The Warmth of Home

The warm, salty breeze greeted Lilith as she emerged from the portal, the golden rays of the rising sun painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The sound of waves crashing against the shore filled her ears, and for the first time in a long while, she felt at peace.

She closed her eyes, taking in the familiar sensations, when she suddenly sensed a magical presence close by. Turning her gaze toward the shoreline, her heart swelled at the sight of a treehouse not far from the beach—and a blurry figure charging toward her at full speed.

Before she could react, she was tackled to the ground, the soft, warm fur of a familiar companion pressing against her as a flurry of enthusiastic licks greeted her.

"Tami!" Lilith exclaimed, laughing as she tried to fend off the affectionate onslaught. "I've missed you too! You're such a good girl!" She wrapped her arms around the furry creature, her smile radiant.

Tami, her loyal and playful companion, wagged her tail furiously. Their minds connected in an instant, allowing Lilith to see flashes of Tami's adventures: bounding along the shoreline, chasing waves, and playing joyfully with their mutual friend Ella.

Lilith laughed softly at the images Tami shared. "You've been having the time of your life, haven't you? The beach suits you." She scratched behind Tami's ears, her voice filled with warmth. "I'm so glad to be back. Now, let's go see everyone else. I have so much to share."

Tami barked excitedly, bounding in circles before darting ahead, leading Lilith toward the treehouse where her friends awaited.

As Lilith approached the cozy treehouse, she caught sight of a familiar figure tending to the fire outside. It was Elara, diligently preparing breakfast. Lilith couldn't resist the urge to tease her. She tiptoed closer, trying her best to sneak up unnoticed.

Just as she was about to spring the surprise, Elara spun around with a smirk. "LILITH, you're still too noisy to sneak up on me."

Lilith burst into giggles, throwing her arms around Elara in a warm hug. "I missed you," she said with a grin.

Elara hugged her back tightly, a small tear glistening in her eye. "You've grown," she said softly. "I can feel it. Welcome back, Demon Lord."

Lilith pulled back slightly, raising an eyebrow. "Demon Lord? Why the formal tone? What do you mean, 'welcome back'?"

Elara wiped her eyes and chuckled. "Well, let's just say I've been learning too while you were gone. Ruby's been... helping me rediscover the art of being a proper maid. Apparently, I'd been slacking too much in her opinion."

Lilith couldn't help but laugh. "Ruby? Helping you? I can't imagine her being patient about it."

Elara groaned playfully, rolling her eyes. "Oh, trust me, she wasn't. But it's good to have you back, Lilith. Things haven't been the same without you."

Lilith smiled, feeling the warmth of home wash over her. "It's good to be back, Elara. Now, let's see what Ruby has in store for me this time."

"Well, that's going to be tough," Elara said, her voice carrying a note of both resignation and fondness. "Ruby left yesterday. Honestly, it was about time for her to leave again. She never stays in one place for long. Still, she wanted me to tell you something—she said we'll meet again. But first, you have to finish your journey to the Sapling."

Lilith tilted her head, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly. "That sounds a little cryptic," she said with a skeptical edge.

Elara chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Yeah, it does, doesn't it? That's Ruby for you. Always speaking in riddles. But don't worry about it for now. You're not alone—Ella and Levy are inside the house, still fast asleep. And, well..." she gestured toward the bundle of fur wagging its tail enthusiastically nearby. "I see Tami has already found you."

Lilith looked down to find Tami, the Fenrir pup, staring up at her with wide, golden eyes full of mischief. The little wolf-like creature yipped happily, her oversized paws tapping excitedly against the ground as if she could barely contain her energy.

"She's as loyal as ever," Elara said, grinning.

Lilith sighed, crouching down to give the pup a quick pat. "Fine, but she's not exactly intimidating like this," she muttered as Tami leaned into her hand, tail wagging so hard it threatened to topple her over.

Elara laughed. "Not yet, anyway. Give her time. For now, though, while it's just the two of us, I'll call you by your name. Around strangers, it's 'Young Mistress.' You know the drill—your identity is still something we need to keep under wraps."

Lilith stood, brushing off her cloak. "Fine," she said with a faint smile. "Just don't overdo it, okay?"

Tami let out a happy bark, bounding in a circle around Lilith before flopping onto her back, legs in the air. Despite herself, Lilith chuckled. "You're hopeless," she muttered, though her tone was laced with affection.

"Well, Lilith, you can tell us all about your adventure in a minute," Elara said with a warm smile. "But first, let's wake up the two faeries and get breakfast started."

Lilith nodded, brushing a stray strand of hair out of her face. "Fine," she replied, her tone neutral but with a hint of anticipation.

Elara motioned toward the house, her movements brisk and confident. "Come on, let's not keep them waiting too long. You know how cranky Ella can get if we delay her morning tea."

Lilith followed closely behind, her boots crunching softly against the dewy grass. As they approached the small, cozy cottage, the faint sound of birdsong filled the crisp morning air. Tami padded along beside them, the little Fenrir pup wagging her tail eagerly and occasionally darting ahead, only to circle back to Lilith's side.

