After their promise, the four friends remained by the fire for a while, enjoying the quiet afternoon.
Eventually, the cool breeze and the full meal began to make them sleepy.
They moved to a patch of soft grass beneath a large tree and lay down.
Leoric stretched his arms behind his head.
"This is a good life."
Dorian laughed softly.
"You say that after every meal."
"What do you intend I say, instead?"
Evander shook his head with a smile.
Aldric closed his eyes.
"Why don't we just rest?"
After some time, one by one, their voices faded.
The gentle breeze moved through the leaves above them as the four friends slowly drifted into sleep.
The afternoon slowly passed.
The sound of the wind moving through the trees filled the silence around them.
Dorian was the first to wake.
He slowly opened his eyes and stared up at the branches above him.
For a moment, he forgot where he was.
Then he remembered.
He turned his head and saw Leoric still sleeping beside him, one arm resting over his face.
Dorian smiled.
"Why do you sleep like a dead person?" he muttered.
Leoric suddenly moved.
"Who said that?"
Dorian laughed.
"You were awake?"
"No."
Leoric opened one eye.
"But I heard you."
Dorian shook his head.
"Go back to sleep."
Leoric sat up and stretched.
"I've had enough."
"You said that while you were still sleeping."
Leoric laughed.
"Maybe I was dreaming about food."
Dorian rolled his eyes.
"You just ate earlier."
"And who says I can't eat again?"
Before Dorian could respond, Leoric looked around.
"Where are the others?"
Dorian pointed toward Aldric and Evander.
"They're still sleeping."
Leoric stood up and walked over to them before crouching beside Evander.
"Evander."
There was no response.
Leoric poked his shoulder.
"Evander."
Evander groaned and turned away.
"Leave me alone."
Leoric grinned.
"Wake up."
"No."
"Wake up."
"I said no."
Dorian laughed from behind them.
"You two are worse than children."
Evander finally sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"What time is it?"
"I don't know," Dorian answered.
Aldric slowly opened his eyes.
"You all should probably head back. I'll walk you guys out."
The others nodded.
They gathered their things and began walking toward the village.
The path was quiet.
Too quiet.
Dorian looked around.
The birds that had filled the trees earlier were nowhere to be heard.
He frowned.
"Do you guys notice that?"
Leoric looked at him.
"Notice what?"
"The birds."
Evander glanced toward the trees.
"They probably flew somewhere else."
Dorian nodded slowly.
""Perhaps... probably."
Aldric stopped and waved them goodbye as Dorian, Evander, and Leoric continued walking.
By the time they reached the village, the sun was beginning to set.
Evander and Leoric said their goodbyes before heading home.
Dorian continued toward his hut alone.
He was tired, but something about the walk back had stayed on his mind.
The silence in the forest.
The missing birds.
He tried to convince himself that it meant nothing.
Maybe they had simply flown somewhere else.
Maybe he was thinking too much.
He pushed the thought aside, and soon, he was standing in front of his door.