Inherently Innocent

So Follow The Sun

Packing things up again was not better than the first time. Peony had no more stolen dough to bake cookies, so other nymphs were already missing the sweets. Overall, smiles seemed surface-level. Bags spoke more than people, except for Aloe who guided everyone loudly.

Juniper was only concentrating on fitting all her gathered fruit into a bag without it erupting into a sea of sticky juice. However, all these fruits were much different than those found at the settlement. Their shells were harder, and deeper into the fruit. Most of the edible parts were invaded by seeds, and the little edible juice that remained was more often than not sour.

Juniper was concentrating on her fruit, yes. But she was also sharpening her ear to catch any conversation surrounding her. Thyme and Xochitl were talking about school, Liliac and Golshan about another nymph Juniper couldn't recall meeting, Peony was holding and letting go of the hands of an ishine, communicating something and laughing about it.

Juniper looked in the distance at an ishine that was making a bush with round orange fruit grow. Aloe plucked some of it out, showing the insides were actually red. The pair of ishine nodded, proud of their work.

Juniper then heard steps get closer. She rhythmically closed her bag and turned, sitting down without an arched back anymore. It was Thyme that was walking close, more fruit in hand and some braided fibres on his fingers.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead," Juno nodded while closing her eyes, almost catlike.

"Are you and Aloe dating?"

The human laughed. Out of all the questions she had been expecting, that one wasn't on the list. "Yes. I guess you could say we're dating."

"Wait, really?" Thyme gently dropped to his knees, placing the seeds and fruits he was carrying on the grass. He had a shy smile, almost hopeful. His brown face looked a bit more saturated than usual.

"Yeah. It's been years. I don't think I can pinpoint the moment it happened though. But if by dating you mean we chose each other to grow together and make each other better, hold each other, and always have each other's backs, then yes. We're dating." It was odd to think someone wouldn't think of the way she ran up to Aloe to hug their back as romantic. Surely there could be people who found that friendly, but the hand holding and cheek kissing could barely pass as such. "Did you just realize? You have to be a bit more perceptive." Juno's voice stayed firm even if she had meant it as a joke. She wished she could make it softer, but it was hardwired that way.

Still, Thyme chuckled, able to see through the tone, "I wondered to ask for... nothing. I was also wondering, have you heard anything of Golshan?"

"He was braiding fibres for us to carry our bags. Aren't you holding those right now?"

"No, I mean like... has he said anything about me?"

Juniper's firmness crumbled. She laughed. The boy was asking if Golshan was interested in him, if the nymph had spoken of such feelings with her. Golshan, the nymph whose green skin turned slightly paler when Thyme was around. The nymph whose eyes shook just a bit more when their eyes met. Whose hands fidgeted when Thyme's moved nearby.

"You really need to be a bit more perceptive," Juniper placed her hand over Thyme's and searched for his eyes. She nodded. If she had been an ishine, she would have given him her confidence through that little touch.

Juno liked Thyme. It was the kind of person you didn't realize was in your head until you saw them and noticed they had never left. He was a nice addition to Horizon Hill. He made other nymphs enjoy having him around, his guidance was handy, and he kept insisting to make Liliac adapt. Juno had this quiet feeling, where if she was older and already feeling her bones crumble, she'd choose Thyme to take her place. Of course Aloe wasn't a choice, it was known the two would grow old together.