Juniper and her Pals had no hope of catching Lily as she ran through the forest. Even not going full tilt, her muscur frame propelled her around the trees with ease. It was a good thing they had someone on their side that didn't need to worry about being faster. Suddenly, as they all ran, Lily came to a stop mid-stride as if frozen. The sight of it caused a few audible gasps around from the group and the four slowed down until they stood around her, trying to figure out what was going on. Though her body remained still, Lily's eyes still searched, focusing on Juniper once she came into sight.

  "You're welcome." Mist's voice cut through the air and she appeared a moment ter from somewhere behind them, her hand raised with palm pointed at Lily.

  "You did this?" Juniper asked while her eyes continued to run over the human statue before them.

  "Is that so unbelievable?"

  "No, I suppose not. Considering everything else I’ve seen you do.”

  "Damn, Mist is there anything you can't do?" Vesta asked from the other side, clearly impressed by the dispy of power.

  "Tame this one," she replied with a flick of her chin in Lily's direction.

  This caused a chorus of chuckles and Juniper felt the beginnings of a devious little prank form in the back of her mind. "Can Lily still feel if someone touches her?”

  "She can.”

  "Perfect..." Without any further expnation, Juniper brought a hand up and then down to smack Lily's ass with the same intensity she’d received. "Ah, sweet revenge!" Satisfied, Juniper rubbed her hands together before setting off once more in the direction of the shack. Her Pals moved on after her and Mist let Lily go a moment ter.

  "Ow!" The first thing Lily did, besides letting out the little yelp, was rub her butt vigorously where Juniper's hand had nded. The second thing was to fix Mist with a stare. "You're supposed to be on my team, you know."

  "I am on your team and I’m doing my best to help make sure it grows."

  Lily only grunted before turning and walking off in Juniper’s direction, Mist in tow. "And you!" Another moment and she was on Juniper, arm wrapped around her neck with a mischievous-looking grin. "I'll get you back for that."

  "You started it!" Juniper followed the words by sticking out her tongue but otherwise settled more into Lily's embrace. The two walked linked like that all the way back to the shack where they gathered their clothes, the bedding, and any furniture they previously brought outside. Everything in hand, the group moved to the door of the facility and easily passed through with the help of Mist. They all kept close to Vesta and her fme inside and made their way to the back room and some much-needed rest.

  The sheets and bnket were thankfully dry and, while they didn't exactly smell fresh, they didn't stink either. This first time the Pals only watched but Juniper had every intention of teaching them all kinds of chores. A proper lesson would have to wait until another time. So, once the bed was ready, she wasted no time in diving right in, still naked as the day she was born. Lily quickly joined her, followed by all of the Pals except Vesta, who was acting as their mp at this moment. When everyone was settled, Juniper gently patted a small space left between her and Lily. A space just big enough for a warm little Foxparks.

  "Here you go, Vesta. You get to be the star of the show." Vesta’s eyes went wide at the announcement and her tail began wagging back and forth, causing the shadows on the walls to dance all around them. It stilled a moment ter though and she extinguished the fire on her tail before jumping into bed.

  Juniper felt Vesta settle in a moment ter and sensed Lily shifting nearer on the other side, creating a proper sandwich. Naturally, Mist had gone to y behind Lily and Aurora had settled in behind Juniper. Followed by Flora on the other side of the Lamball. Juniper would have to take care to rotate who got to sleep next to her in the future but for now, she hugged Vesta close and felt the warm seep into her chest. "Goodnight, everyone. Sleep well."

  A chorus of goodnights and sleep tights came back to her and she couldn’t help but smile before closing her eyes. When Vesta turned to her, Juniper brought her hand up to gently run through the long, red hair. Eventually, she felt Lily reach out to her and she shifted her fingers from Vesta’s hair to intertwine the two hands and settle them back on Vesta's hip. It was all so...serene. There was no way she'd go back to the sleeping bag now!

  It was no surprise she fell asleep in no time and remained that way for most of the night. Even through the soft kiss that was pnted on her forehead early in the morning. When she finally did stir, her hand was now alone around Vesta and when she reached out to pat the other side of the bed, she found that Lily was no longer there.

  “She left already.” Vesta’s voice was low and Juniper felt her body shift slightly where she y pressed up tight. “I woke up when she leaned over to kiss your forehead.”

