While Juniper waited for Lily to finally arrive, she did her best to distract herself with this or that task. Which ended up being mostly aiding the grass-attuned Pals and Aoi with the cooking. However, when she grew a little too restless, she decided to walk the perimeter to clear her head. And since she technically wasn't leaving the camp, she went on her own, not quite in defiance of her own rule. She just...needed space and quiet to think and calm her nerves.

  It was while she was on this little outing that her friend finally decided to show up! Something Juniper was alerted to by a shout from Sephie long before she saw Lily and Mist emerge from the woods. Good, her Pals must've been doing as she asked and been paying attention to the woods.

  Following the shout, Juniper took off at a run but slowed not even halfway across the field when she realized just who it was. Well, no need to hurry, then. Even if her legs (and heart) very much felt like doing so anyway. Instead, she watched as Aoi and the other Pals swarmed the two newcomers at full speed, taking turns wrapping them both up in hugs whether they were enthusiastic about it or not. Well, everyone except for Mai who was patiently waiting to be introduced. However, as Juniper got closer, she thought she detected a hint of a smile in one corner of Lily's lips. Uh oh, someone was in serious danger of going soft...

  And that someone was definitely Juniper because her heart absolutely melted seeing the outpour of affection for both Lily and Mist. Not to mention the way both of them rubbed heads and caressed cheeks in modest dispys of their own.

  However, the look in Lily's eyes shifted once she saw Juniper approach. She was still happy, yes but there was a tiredness to that look that only the other woman was allowed to see. Yet, anyway. And, as if sensing the change in the air, everyone parted to let Juniper in toward Lily, who held up a hand to try and get her to stop.

  "Wait, I'm all dirty and-"

  But Juniper didn't give a shit, she just strolled right up and thudded into Lily before wrapping her in an embrace and ciming her lips. At first, the blonde's hands remained still but she quickly moved to reciprocate, grabbing Juniper's waist and pushing into her with a more aggressive kiss.

  A few "oo's" could be heard from everyone around them and once Juniper managed to pull herself away, she rolled her eyes and blew out a breath. "Oh, grow up! You're all just jealous..."

  "Of course we are!" Flora quipped, followed by a chorus of agreement from the other Pals and even Aoi herself.

  At this, Juniper shook her head before reaching over with a hand so she could hook the younger woman by the neck and pull her in for a kiss. A chaste one but one nonetheless. Perhaps it was just the excitement of having Lily back that drove her on? Or a desire to finally kiss the other woman? Or the tease? Either way, Juniper just went with it but kept it light in case she had assumed wrong. However, judging by the look on Aoi's adorable face, it had been the right call.

  "There, happy?" Juniper finally asked.

  "Oh...yes!" Aoi replied before bringing her hands up to her cheeks and pressing them together to try and contain the blush that was quickly spreading.

  Lily had been watching with an eyebrow cocked and, before Aoi had a chance to recover, she too reached in, gently grabbed the young woman by the shoulder, and pulled her in for a kiss too. One that lingered for a few seconds but didn't deepen like it had with Juniper. "And now?" Lily asked when she pulled back.

  This time, all Aoi could do was whimper and nod as her whole face went red with embarrassment. And was that flush traveling down her neck? Oh my!

  Juniper couldn't help but observe this test turn of events with more than a little curiosity, which was matched in her expression when she turned back to Lily.

  "What?" She asked under scrutiny. "You're aren't the only one that gets to kiss the cute one, you know."

  Well, that was fair! Except, for one thing. "If she's the cute one, which one am I?” Juniper asked.

  "The hot one, duh," Lily responded before leaning forward and stealing another peck from Juniper. "Now come on, there's things we need to talk about."

  Mollified by the decration (because of course Juniper was the hot one), she nodded but brought up a hand to indicate everyone standing around the pair. "Of course, but the girls prepared an early dinner. Don’t you want to eat?"

  Lily thought for a moment but ultimately shook her head softly in response. "That sounds lovely but let’s talk first, okay? Then we’ll eat and head to the pool afterward. I could definitely use a wash."

