Work Text:
An unexpected knock on Quincy’s door was never a good sign.
He didn’t see many visitors, not since Huey disappeared and the other clan members grew apart. So if someone was knocking on the door, it likely meant they needed something from him… or at the very least expected him to be at home.
He couldn’t really pretend he wasn’t. The smoke coming from his chimney gave him away. With a sigh, Quincy approached the door and opened it.
Instead of another clan member, he saw a girl who couldn’t have been older then seven. She had brown eyes and curly black hair in a pair of loose braids. She was smiling up at him in a way he hadn’t seen from anyone in years, especially not from the tribespeople— and she had to be one of them, because how else would she find herself in the middle of the forest like that?
“Hello.” Quincy poked his head out the doorway to look around. Where were her parents? “Can I… help you?”
“Well…” The girl glanced behind her, like she was trying to follow Quincy’s gaze, before she looked up at him again. “I was following a bunny. But I lost it.”
Quincy blinked slowly. “You’re lost.”
“Kinda.” The girl rocked on her feet, swinging her arms back and forth. “My dad said there’s a nice man who lives out here all alone, and if I’m ever in trouble, he’ll be there to protect me.” She paused. “But he said there’s also a really mean and scary man. Which one are you?”
Quincy raised an eyebrow. Considering who he assumed this ‘mean and scary’ man was, it was probably for the best she’d showed up at his door… “The nice one.”
“Good!” The girl clapped her hands together. “Can you help me get back home?”
Quincy leaned against the doorframe, weighing his options. He couldn’t exactly say no, regardless of how troublesome it all was. And, if anything… it would be a small positive for his rapidly declining reputation with the tribe. “Sure.”
Once Quincy put out his fire and locked up his house, he started walking towards the village with the little girl beside him. And while he wasn’t exactly eager for conversation, he was curious…
“Who is your father?”
“His name’s Russo,” the girl answered, skipping along to match his pace. “He said his grandfather was good friends with the forest guardian. And that’s how he knows you’re really nice.”
Quincy’s steps faltered for only a moment before he continued on.
She did look familiar, in some ways.
“My name’s Rosemary,” she added, “What’s yours?”
Rosemary. Her father— Zaro’s grandson— must have been born after Quincy left the tribe, but Quincy still had a reputation down the family tree.
“…Quincy.”
“Quincy! That’s nice.” Rosemary stumbled a bit on her next step, and grabbed Quincy’s hand to regain her balance. “Do you know the mean guy?”
“I think so,” Quincy said with a soft laugh. “He’s… not as scary as you think.”
“Would he help me if I got lost?”
“…No. But he won’t hurt you.” Probably. “You should still avoid him, though. And avoid… wandering outside the village alone. In general.”
“Okay!”
Quincy’s house wasn’t too far from the village, so the walk wasn’t long. In less than ten minutes, they were on the outskirts; Quincy stopped as soon as he saw a house in the distance.
“There,” he said, looking down at Rosemary. “Home.”
But she was still holding his hand.
“Will you come with me?” she asked, gently tugging on his arm. “I want you to meet everyone!”
Quincy glanced towards the village again… and maybe he considered it for a moment. But logic and reason overshadowed any sort of sentimentality, and he shook his head. “Another time. Maybe.” Probably not.
“Okayyy,” Rosemary said with a pout. “Fine. I’m gonna tell my dad I met you, though!”
“That’s fine.” Quincy said. After some thought, he added, “Tell him… I said hello.”
“I will!” Rosemary let go of Quincy’s hand then, only to lean in for a hug. “Thanks, Quincy!”
A small smile tugged on Quincy’s lips, and he gave Rosemary a gentle pat on the back before he watched her run home.