The sobbing had been echoing through the temple halls for nearly an hour before Narinder finally cracked.

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, ears twitching with irritation. "Okay. Who is making that sound and why haven't they been sacrificed yet?"

He followed the noise down the corridor, tail flicking in annoyance, until he came upon a sight both unexpected and... vaguely pathetic. Leshy—wrathful, sharp-toothed Leshy—was curled up on the floor in a mossy heap, sniffling violently into his own robes. The vines that normally writhed with menacing life around him were drooping like wilting houseplants.

Narinder blinked. “Are you… crying?”

Leshy looked up, eyes puffy and face red. “HE—HE LEFT ME!!” he wailed, voice cracking like a thunderclap. “MY BOYFRIEND DUMPED ME!”

There was a beat of stunned silence.

“You were dating?” Narinder said flatly, more confused than anything else.

“What's that? ,” Shamura added, their voice mild and thoughtful, though their head tilted at an awkward angle like they were trying to study a new species of fungus, before pulling out a dictionary and trying to find dating.

“Want me to find him?” Heket croaked, already flexing her claws. “I know a guy. Real stabby.”

Kallamar, who had wandered into the hallway with no context and a toaster pastry in hand, chucked it at Leshy’s head with more enthusiasm than aim. “Stop crying, eat sugar, be happy!” he chirped.

Baal and Aym arrived just in time to hear the wailing continue, and exchanged matching raised brows. “Wait, Leshy actually pulled someone?” Baal muttered.

“Was it like… a moss creature?” Aym added. “A sentient log? A trauma victim?”

Narinder exhaled, rubbing his temples. “Gods above, you’re all insufferable.” Then he looked back at Leshy, one ear flicking. “Listen, he probably wasn’t even good in bed. I’m guessing... what? Three inches, max.”

Leshy let out another wounded shriek, throwing himself dramatically to the floor again.

Narinder just sipped his tea, unfazed. "I'm trying to help."

Shamura looked up. "I don't get dating. This dictionary doesn't explain it at all."