Mark stepped out of the stream and began getting dressed while Alice was still in the water.
"I'll head back to camp."
"Alright, my lord," Alice replied without turning to look at him. "I'll finish cleaning my wounds properly and join you after."
Mark nodded and began walking back toward the camp.
The path between the stream and the clearing where they had made camp wasn't long, just a few minutes walking through the trees, but it was enough for Mark to notice something different.
There was more noise than there should have been.
When he had left for the stream the camp was quiet, but now he could hear voices.
Mark picked up his pace, and when the trees opened up and the clearing appeared before him, the first thing he saw was that Rose was no longer alone.
Yuki was standing beside the extinguished campfire with her arms crossed, and around her, Alice's five companions were sitting or standing in various positions around the clearing.
