Marcelia sighed to herself, muttering under her breath, "At least Rayner isn't trying to steal Corvis's name for snacks…"

Rayner's ears perked up at the mention of snacks, and his eyes shifted with a subtle gleam of interest. He didn't say anything right away, simply adjusting his posture and offering a small, seemingly innocent smile as he scanned the room. He'd learned enough from Corvis's earlier antics to know that patience, and a bit of cleverness, might yield tasty rewards.

He glanced at Marcelia, his expression smooth and casual. "You know," he began, almost conversationally, "it's been quite the eventful day. I suppose if anyone around here had something… small and edible to offer, I might just find it in myself to relax a bit more."

Corvis, catching onto Rayner's tone, grinned. "Uncle Rayner, are you… are you trying to get us to give you snacks?"

Rayner shrugged, as though the thought hadn't even crossed his mind. "Oh, no, Little One. I am simply mentioning that after all the trouble we've been through, a light refreshment might not go amiss." He gave Corvis a wink, his eyes shining with barely concealed mischief. Marcelia rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide her smirk. "You're worse than Corvis, you know that?"

Rayner leaned back, placing a hand over his heart in mock offense. "I assure you, Tyngan, I would never stoop to such methods. But if someone were kind enough to offer…" he trailed off, casting a hopeful, sideways glace at Zearik.

Zearik snorted, "Rayner if you are hungry, just ask."

"Worth a shot,' Rayner murmured.

 Papyrus's happy meow cut through the room, drawing amused glances as he rubbed against Rayner's legs. For those who could understand him, Corvis, Rayner, and Miruna, the translation was clear.

"Yes! Yes! I agree with the new Uncle," Papyrus purred eagerly, his tail twitching with excitement. "Snack is needed! And a long nap. Can I have sardines now?"

 Rayner let out a low chuckle, giving Papyrus a gentle scratch behind the ears. "I couldn't agree more, little friend. A snack and rest sound perfect, don't they?"

Corvis beamed, clapping his hands together. "See! Even Papyrus thinks snacks are a good idea!" He shot an exaggeratedly innocent look at Zearik and Willow, clearly hoping his wide-eyed pleading expression would work some magic.

Zearik sighed, shaking his head with a smirk. "Alright, alright, I'll see what we've got," he muttered, turning toward the kitchen with a resigned smile. "But don't expect this to work every time."

Papyrus let out a triumphant "Mrrow!' and started totting around in excited little circles, clearly thrilled by the prospect of sardines. Rayner chuckled, giving Corvis a conspiratorial nod. It was a small moment of shared victory.

As the first light of dawn crept through the tavern's windows, the air inside softened. Hyrusa and Dratha bustled from the kitchen, balancing trays of warm food and steaming drinks. Xearik followed with his sleeves rolled up, carying bowls of hearty stew and slices of bread.

"For those who haven't eaten yet," Dratha announced, his deep voice gentle but firm. "You can't fight battles on an empty stomach."

One by one, they ate in silence, exhaustion evident in their faces. Even the ever-playful Corvis slowed down, nestling against Zearik's side as he nibbled of a shiny apple he'd claimed from the tavern's offerings.

Rayner stretched out on the couch with Papyrus curled up on his chest, seemed half-lost in thought, his gaze, distant. Marcelia sat beside him, her fingers absently smoothing his hair while her eyes flickered between her friends and family, as though memorizing this fragile moment of togetherness.

As the sun rose higher, exhaustion finally claimed them. The room fell into a peaceful quiet, the fire and Papyrus's soft purring the only sounds.

Not all dreams that morning would be kind, too much sorrow and uncertainty hung heavy over them, but for this fleeting moment, they were safe. Together.

The flames in the fireplace flicked, casting long shadows on the walls. Marcelia's eyes lingered on the glowing embers as her last thoughts drifted to Julius, out there somewhere and the battles still to come.