  "Well, I know just the group to help with those st two but alright, we’ll do it your way."

  Lily seemed satisfied with the answer and lifted her eyes to run around the circle. "We'll be back in a few minutes dies, why don't you get the table set up while we’re gone?”

  A sea of nods erupted around them and apparently, Aoi calmed down enough to clear her throat while fanning her face. "I'll take Pesta a bowl when it’s ready and sit with her while she eats."

  "That’s very kind, thank you, Aoi," Juniper interjected with a nod.

  "Yeah, no problem.”

  Subsequently, she turned to Lily, brought a hand up, and hooked a thumb over her shoulder to indicate they should walk away from the group. "Ready?"

  "Yeah," Lily agreed before letting her arms drop and stepping off. They became disentangled in all the movement but that didn't stop her from reaching down and taking Juniper's hand once they got moving. Which was honestly a little surprising.

  "Feeling sentimental today?"

  "Something like that," Lily hummed with her eyes forward. "I was worried."

  "Yeah?" Juniper asked and then hummed her curiosity for a moment. "Well, I hate that you feel that way, but I'm fttered to be worried over."

  "I'm not surprised in the least," Lily said before she turned her head and chuckled softly. “But it’s all of you, of course.”

  “I know and what can I say, I am who I am.” Her own ughter followed but it quickly settled after a squeeze of Lily's hand. “Was it the people that you stopped that’s got you on edge?” Juniper would be surprised if it was anything else, but it never hurts to ask.

  "Yes," Lily admitted. "I think they were looking for you, Juniper. They seemed too…determined. Like they were out with a purpose instead of just exploring." Following her theory, she looked over and the warmth on her features was repced by an intense curiosity. "So, want to tell me what you did? Something that may have garnered unwanted attention?"

  "You could say that," Juniper said timidly before letting out a sigh. "Okay, yeah. It's probably my fault.”

  "What happened?"

  At first, Juniper bit her lip in thought, trying to come up with the best way to expin the events that led up to today. Ultimately though, she gave up trying to figure out the clean version and simply shrugged. “Well, you were gone and I took Flora out on a little…walk.” The choice of words must have struck a chord because Lily turned her head and narrowed her eyes but otherwise remained silent. “What? I mean, it was a little far but I didn’t go any further than I have before. We didn’t even make it to the spot you found me st time!”

  “Uh-huh. So, you went for a walk and…?”

  “We…stumbled upon something.”

  “Something?”

  “A Pal, a Jolthog, it had been shot by some thug and was badly hurt. She was still there too, standing over it. It looked like she was barely holding back from finishing the job, honestly.”

  “Yeah, that tracks,” Lily admitted. “That group I told you about has been trying to grab as many Pals as they can. That and be a general pain in the ass.”

  “Yeah, sounded that way from what the woman was saying to Pesta.”

  “Pesta?”

  “Mhm, the Jolthog. Tempesta is her full name but that’s a mouthful.”

  “I’ll bet she is!”

  “Jeeze, I haven’t even bound her,” Juniper said with a pyful roll of her eyes. “She’s injured!”

  “Yeah, yeah. *Yet,*” Lily quipped back as they continued their meandering walk. “Anyway, you were saying?”

  “Right, well Flora and I interfered, I guess you could say. I had Flora tie the woman down with vines while I grabbed Pesta before we booked it.”

  “Kinky,” Lily said before shrugging. “This woman…what did she look like?”

  “I don’t know, a little younger than us? Blonde.”

  “Oh.”

  Following the single word, Lily grew silent for a few moments but ultimately squeezed Juniper’s hand back. “There was a woman leading the group heading this way. Younger, blonde, and talking about a Jolthog and being humiliated. If she was the one you saw, then she was definitely looking for you.”

  “Oh.” This time it was Juniper’s turn to repeat the word back. Her gaze dropped to the ground and she eventually came to a stop as her mind tried to absorb that information. Rescuing Pesta was important and she’d tried her best to do it in a way that meant the stranger would live. But it didn’t matter...

