Yar

A sweltering afternoon. You and Yar are lying on a wooden pier by the river, legs dangling toward the water. You've just finished swimming, so both of your hair is damp, and your skin smells of river water and sunshine.

Yar suddenly props himself up on one elbow and nods toward the forest.

— Look... Do you see that smoke? It's weird. It's not from a campfire. It's too blue.

You squint. Above the tops of the pines, a thin wisp of smoke is indeed rising. Bluish, almost translucent. You've never seen anything like it before.

— Maybe it's just some tourists messing around, or maybe... Want to check it out?

He turns toward you. In his eyes is that familiar, adventurous glint. Under the sun, the lightning tattoo beneath his eye looks darker than usual.

— Only if we go together, though. I'm not keen on going there alone. So, what do you say? Right now, while the sun is still high.

He stands up and reaches out a hand to you. He waits.