do. Not at all like if, oh, I don't know, somebody was trying to move twelve cans of paint out of the shed at the same time and ended up dropping them all on top of the strawberries."

"Mm, yes, nothing like that at all," Mitch says with utter sincerity in his voice, immediately before sharing a grin with Lyle. "It's just a shame it was so dark; nobody can ever be sure what really happened."

"But I thought you said it was the ravens, Mitch?" Zoe replies, feigning a frown.

"Oh, well, that's what it looked like at least. I was a little distracted carrying so much paint," Mitch shrugs, prompting a snort of laughter from Lyle which Mitch can't seem to help joining in with.

"Well, unfortunately I don't offer raven insurance—or spilled paint insurance, for that matter," Zoe says with a shake of her head as she hands over the plant. "So if anything happens to these, I'm afraid you're on your own."

"That's all right; I have a feeling those ravens have moved on to somebody else's yard by now," Mitch says as he takes the bag and Lyle hands over the money. "Also I've already cleared all of the paint out of the shed, so either way, we're in the clear."

The three of them laugh, and a few words of goodbye the two men turn to go with their new strawberry plant. As they go to head to the door, Mitch catches sight of you—but rather than stopping to say anything, he simply gives you a polite smile and a nod before carrying on his way with Lyle. Watching them go past, it occurs to you that you haven't seen Mitch since you and Tobias stole from his store. You think Tobias went to see him a couple of days after it happened—and, in fact, he asked you to go with him. But even though you know that Mitch knows what happened, he doesn't seem interested in raking up the past.

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