  Of course, Lily stopped a second ter and turned her head after looking back. “What?”

  “I can’t help but feel like it’s my fault she’s dead.”

  “Oh, Juniper,” Lily whispered before using their connected hands to pull her closer. Once she had her in her arms, Lily hugged her tightly. “It’s not your fault, she made her choice. She didn’t have to join up with those clowns when she washed up on these shores. She didn’t have to try and take Pesta against her will. And she most definitely didn’t have to try and hunt you down after you made a fool of her.”

  “I suppose you have a point.”

  “Yes, sadly. But this is how it usually goes. If it wasn't now, it would’ve probably been soon. Things are getting...out of hand."

  “Has there been a lot of fighting?"

  "Unfortunately. A lot of smaller fights but I feel like it's only a matter of time."

  Naturally, Juniper wanted to ask Lily if she had been involved in said fighting. However, that question seemed a bridge too far, for both their sakes. In the end, it didn't matter. Lily was doing what she thought was right and as far as Juniper knew, she didn't derive any enjoyment from it. In fact, she seemed exhausted by it all.

  "Yeah," Juniper finally said and then squeezed Lily's hand. "Are you okay?"

  The question must've caught Lily off guard but she eventually smiled weakly and nodded. "I'm better now. However, I'm very curious to meet this Pal you rescued. You said it was a Jolthog? That's very convenient."

  "Why's that?"

  "The power receptacle in your base, she can juice it up. No more Vesta or fshlights, hopefully. Assuming everything works."

  Oh, so she remembered?” Of course, she did! That was her Lily, after all.

  "We were just talking about that, actually. Pesta found it but we were hoping you might know how to actually use it.”

  “Sure do," Lily confirmed with a nod. Then, she stepped off, gently pulling Juniper back toward the little hideaway. “Let’s go have a chat with her. And when Aoi shows up, we’ll know dinner is ready.”

  “Alright,” Juniper said and managed a weak smile of her own. In a few minutes, the two women crossed the field and entered the little hideaway. Of course, Lily brought out a fshlight for them to use inside and slowed to let Juniper take the lead.

  The two even momentarily broke their connection and Juniper brought up her hand to lightly “knock” on the doorframe of the bedroom. “Pesta? Are you awake?” The words were barely above a whisper but shuffling quickly followed the question.

  “Yeah, I’m awake.”

  Juniper stepped through and waved for Lily to follow before the light let her find the Pal where she sat up in the bed. “How are you feeling?”

  “Fine,” Pesta replied. However, the curiosity in her voice was undeniable and her eyes quickly found the visitor standing just behind Juniper. “Um, who do you have with you?”

  Juniper smiled at the question and turned before bringing up her hand, palm up to indicate the woman next to her. “Pesta, this is Lily. She’s a dear friend of mine and wanted to meet you.”

  Except, there was clearly recognition in the Pal’s eyes, at least at the name. Or was that perhaps disbelief?

  “The Lily?” She asked before scooting a little closer on the bed.

  Juniper couldn’t help but giggle to herself before rolling her eyes and looking over. “It appears your reputation precedes you once again.”

  “Of course, it does.” Lily quipped before reaching up and giving Juniper’s shoulder a squeeze. Whereupon she moved forward and came to sit on the bed. “It’s nice to meet you, Pesta,” she said before smiling herself. “Juniper told me what happened, I’m gd that you’re feeling better.”

  “Thanks, it was shit. If I’m being honest.”

  The assertion caused both women to ugh and Juniper came to sit on the other side of Lily.

  “Yeah,” Lily agreed before slowly nodding her head. “I think that’s a fair assessment. I’m curious, though. What were you doing on this side of the isnd?”

  She’d already expined as much to Juniper but she didn’t mind hearing it again. So, she nodded in encouragement for the Jolthog to tell it all again. “Lily is here to help. So, tell her everything, okay? Then Aoi should be here with your dinner.”

  “Oh, okay!” Pesta said with a little more vigor than she had shown thus far. Must be that star power! “Well, it all started a few days ago…”