94.-The Edge of the Cliff

Dawn crept into the Veridian forest like a clumsy thief, its golden and pink rays filtering through the gaunt trees, painting the sky with soft strokes that shimmered in the dew drops scattered across the moss. The air was crisp, sharp, thick with the scent of damp earth and old pine that burrowed into the lungs with every breath. Sebastián woke with a hoarse grunt, his back still pressed against the mossy rock where Kaili had left him the night before, the chill of the crystal-clear lake creeping up his legs like icy needles. The black lines woven into his skin by her shadow insects—those jagged scars she'd left as proof of her touch—stung beneath his tattered shirt, a nagging reminder that he was alive, though his body groaned like it'd been trampled a dozen times.

—"Damn it, this ain't resting," —he muttered, sitting up with a crack of joints that sounded like dry branches snapping. The moss squished under his calloused hands, wet and spongy, and he rubbed his neck, grunting as he glanced around—. "Kaili? Where the hell'd you go?" —The lake lay still, a silver mirror catching the rising sun, but she was nowhere in sight. His boots sank into the soft earth as he stood, pain tugging at his shoulder and side like a twisted knife jabbing him.

—"She's not here," —he said, frowning as he wobbled a bit, his raspy voice cutting through the silence—. "What, she just took off? Damn it, Kaili, not even a goodbye." —He scanned the lake, the forest, the sky, but there was no trace of her iridescent wings or that hum that always made him jittery and calm at once—. "Hope nothing happened… Nah, what am I saying? It's Kaili. She's fine. But…" —He paused, scratching the back of his neck with a clumsy chuckle—. "What if she hasn't eaten? She's gotta be starving, running around like she does."

The thought hit him like a loose branch, and his warm eyes widened, staring at the ground as if she'd pop up out of nowhere.

—"She can't be out there without eating, not after last night," —he mumbled, limping toward his worn-out backpack slung beside the rock. He yanked it open, pulling out a handful of dried vegetables and a small pot that clattered against his hands—. "I'm making her something, even if it kills me. I'm not letting Kaili go hungry out there."

Despite the pain—his shoulder screaming with every move, his side stabbing like it held embers—he got to work. He sparked a quick fire with dry twigs that crackled under the flames, smoke curling up in gray wisps as he chopped dried carrots, some moss root, and herbs that smelled of earth and spice. Water from the lake bubbled in the pot, and he stirred the mix with a wooden spoon, grunting whenever his body protested.

—"Come on, Sebastián, don't whine," —he said through gritted teeth, sweat sticking his messy brown hair to his forehead—. "This is for Kaili. If she doesn't eat, she'll get grumpier than usual, and I'm not dealing with that." —He chuckled low, tasting the veggie pasta and nodding—. "Not bad. Kinda bland, but it'll fill her up."

He doused the fire with a handful of dirt, the smoke fading into the cold air, and tucked the pot into his backpack alongside a ratty blanket he fished from the bottom.

—"It's chilly this morning," —he murmured, glancing at the pinkish sky—. "Kaili can't be out there without something to cover her. She's probably freezing." —He slung the pack over his good shoulder, grunting as the weight tugged at his wounds, and started walking, limping up the steep trail toward the cliff—. "If she's not up there, I give up. But I bet she is. Always chasing weird views."

The forest buzzed with life, birds chirping overhead, branches creaking in the wind rolling down from the hills. His boots left a crooked trail in the damp earth, pain throbbing through him like a drum, but he pressed on, talking to himself to keep his mind off how every step stole a gasp.

—"Come on, legs, don't quit on me now," —he said, tripping over a root and catching himself on a rough trunk with a groan—. "If Kaili sees me like this, she'll laugh her head off. But what can I do? I can't leave her starving." —He chuckled, shaking his head as he climbed, sweat gluing his shirt to his bronzed skin—. "Besides, that pajama I made her doesn't keep her warm. She needs this blanket."

The trail opened to the cliff, a jagged line of gray rock dropping into a sea of green treetops swaying with the breeze. The air was colder here, whistling between the rocks with a scent of stone and freedom. Sebastián took a deep breath, pain jabbing his chest, and then he saw her.

Kaili stood on a rock a few yards away, her silhouette etched against the sky like a statue carved from shadows. The pajama he'd made her hugged her curves and muscles, the soft fabric fluttering in the wind, and the Lunar Chameleon brooch in her hair gleamed, shifting from silver to pink under the sun. Her wings hummed faintly, a murmur slicing through the cliff's silence as she stared at the horizon, still as if the forest held its breath for her next move.

—"There you are," —he said, limping toward her with a crooked smile, his warm voice breaking the air—. "Hey, Kaili, don't freak out, it's me." —He shuffled closer, leaning on a tall rock beside her to keep from falling, pain tugging at his shoulder as he set the pot on the stone—. "You had me worried, you know? Took off without a word."

Kaili turned her head slightly, her black eyes narrowing, and her wings buzzed louder, a hum that vibrated like a warning.

—"What are you doing here, gardener?" —she replied, her voice sharp but laced with a hint of curiosity—. "I told you to rest, not limp around like an idiot."

He laughed, a raspy sound slipping through his teeth as he dropped the backpack and pulled out the blanket.

—"Rest? Couldn't, knowing you haven't eaten a thing, Kaili," —he said, stepping toward her and spreading the blanket with shaky hands—. "Look, it's cold, and that pajama doesn't keep you warm. Come here, let me cover you." —He draped it over her back gently, the worn fabric falling across her shoulders as he stood behind her, his breath brushing her hair—. "Don't want you freezing out here."

