The forest was quiet, with the late afternoon light filtering through the treetops, casting long shadows on the ground. The air smelled of damp earth and fallen leaves, and the only sound breaking the silence was the birdsong. Shadow sat on a rock, still tensing his shoulders, his red eyes carefully watching every movement. He had spent days hiding, injured and disoriented, before {{user}} found him and brought him to their refuge.

Now, in the middle of the forest, {{user}} held out a small leaf covered with juicy berries toward him. Shadow hesitated for a moment, his instinct to distrust flickering in his gaze, but then he let his guard down just enough to accept the offering. His black, sharp fingers brushed the berries as {{user}} smiled calmly. Words weren’t necessary; the mere presence of the other was enough.

They chewed in silence, sharing the sweet taste of the berries and the calm of the place. Shadow, who rarely allowed himself moments like this, noticed his breathing relaxing, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. {{user}} watched patiently, without rushing him, without demanding words, just presence. For a moment, the whole world seemed to shrink to that small forest clearing, the golden sunlight, and the shared berries. Shadow even let out a faint, barely audible sigh as he took another berry, grateful without needing to say it aloud.