Lighter filler chapter for today, my children, I'm working on some other books for now :)

Dead leaves were kicked up with every step as you walked through the forest, searching for a cave to mine in. Above you, the bare trees creaked and swayed with every slight breeze, threatening to fall if shaken too roughly. It was getting close to what was considered winter in L'manburg, with the first snows already come and the trees having finished dropping every single leaf they had.

Laughter drifted from your right and you turned slightly, peering over the thorny bushes to see George and Fundy holding a conversation while picking mushrooms.

"Hey guys!" you called, pushing your way through the undergrowth. Dull, dark green fern fronds grabbed at your feet as you walked towards them. George looked up as you greeted them, wariness and nervousness clouding his gaze.

"Y/N!" Fundy said as he tackled you in a hug. Y/N? How the fuck does he- Schlaaaaaaaaaaaatt I'm going to freaking kill you- "Come, help us! We're getting some mushrooms for some suspicious stew." Your eyes met George's and you were surprised to see grief and sadness in them. He held your gaze for a few seconds before quickly looking back at his work.

"I'd like to," you told Fundy, looking away from George and back at your friend, "but I have to go mining for Punz. That's why I stopped to talk to y'all, actually. Do you know any good caves?"

Fundy hesitated for a second before nodding, but you swore there was a shadow of grief in his eyes. "Yeah. Yeah, there's a great one, but it's a little far, if you don't mind."

"Yeah, uh, yeah, that'll be great, thanks Fundy," you said, glancing back at George. "You don't mind leaving George to show me, right? Cause you can just tell me where it is, you know, you don't have to come wi-"

"Y/N, I'm coming. Give me, like, three seconds to grab my stuff, wait here." Then he dashed off through the leafless forest, leaving you awkwardly standing with George.

"I didn't know your name was Y/N," George said quietly.

Shit. "Uh, yeah. It's... complicated. I don't really... mind if you call me Y/N, though." You peeked another look at your former friend.

A slight smile graced his features. "Yeah. I think... I think I'll call you that. I sounds better than Shadow, and I'd rather think of you as a different person as Shadow. She... has some bad memories attached to her."

"Listen, George... I- I'm really sor-"

"BACK!" Fundy cried, crashing towards you over leaf-strewn ground. "Sorry, that took a while." He skidded to a stop in front of you in a shower of leaves, bouncing on his toes, obviously not realizing how pissed he'd just made you.

Goddamn it, Fundy, I was so close to apologizing, you thought dryly.

"Fine, let's go," you sighed, slinging your bag over your shoulder and following Fundy through the dormant forest.

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523 words

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Mmmm, ✨Winter forests✨

Also, the best part about writing multiple books is you get to make references to each one and hint at lore for the other ones :D

TA TE, MY CHILDREN.