She stiffened a bit, her wings buzzing faster, but didn't pull away.

—"What's this nonsense, human?" —she said, turning her head to glare at him, her tone dry but edged with playfulness—. "I don't need your blanket or your worrying."

—"Sure you do," —he shot back, chuckling low as he sat on the rock beside the pot, grunting when the move yanked a gasp from him—. "Check it out, I made you some food. Veggie pasta. Not fancy, but it'll fill you up." —He tapped the pot with a trembling hand, looking at her with those warm eyes—. "I was worried you'd be hungry, Kaili. Couldn't sit there thinking you were out here with an empty stomach."

Kaili raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a crooked smile that flashed a sharp fang.

—"You made me food?" —she said, uncrossing her arms and stepping toward the rock, the blanket shifting as she sniffed the pasta—. "You're nuts, gardener. You really dragged yourself up here hurt for this?"

—"Yeah, I did," —he replied, shrugging with a clumsy laugh that slipped out despite the pain—. "Not gonna let you go hungry, Kaili. Even if I'm a mess, you're worth it." —He nudged the pot toward her—. "Try it, come on. Don't get mad at me for looking out for you."

She snorted, but sat beside him, the blanket slipping a little as she grabbed the pot and took a whiff.

—"Smells decent," —she said, her voice sharp but with a warmth sneaking in—. "But if this poisons me, I'll stitch your mouth shut with my shadows."

—"Deal," —he said, winking as he leaned back against the rock, pain stabbing his side—. "Though if it poisons you, it'll be an accident. I'm not that great a cook, Kaili."

She laughed, a dry but real sound that echoed across the cliff, and took a bite, chewing slowly while eyeing him sideways.

—"Not bad," —she said, swallowing with a grimace that wasn't quite disdain—. "For a banged-up human, I guess it'll do."

—"That's the closest I'll get to a compliment from you, huh?" —he said, laughing as he leaned closer, his tone warm and teasing—. "Glad you like it, Kaili. Didn't want you growling more than usual today."

Kaili rolled her eyes, but didn't look away, her wings humming softly as she set the pot back on the rock.

—"Shut up, gardener," —she said, her tone playful slicing the air—. "I still think you're crazy for hauling yourself up here."

—"Crazy for you, maybe," —he replied, his crooked smile widening as he looked at her with those warm eyes—. "Don't be mad, Kaili. Just wanted to make sure you were okay before my body gives out."

She stared at him, her runes flickering with a silver glint, and for a moment, her wings' hum quieted.

—"You're an idiot," —she said, but her voice wavered, a crack of softness slipping through—. "Why do you care so much?"

—"Because it's you, Kaili," —he said, shrugging with a clumsy chuckle—. "Can't help it. I always end up wanting to take care of you, even if you kick me for trying."

She snorted again, softer this time, and before she could answer, he stood with a groan, limping a step closer.

—"Come here," —he said, wrapping his arms around her from behind in a warm, clumsy hug, his hands brushing her wings as he held her gently—. "Don't be mad at me, Kaili. Just wanted to feel you for a bit after all this."

Kaili stiffened, her wings buzzing louder, but didn't pull away.

—"What the hell are you doing, human?" —she said, her voice icy but trembling, her hands twitching like she wasn't sure what to do—. "Let go before I toss you off the cliff."

He laughed against her back, the sound rumbling as he hugged her a little tighter, his warmth clashing with her chill.

—"If you toss me, let me have this first, Kaili," —he said, his tone soft and teasing—. "Couldn't stay down there without knowing you were okay. You're too much for me, and I don't know how to stop."

She turned her head slightly, her black eyes locking with his, and her wings' hum turned into a low roar.

—"Don't get mad, Kaili," —he murmured, his breath grazing her lips as he leaned closer—. "Don't kill me for this, okay?" —And he kissed her.

It was on the lips, a kiss that started soft, clumsy, his lips meeting hers with a warmth that made him gasp.

—"Damn it, Kaili, your lips are soft," —he said against her mouth, chuckling low as the kiss lingered, his shaky hands on her arms. She didn't pull back at first, her cold lips yielding just a bit, and he pressed closer, the kiss growing firm, alive, stretching into seconds that echoed in the cliff's silence.

—"What do you think you're…?" —she started, her raspy voice breaking against his lips, but her hands rose to his chest, trembling without pushing him away. He laughed again, pulling back for a breath, panting as he met her gaze.

—"Can't stop, Kaili," —he said, his voice rough and warm—. "If you kick me for this, it'll be worth it."

She looked at him, her runes glowing, and this time she didn't push him off. Her fingers brushed his cheek, lingering as her lips found his again, a kiss she let deepen, enjoying it with a shiver she didn't hide.

—"Don't do that again, you stubborn ass," —she said when they broke apart, her voice shaky but soft, her black eyes gleaming with something new—. "Why do you care so much?"

—"Because it's you, Kaili," —he replied, his crooked smile flickering as dizziness hit—. "Wait, I…" —The world spun, his legs buckled, and he fell toward her with a weak "Guess your kiss knocked me out, Kaili" between fading laughs.

—"Sebastián!" —she shouted, catching him, her arms wrapping around him tight. She held him, her wings humming softly as she stared down—. "Wake up, idiot…"

He blinked, chuckling faintly.

—"You there, Kaili?" —he mumbled, his hand trembling against her—. "Gimme a sec…" —And he passed out, his head slumping against her chest.

Kaili shifted him in her arms, her fingers brushing his dark hair, the brooch turning a soft red as she whispered:

—"What'd you do to me, gardener?"