Allmer’s words echoed in my head like a haunting melody I couldn’t shake off. "You should take another mate."

I stared at him, trying to grasp the meaning behind his sudden declaration. The crackling fire outside cast fleeting shadows across his face, highlighting the determination in his gaze. My mind raced, searching for a reason—why?

A long moment of silence stretched between us, the weight of his statement pressing heavily on my chest. Finally, I found my voice, though it came out softer than intended. “Why?”

He met my eyes, the red intensity in them dimmed slightly, almost regretful. “The reason I’ve been leaving early and coming back late is because I’ve been tracking the ape tribe. I was certain that if any three-striped knew something about returning to your world, it would be them.” He paused as if waiting for my reaction.

It took me a moment to process, but confusion quickly rose to the surface. “Okay… so you found them?”

“Yes,” he confirmed. “They’re settled around the southwest. I’ll need to go there. It’s at least a week’s journey one way.”

I frowned, still not understanding his logic. “But what does that have to do with me finding another mate?”

His gaze hardened, his jaw clenching as if he didn’t want to explain further but forced himself to. “Because I won’t be taking you with me. It’s winter, and I don’t want you out in the wild in such weather. Bringing you along would turn a one-week journey into three or four weeks with the slow pace we’d need to take.”

I crossed my arms, refusing to back down. “Then go after winter. It’s not like we’re in a race against time. I want answers too, but risking your safety—our safety—by rushing off in dangerous conditions makes no sense.”

Allmer shook his head, frustration seeping into his expression. “We don’t know if we have time to spare. What if there’s a limited window for you to return? We can’t afford to wait until spring. Delaying might cost us crucial information, Shira.”

I bit my lip, unable to refute that point because, honestly, I had no idea what the time frame might be either. Still, I wasn’t ready to give in. “I can manage on my own. I did it for weeks before meeting you.”

He gave me a look, the kind of look that said he wasn’t buying it. “You managed because it was autumn and Ace was nearby. With winter starting, it’ll be different. Food will be scarcer, the weather harsher, and predators more desperate. Ace will also be busy hunting to help stockpile food for the city, so unless you can convince him to stay with you…” He trailed off, giving me a sideways glance that hinted at more than just concern.

I could see where this was going. He wanted me to rely on someone —else—while he was away. It stung, but I couldn’t deny the logic behind his reasoning. However, I wasn’t ready to roll over and agree. “So you expect me to just… pick someone to fill in for you while you’re gone? Someone who I don’t even care about?”

“Shira,” he began patiently, though his voice held a note of exasperation, “I know this situation is far from ideal, but right now, the priority is finding out if there’s a way for you to return. I don’t have the luxury of being possessive or jealous, not when time might be slipping through our fingers. Whoever you choose doesn’t need to mean anything more than a temporary arrangement for safety’s sake.”

His words struck a nerve, and I found myself torn between anger and an odd sense of understanding. It was practical, sure, but it felt so… cold, so detached from everything we’d been working towards together. But before I could voice my objections, he softened slightly and pulled me into his arms.

“Don’t stress about it too much,” he murmured against my hair. “Just pick someone and get it over with. It’s not a big deal.”

Not a big deal? The casualness with which he said it left me speechless. For him, it might be a simple matter of practicality, but for me, it felt like a betrayal of everything I was trying to build here, with him. Still, as much as I wanted to argue, I knew deep down that he wasn’t saying this to hurt me. He was focused on the bigger picture—my potential return home—and in his eyes, this was just a temporary sacrifice for a long-term goal.

I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at me as I finally drifted off to sleep in his arms. His body was cold, but for the first time since coming to this world, I felt a strange warmth inside—a warmth born from the bitter realization that, despite how close we were, we still had miles of distance between us in how we saw this situation.

------------ I'll try to update more frequently now I promise!! You all can look forward to a new mate ><