Adam lay sprawled across the bedroll inside the small tent, his arms folded behind his head as he stared up at the canvas ceiling. The muffled sounds of Alice and Lilith's bickering drifted through the fabric—still going, even after his intervention. He let out a long, slow sigh, his voice carrying a note of weary self-doubt.
"Was I too harsh on them...?"
He listened for a moment longer, catching fragments of their argument—something about "not touching my tail" and "your threads are cold." He shook his head slowly, a faint, resigned smile tugging at his lips.
"...No. I had to be firm. If I let them keep going, they'd tear each other apart or worse, tear the camp apart. This is the only way they'll learn."
He paused, his gaze drifting to the tent flap, his voice softening just slightly.
