The following morning arrived quietly, the first rays of sunlight filtering through the endless canopy of Muro Forest. Lokamanya City stirred awake with its usual rhythm—beastfolk merchants opening stalls, younglings rushing across woven vine bridges, the sounds of animals harmonizing with the pulse of a thriving city rooted in nature.
For the Regalons, the day began without urgency.
Almond stretched on the balcony of their rented manor, inhaling the crisp forest air tinged with dew and resin. Below, the city's veins of rivers and mossy pathways shimmered, alive with the steady bustle of citizens preparing for another day.
"Feels odd," Big D said, perching on a stone, turning to Kexell, who was nursing a cup of steaming brew. "We're supposed to be Grim Outlaws, but right now, it feels like we're just… ordinary residents."
"Sometimes that's exactly what we need," Kexell replied with a grin, ears twitching as he sipped. "A calm day before a bloody night."
