Chapter Text
A few days later, Keyleth decides to visit the twins again. She—unsurprisingly—had shocked her dad, who had asked “are you.. sure?” in a confused tone. Slightly offended, she had said yes. While it was true she didn’t talk to many people, maybe it was time for a change!
She was feeling rather confident until she was at their doorstep again, not knowing whether or not she was allowed to knock. Don’t be an idiot, Keyleth. So, she knocks. Rather quietly, though. Maybe-
Her thoughts are cut off by the door swinging open and Vax staring at her. “Hi!” Keyleth says after a beat of wide-eyed silence. “I’m here for.. uh.. you and your sister, actually.”
He nods. “Keyleth, right?” This time, it’s her turn to nod. He gives a small, seemingly genuine smile. “Was wondering when you’d come back for the tray.”
“Oh, actually, I just wanted to see if you guys wanted to explore the woods a little more. If that’s okay? I mean, I’ve explored it a lot, but I figured it might be more fun if-“
“I’d like to,” Vax replies, cutting off her rambling. “And I think my sister would, too,” he adds. “I’ll go get her and her bow.”
A few minutes of waiting go by, and suddenly both twins are in front of her again, with Vax holding the tray—now completely empty and scrubbed clean—and Vex holding a bow and quiver with a braid going down her back, similar to the last time Keyleth saw her. “So,” Vex begins. “How do we get there?”
“Just follow me. It’s not too far.. But I’ll have to drop off the tray and get my bag from my house,” Keyleth says. They nod, with Vax raising an eyebrow. “Is the forest your backyard?”
“Kind’ve,” she answers. “We own a bit of it, but the rest is free to explore for anyone. Besides, I’m really the only person here besides my dad who ever goes in there.”
“I was hoping to explore it a little, honestly,” Vax offers. This earns him a smile from the redhead. “You’re both welcome to any time. Especially if you hunt,” Keyleth adds, pointing to Vex’s bow and quiver. “Just don’t do it alone.”
“I usually do, unless Vax,” she starts, nudging her brother, “includes himself.” Keyleth laughs, leading them around to the back of her house. “Stay here. I’ll be back out in a minute or two!”
A beat of silence after the screen door closes, and then: “So.. what do you think of her, brother?”
Vax sighs, outwardly and inwardly. “I don’t think anything, at least.. not yet.”
“Not yet?” His sister repeats, emphasizing the yet like it’s important to her. “I think she’s pretty.” Vax knows exactly what Vex is doing and why, but he won’t give her what she’s looking for. “You excited to hunt?” He asks, changing the subject to something safer.
This time, his sister is the one to sigh—and does so rather dramatically. “Fine, keep your thoughts to yourself,” she says. “And yes, I am. I wonder what type of wildlife are out here.. do you think-“
“I know! I know the answer to that!” Keyleth shouts excitedly, practically tumbling out of her house with a worn, brown leather bag slung over her shoulder. “Hawks, bald eagles, and a couple of falcons,” she begins listing them off on her fingers. “There’s a few warblers and songbirds, too. Oh! And there’s a bunch of crows and ravens. My favorites are the red tailed hawks, though.”
Vex stares, a little shocked, as Keyleth begins to ramble about the deer, insects, and fish too. Vax chuckles softly, both at his sister’s bewilderment and how excited Keyleth appears to be talking about it all. Then, as suddenly as she started, she stops. “Sorry, I’m sorry! I tend to go off on tangents a lot—if it gets annoying at all-“
“Don’t apologize,” Vax cuts in gently. “It’ll help to have someone who knows about everything around here.” He sees his sister nod in agreement, too, with a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
The twins watch as she scoops up what appears to be a sketch pad into her arms, wipes it off with the corner of her shirt, and puts it gently in her bag. “Do you draw?” He asks, pointing to the pencil and marker shoved into her pocket. This is clearly another good question, he notes, as her face lights up in genuine delight.
“I draw all the time, actually! Anyway, ready to go? There’s a bunch of cool plants I want to show you guys, too!”