Inside the house, the warmth of a low-burning hearth greeted them. The faint scent of herbs and baked bread lingered in the air. Elara paused by a wooden door, knocking lightly.

"Rise and shine, you two," she called out, her voice carrying a playful lilt.

A muffled groan came from the other side of the door, followed by a soft thud and what sounded suspiciously like someone tripping over their own wings.

Lilith smirked, crossing her arms. "I see they're as graceful as ever."

Elara chuckled, opening the door slightly. "Ella, Levy, time to wake up! Breakfast isn't going to make itself, and we've got stories to hear."

From within the room, two small figures stirred, their translucent wings catching the morning light streaming through the window. Ella yawned and rubbed her eyes, while Levy muttered something incomprehensible about "five more minutes."

Lilith leaned against the doorway, her expression softening. For the first time in a while, the atmosphere felt light—a small moment of normalcy amidst their chaotic lives.

Ella blinked once, then twice, as if she couldn't quite believe her eyes. A moment later, she squealed, "LILITH!" and flew straight into her, wrapping her tiny arms around Lilith's forehead in a tight hug.

Lilith chuckled softly, surprised by the suddenness but smiling all the same. "Wow, I missed you too, Ella," she said, gently patting the small faerie's back.

Levy, who had been lying on a nearby cushion, stirred and gave a small but tired smile. "Oh, look who came back," she said, her voice soft but warm. "Welcome back, Lilith."

"Thanks, Levy," Lilith replied, a hint of affection in her tone as she met the faerie's weary gaze.

Ella pulled back from her hug, her wings fluttering with excitement. "You're back! We've been waiting forever for you to return!"

Lilith smiled and ruffled Ella's hair lightly. "I can see that. But for you, it's only been a few months. For me, though... it's been years."

Ella's eyes widened in shock. "Wow, that long?"

"Yes," Lilith nodded, her expression softening. "But let's get breakfast first. I'll tell you all about my adventures and everything I learned on my long journey."

Ella hovered in place, clearly eager, her wings buzzing with excitement. "I can't wait to hear everything!"

Lilith gave a small smile as she followed Elara to the kitchen, the warmth of the morning and the company of friends making her feel more at ease than she had in a long time.

As they sat down to begin eating, Lilith felt the weight of her journey pressing against her thoughts. After a few moments of silence, she looked at her companions, her expression serious yet thoughtful.

"There's something I need to tell you all," Lilith began, her voice steady. "I've been learning a lot during my travels, especially from someone named Ratatoskr. He's... my new teacher."

Ella's eyes widened, her wings fluttering in excitement. "A teacher? What does he teach you?"

Lilith hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words. "He's been teaching me about teleportation, how to control it and use it properly. It's not easy, but I'm getting better. He's... different than I expected. Not what I thought a teacher would be like."

Levy, who had been quietly listening, raised an eyebrow. "How is he different?"

Lilith shrugged slightly, her gaze distant as she remembered her time with Ratatoskr. "He's unconventional, I guess. He doesn't follow normal rules, and his methods can be... unpredictable. But he's helped me in ways I never thought possible. There's something about him, like he knows more than he lets on."

"Well, he is an ancient squirrel, after all," Lilith said, the corner of her lips curling into a faint smile.

Elara blinked, her eyes wide in shock as she processed the information. "You mean… a bushy squirrel that can travel between realms is your teacher?" She stammered, clearly struggling to wrap her mind around the idea. "I… I think I know of him. He's married to a giant, right?"

Lilith's eyes widened in surprise. "Yes, that's right! How did you know that?"

Elara leaned back, her thoughts racing. "Well… he's from my realm—or at least, he's known in my realm. I'm not sure if he's from Asgard, but I'm from Midgard… also known as Earth. I've heard of him, but I've never met him."

Lilith's mind buzzed with the unexpected connection. "So you've heard of Ratatoskr? That's… interesting. I didn't know he was known on your world."

Elara nodded, still processing the revelation. "It's not every day you hear of a giant squirrel traveling through realms. But I've heard tales, mostly from stories passed down. My realm is full of strange things, but none of them as strange as that."

Lilith looked thoughtfully at her friend, the pieces of their shared world coming together in a way she hadn't expected. "Well, he's certainly an unusual teacher, but he's been helpful in ways I can't fully explain."

"But he's not a giant squirrel," Lilith corrected with a laugh. "He's actually a little smaller than Tami, and his wife, Zecond, is the giant one. But they can both change their shape and size, so that might be why you think of him as a giant squirrel."

Elara blinked, then chuckled at the idea. "I guess that makes sense. Changing size like that… it's no wonder I got confused."

The conversation flowed easily after that, as they continued to eat, laugh, and share stories from their time apart. Lilith told them about her travels and training with Ratatoskr, while Ella, Levy, and Elara filled her in on the events they'd experienced while she was gone.

There were stories of mischief, unexpected challenges, and moments of camaraderie, each tale more amusing than the last. The hours passed quickly, and soon the day was slipping away, but the warmth of their company made it feel like no time had passed at all.