When they reached the river, Aelries immediately sought refuge under the shade of a large, sprawling tree, its branches thick enough to shelter both of them from the afternoon sun. She sighed, leaning against the trunk, finally allowing herself a moment of respite.
That moment lasted exactly three seconds.
Because Mixarnt, without a shred of shame, stripped off his clothes right in front of her.
Aelries's face burned crimson. "Y-YOU SHAMELESS BRUTE!" she shrieked, whipping around to face the tree, her ears practically steaming.
Mixarnt, now clad in nothing but his boxers, blinked at her. "Huh? What's wrong?"
"PUT YOUR CLOTHES BACK ON!"
"But I'm fishing," he said, as if that explained everything. Then, before she could protest further, he dove into the river with a splash.
Aelries groaned, rubbing her temples. "Why… why was I stuck with this idiot?"
From the water, Mixarnt thrashed around like an overexcited otter, wielding a sharpened stick like a spear. "Hah! Take that! And, woah! Almost got it!"
Aelries watched, torn between irritation and reluctant fascination, as he flailed after a particularly large fish.
Then,
"HEY LOOK! I CAUGHT ONE!" Mixarnt triumphantly held up his prize, a fat, wriggling river fish, just as it violently twisted free from his grip.
SMACK!
The fish sailed through the air and slapped Aelries square in the face.
There was silence...
The fish flopped to the ground.
Aelries stood frozen, her expression deadly.
Mixarnt's grin faltered. "Haha… er, sorry?" he said grinning awkwardly.
Aelries's eye twitched.
Then,
"GRRRR… YOU SAVAGE MAN!"
FWOOSH!
A barrage of fireballs erupted from her hands, hurtling toward Mixarnt.
"HOT HOT HOT HOT! I SAID I'M SORRY!!!" he yelped, diving underwater just in time to avoid being roasted alive.
Later That Evening
The fish (now mercifully dead and cleaned) sizzled over the fire as Mixarnt turned it carefully on a makeshift spit. The smell of cooked meat filled the air, but Aelries's mood remained decidedly unimproved.
Mixarnt glanced at her, trying to gauge her temper. "Hey… are you still angry?"
Aelries hmphed, turning her nose up. "Don't talk to me, you lowly human."
Mixarnt sighed. "Damn. They did say elves are proud and super stern. Guess it's true."
Aelries's head snapped toward him, her glare sharp enough to pierce steel. "Excuse me?!"
Mixarnt's brow twitched. "Oh no." he muttered.
Before he could react, Aelries marched over and sat right next to him, her posture rigid with indignation. "You dare generalize my entire race?!"
Mixarnt swallowed. "Uh… no?"
"First, you strip naked in front of me!"
"I was wearing boxers."
"Then you assault me with a fish!"
"It was an accident."
"And now you have the audacity to call me and my race proud and stern?!"
Mixarnt opened his mouth, then closed it. He knows there was no winning this. So, he did the only sensible thing.
He tore off a piece of perfectly cooked fish and held it out to her.
"...Fish?"
Aelries stared at it.
Then at him.
Then at the fish.
Her stomach growled.
With the dignity of a wronged princess, she snatched it from his fingers and took a bite.
"Hmp. It's acceptable," she muttered, chewing grumpily.
Mixarnt grinned. "Told you I'm a good cook."
Aelries shot him another glare, but this time, there was no fire behind it. Just exhaustion. And maybe the tiniest hint of amusement.
But she'd never admit it.