  In the darkness, Juniper brought a hand up to run along her skin for a moment before dropping it back around the Foxparks. “Well, I can’t say that I’m surprised. Sorry you woke up.”

  “That’s okay,” Vesta practically hummed before giggling. “I got one too.”

  “Got what?” Aurora rose behind Juniper and sat up and y across the woman’s arm so she could get closer to the conversation.

  “A kiss.”

  “You got a kiss? Oh, I want one too!”

  This time it was Juniper’s turn to ugh before turning, craning her neck, and pcing a soft peck on the Lamball’s lips. “There, better?”

  “Much better,” the Aurora agreed before sitting up fully.

  Well, that was two of three. “Is Flora up to?” Juniper asked.

  “Yes, but she’s already headed out. I felt her get out of bed a little while ago.”

  Hmm, Glumos normally rose early and tended to the pnts before others woke up, right? “That makes sense. I guess we better get up too. Vesta, do you mind?”

  “On it!”

  Some more rustling and a moment ter the room filled with a soft, orange glow from the fme on the tip of the Foxpark’s tail. Of course, Juniper didn’t move right away, preferring to start the day with a healthy appreciation of her Pal’s physique. She was just as nude though, and couldn’t help but notice the two were giving her much the same treatment.

  “Ugh, alright, alright. We do really need to get up.” Juniper threw the bnket and the covers off to the side before scooting toward the end of the bed and then out of it. She gathered her clothes up from the chair they sat on and got dressed, shoes and all. “Let’s see what the day has in store for us, hmm?”

  Her Pals in tow, Juniper passed through the kitchen and out into the wider world through the door. Which proved to be a little more challenging without Mist. Thankfully, it wasn’t as te as she feared, judging by the sun peaking up over the horizon. Later than yesterday, which meant that Flora had been up a while and Lily had left early.

  “I bet Flora is working on the bush from yesterday, let’s go check it out.” With a wave of her hand, Juniper beckoned Aurora and Vesta to follow her around the side of the shack. Whereupon her eyes immediately found the Glumos kneeling in front of a fully grown bush.

  “Wow, look at that!” Juniper stopped short and put her hands on her hips while looking the pnt over. “I see you’ve been working hard.”

  Flora opened her eyes as they approached and smirked at the compliment thrown her way. “Someone has to!” She followed the quip with a wink and then returned her attention to the bush.

  “Oh, you’re a funny one…” Juniper stepped up and tipped the acorn cap forward until it covered Flora’s eyes, which prompted a quick, “Hey!”

  “Sorry, have to get to work!" Juniper snickered and made her way back to the shack. When she got close, she noticed a note stuck to the door with a knife and increased her pace to get there faster.

  Juniper, thank you for yesterday. It’s been a long time since I’ve had that much fun and I am looking forward to any other mischief we can get up to. Be back in a few days.

  -Lily

  “She stopped long enough to write it and then told me to take care of you.” While she read, Juniper hadn’t noticed Flora join them and Juniper turned to her when she was done reading.

  “Well, you heard the dy. Better not disappoint.”

  “I would never!” Flora managed to look offended for a moment before sliding in close. “I’m not going to let anything happen to my Juniper.”

  “Yeah, me either! I’ll burn whatever or whoever tries to hurt you, Miss Juniper!” Vesta added before moving to occupy the space on her other side.

  “And I’ll do…something? Like...punch them! Yeah!” Juniper didn't know exactly how effective a punch from the little Lamball would be but she sure had conviction in her voice!

  "Yes, I know you all will. I have no doubt I'm safe in your hands." Just like they were safe in hers. Guns or not, she would figure out a way to keep them out of harm's way. Before she moved to separate, Juniper wrapped her arms around all three and gave them another squeeze. Subsequently, she dropped her arms and took a step back. "Now, let's get started." First, she turned to look at Flora. "Can you keep going on the pnts, please? I'd like more bushes. However many you think you need to feed us." Next came Vesta's assignment. "And Vesta, can you please do some foraging for food?"

  Last came Aurora, who smiled back at her excitedly. "What about me, Miss Juniper? Helping Vesta with gathering? Or maybe Flora with the bushes?" No doubt the Lamball would've done anything she asked but Juniper had something special in mind.

  "Nope! Today you're coming with me."

  "With you? Where are you going?"

