Lila woke up late again.
She knew it the moment she opened her eyes.
Sunlight filtered through the trees—it was morning already. She groaned softly and pushed herself up, brushing her messy hair back with her fingers.
For a moment, panic gripped her.
She thought Davien wouldn't be there.
She scanned the camp.
He was still there.
He knelt beside their packs, checking their remaining supplies.
Relief washed over her.
She stood, stretching her stiff body.
"Are you not training today?" she asked.
He didn't look up.
"I don't really need it."
The words landed heavier than she expected.
She hesitated, then asked, "Then what about me?"
Davien finally glanced at her. His gaze swept over her—messy hair, wrinkled clothes, the lingering signs of sleep.
"Did you catch the rabbit yesterday?" he asked.
She opened her mouth, then closed it.
"…No."
"Then there's no training," Davien said, turning away.
Lila bit back a groan.
She turned aside, pushing down her frustration before it could spill out. Grabbing her clothes, she changed quickly and headed toward the forest without another word.
~~~~~~~
The forest was cool and damp, shadows stretching long between the trees. Lila walked through it, her steps uneven, her thoughts louder than her surroundings.
Catch a rabbit.
He said it like it's nothing.
She slowed, forcing herself to breathe quietly. Leaves crackled beneath her boots no matter how careful she tried to be.
Then she saw them.
A small cluster of rabbits gathered near a patch of low bushes, ears flicking, noses twitching as they ate.
Hope flared in her chest.
There.
She lowered herself on instinct—then moved forward.
Her foot mistakenly snapped a dry branch.
Every rabbit froze.
For one perfect second, time seemed to pause.
Then they scattered.
"No—wait," she whispered, already chasing them.
She ran recklessly through the brush, arms outstretched, breathing uneven. One went left, another right, each vanishing from sight. She lunged, fingers brushing only air.
They were gone.
She stopped, wiping sweat from her forehead, and forced herself to think.
"Maybe I should go slowly this time," she whispered to herself.
She circled the area again, crouching low, carefully placing each step, scanning for movement.
Then she heard something behind her.
She froze.
Turning slowly, she moved toward the bushes.
The rabbit slipped away out and fled before she could get closer.
She sighed, watching it disappear.
She continued searching, frustration building.
Again.
A third time.
A fourth.
Each attempt ended the same way—they noticed her before she could react.
Hours passed. The forest grew quiet, the sun shining brighter than ever.
Her legs ached. Sweat soaked through her clothes, clinging uncomfortably to her skin. She hadn't taken a break since entering the forest.
Finally, she rested against a tree, sliding down until she sat on the ground.
"Why is this so hard?" she asked herself, staring at her hands.
She remembered the way Davien moved—steady, fast, always finding a way.
She exhaled slowly.
"One more time."
She stood, ignoring the protests in her legs, and moved forward again.
The rabbit fled the moment she did.
Her shoulders fell.
By the time the sun dipped low, her body gave in and she collapsed to the ground, taking a brief rest.
Tears blurred her vision.
"Why can't I catch a common rabbit?" she whispered bitterly, pressing her fists into the dirt.
After a long moment, she pushed herself up and headed back to camp—empty-handed again.
~~~~~~~
The camp was quiet when she returned.
Davien sat by the fire, sharpening one of his blades. He looked up as she approached, his expression unreadable.
She made her way to a fallen log and sat heavily.
"I didn't catch it again," she said quietly.
He returned his focus to the blade.
"You rushed."
"No, I didn't," she replied.
"Yes, you did. You wanted the result more than the process."
She frowned.
"That doesn't make sense."
Silence stretched between them.
Lila leaned forward, elbows on her knees.
"So what if I fail again tomorrow? There's still no training?"
He nodded once.
"What if I don't ever catch it?" she asked.
"You will," Davien said, placing his blade back beside him.
She stared into the fire. The flames crackled softly.
"I thought this would be easy," she admitted.
Davien didn't respond right away.
After a moment, she straightened.
"I'll try again tomorrow."
"Lila," Davien said, "do you think this punishment is a punishment—or a lesson?"
She glanced at him, confused.
"I don't understand," she said.
He didn't reply. Silence wrapped around them.
Finally, he spoke.
"It's getting late. You should sleep."
Ignoring her question.
"Hm. Yes, I should," she replied, knowing he wouldn't give her an answer anytime soon.
She stood and prepared herself for bed.