That’s so reassuring

I held onto as many of the golden fruits as I could carry, stuffing them into the fabric of my jacket and my pockets.

The taste still lingered on my tongue—sweet, floral, and just the right amount of tartness. My stomach was already feeling a little better, though I knew I'd need something with more substance eventually.

Maeve walked beside me, chewing on one of the fruits like it was the best thing she'd ever tasted. "You know," she said, swallowing, "I was expecting us to find something terrible in this forest. Not actual, edible food."

I nodded. "Right? I mean, considering how sketchy this place is, I was half-convinced the fruit would either explode or try to eat us."

She snorted. "Yeah, same. But for once, we got lucky."

That made me pause. "Oh, god."

"What?"

"I just realized." I turned to her with wide eyes. "You know what happens in stories when things seem too easy?"

Maeve raised an eyebrow. "What?"