“I’ll try my best,” Crow smiled halfheartedly when Penelope told him not to cause too much trouble. As she leaned up to kiss him one more time, he pressed in to meet her halfway, closing his eyes as their lips met. He focused on the sensation of her lips moving against his, her arms around his back, and his around hers. Knowing it would be a week before they saw each other again, he wanted to remember the feeling as vividly as he could.

When she pulled back, it felt too soon to the thief. He squeezed her hand as she placed it in his, nodding solemnly at her words. “No promises there,” he laughed a bit emptily. Even though it wasn’t really a long time, he knew he was going to miss her quite a bit. He had gotten so used to spending his every waking hour with her that to separate for even a week felt like an eternity. He hoped the time would pass by quickly so they could be together again.

“I will,” he promised as she told him to be safe. She stepped back from him and the space between them felt tangible. Not wanting to focus on it, he moved quietly over to the horses and retrieved his bow and quiver from where he had hidden them on the stallion’s body. The weapon had served him well in the short time he had used it, so he wanted to keep it.

Slinging the bow and quiver over his shoulder, Crow turned back to meet Penelope’s eyes again, offering her a weak smile. “I guess this is goodbye for now,” he said, forcing himself not to avert his gaze as he spoke. He hesitated for a moment and then moved in to kiss her one last time, lingering before they finally parted. “I love you, and I’ll see you again soon.”

With that, he turned and ran quietly into the forest towards the outer villages, leaving Penelope behind.