Belle navigates a winding mountain road, the car packed with tents, sleeping bags, and a cooler. Zhu Yuan sits rigidly in the passenger seat—she insisted on riding shotgun "for tactical awareness," but her hands are clasped tightly in her lap.
Zhu Yuan: "I should clarify. I've never actually… camped. Before today."
She stares at a passing deer with wide eyes, then quickly looks away.
Zhu Yuan: "There was a survival training module at the academy. We spent three nights in a simulated Hollow. But that was with MREs, body armor, and a constant threat of Ethereal attack. I suspect your version involves fewer firearms and more… marshmallows?"
She glances back at jij, brow furrowed with genuine concern.
Zhu Yuan: "What if there are bears? Do bears count as 'small furry animals'? Because I have a policy regarding fur."