  "I want to get a better idea of the surrounding territory. So, let's get somewhere high and take a look. Somewhere like..." Juniper trailed off and turned away to search for a spot up high. "There!" She brought up a hand and pointed to the nearby top of a hill to direct them all to the indicated spot. Vesta looked nervous and even turned away before bringing her hands together to fidget with.

  "Are you sure you don't want me or Flora to come along, too? Just in case it's dangerous."

  Aurora didn't usually appear to worry about her affinity and usefulness but it seemed that even she grasped the hidden meaning in Vesta's question. Her jovial expression faltered for only a moment but Juniper caught it.

  "We'll be fine," she asserted and then wrapped an arm around the Lamball's shoulder. "Me and Aurora can handle anything, right?" Following the question, she turned her attention to Aurora before offering a wink.

  Aurora seemed heartened by the words and balled her fists and pumped them in response. "Yeah! We can do it!"

  "Alright, just...yell if you need anything, I guess. Somebody might hear you." Vesta still sounded unsure but Juniper liked to think she trusted the woman enough to listen. Or perhaps they would have a very cute tail following them on their trip.

  “Somebody, huh? We’ll be careful, I promise. Now, I want you two to promise me you’ll be careful as well.”

  “Yes, ma’am!” Came the reply, in unison.

  “Good girls,” Juniper replied before reaching up to tussle Vesta’s hair. “We’ll be back in time for lunch.”

  Now that the day was pnned, Juniper motioned for Aurora to follow her and then set out for the edge of the forest. Before slipping into the trees, she turned to see Vesta and Flora having a discussion about something.

  “Do you really think we’ll be ok, Miss Juniper?”

  Aurora’s question brought Juniper's focus back, right before dipping below the first branch. “Of course, we will. Why do you ask?”

  “Well, it’s like Vesta says, I’m pretty weak and might not be able to protect you.”

  “Oh, Aurora…” Juniper stepped closer and linked their arms so they could walk close together. “That’s not what Vesta meant. She just thought she might be…better equipped. That’s all.” With a literal fmethrower inside her chest, it was hard to argue with that assessment.

  “Yeah, she definitely is! That fire breath she has is amazing!” The fact Aurora’s gloom seemed to fade so she could praise others wasn’t lost on Juniper and she squeezed tighter in admiration. “But you should’ve brought her, then. I could’ve stayed and helped Flora or gone out looking for food.”

  “I know you could’ve but I wanted to spend some time with you, Aurora. It was only the two of us for a short time but you were my first Pal. I haven’t forgotten that you know.” The Lamball had been kind and supportive thus far and that was just as important as unching fmes from your mouth or growing food. At least in Juniper's mind. “Even if you can’t fight, you are still special to me in your own way, like Vesta and Flora are for different reasons. Each one of you has your strengths.”

  “Miss Juniperrr, you’re going to make me blush!”

  Juniper chuckled at the embarrassment she’d caused, if only because it was so adorable. “Besides, you know I don’t like to fight anyway. So, my first thought would not be sending you out to do something I despise.”

  “Yeah, that’s a good point…”

  “It would be enough even if you only worked around the shack or kept me company at night. That’s what I need.”

  Finally, Aurora sighed but nodded her head before squeezing back. “Well, if that’s what you need, I’m here for you, Miss Juniper!”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way. By the way, how did you like the bed st night?”

  At this, Aurora let out something akin to a pleasurable little moan before answering. “Oh! It was amazing! We’re going to sleep so well from now.” She paused then and looked over towards Juniper with a tilt of her head. “You had a good night’s sleep, right?”

  “Oh, yes. Hard not to when you’re surrounded by the five of you!” Juniper and Aurora both shared a ugh then before she continued. “I did have a strange dream, come to think of it. There was a tall woman with a hat simir to the one Mist wears. She had long, white hair and sat crumpled in darkness. It was clear she'd been put through the wringer, too."

  “That’s so weird, did you try and talk to her or anything?”

  “I approached her and when she became aware of my presence she looked up and locked eyes with mine. She looked shocked but I woke up soon after.” The whole thing had been unsettling if she was being honest. However, it was just a dream. “No idea what that’s supposed to be about but I guess there have been plenty of things that happened to me in the past few days that would expin it.”

  “True. Have you had any other bad dreams?”

  “Not that I can remember. Maybe it was because I slept so soundly st night?”

  “Could be," Aurora agreed.

  By the time they finished with the current topic, the pair had made it through the part of the forest that Juniper was familiar with. Subsequently, they started working their way up the slope that would lead them to the top. It was gentle at first but started to become more and more treacherous with each level.

  “How are you holding up, Aurora?” Juniper asked before pnting both hands on a ledge and pushing up to get a foot on top.

  “I’m good!” She was probably more than good. In fact, she appeared to be having an easier go of it than Juniper.

  “Good, good,” Juniper nearly panted. “Gd one of us is.”

  “Do you need to take a break, Miss Juniper?”

  “Not now but I will when we reach the top.”

  Sure enough, when they finally did make it up, Juniper’s arms and legs burned from the effort and she immediately turned to sit on the ledge. Aurora bound up a moment ter and happily did the same.

  “Seriously? Not even a little tired?”

  “Lamball are excellent climbers. Have to be to help get away.”

  “Huh, makes sense.” Juniper turned her head and began to survey the valley below. They were what? A couple hundred feet from the floor of it? Overall, the view provided a good vantage point to see everything. Their shack, which she wasn’t thrilled about, the ruins at the end of the valley, the break in the hills that let you go into the interior of the isnd. She wondered if Lily and Mist had made it through yet. It would probably take Juniper half a day but she bet those two could make it at least an hour faster.

  At one point, she even saw the Mammorest moving through the forest. At a leisurely pace this time instead of a frantic scramble. It was unnerving how rge she appeared even from up here. Juniper also saw various other Pals moving about in the grasses below though it was hard to tell exactly what type they were. “Have you lived your whole life in this valley, Aurora?”

  “Yup! Born and raised, not much of a need to go anywhere else. The food is plenty and my family is here.”

  This time, Juniper grunted her acknowledgment before turning her gaze to the remaining path to the summit. What she saw had her eyes going wide and she touched Aurora’s shoulder before pointing. “Wait, what’s that?”

  At the peak sat a gnarly-looking tree. It didn’t match any of the others she’d seen since she arrived here and looked to be on death’s doorstep. Except, it also looked like it had something hanging from one of the branches.

  “Oh, I don’t know, actually.”

  “You don’t? Let’s go check it out!” Juniper shifted where she sat and then quickly rose to go investigate. Aurora joined her and the two were soon at the base of the squat tree, staring up at the strange object a few feet above their heads.

  “It kind of looks like a fruit, doesn’t it?” Juniper brought her hands to her hips but didn’t turn her head following the question.

  “Yeah, it does.”

  “Odd shape though. Like a gourd with two equal, bulbous halves...”

  It was interesting that Aurora hadn’t seen something like this before but she couldn’t be expected to know everything. Besides, there just happened to be a Pal at camp who was an expert in the food one could find around here.

  “Want me to get it for you?” Aurora offered.

  “I mean, that would be great. Are you sure?”

  “Yeah! Good climber, remember?”

  “Alright,” Juniper chuckled while raising a hand, palm up towards the tree. “Be my guest.”

  It only took Aurora two handholds in quick succession to make it up to the thick branch that held the mysterious item. She then carefully banced along the limb until she was right above it. “Look out below.” Once she had it in hand, she let it drop down to Juniper, who caught it and examined it closely.

  “Oh, it’s heavy!” She remarked when Aurora nded beside her a moment ter.

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, like it’s dense…”

  It was firm too but still had a little give if she squeezed. Was it ripe? Did it get ripe? She was still assuming this was food, after all. The color was simir to a blueberry but lighter and the truly odd part was the subtle swirls of an even lighter shade that ran over the skin in various pces. Juniper was dying to cut in and see the color of the inside but refrained for now.

  “I’ve never eaten something like that here,” Aurora said before leaning in closer. “I wonder what it tastes like.”

  “Yeah, me too. Or why there’s only one.” Juniper paused and looked back up to the tree once more. How it even produced something this big was beyond her and it appeared in good condition so it’s not like it had been hanging here for months. The longer she thought, the more questions she had. With a sigh, Juniper returned her gaze to Aurora and held their prize aloft. “Let’s get it back to Flora, I’m sure she can tell us what it is.”

  “Sounds good!” Aurora wiped her hands on her side and then fell in beside her human as they started the descent.