The Scarlet Forest was quieter than usual.

Dusky green leaves swayed above like slow-moving waves, filtering the afternoon light into warm honey-gold rays. A low mist clung to the undergrowth, and somewhere far off, the mournful cry of a Rathian echoed into silence. The trees whispered, the wind carried a stillness, and for once—it wasn’t hostile. It was... peaceful.

You and Erik were alone.

Well, mostly.

The rest of the team had returned to the Scarlet Forest base camp after a long and grueling hunt in the Oilwell Basin. There had been rumors of new monster behavior near there, but no signs of nests or aggression. A rare window of quiet. Alma had insisted you two take a break and catalog the endemic life colonies near the glade in the forest. “Scientific,” she’d said. “Low-risk. Calm.”

You’d exchanged a long look with Erik the moment she said calm.

And now here you were, boots crunching gently over mossy stones and ferns as you followed a bubbling stream deeper into the forest. Erik was just ahead, half-bent over a cluster of bioluminescent mushrooms.

You couldn’t help but smile as you watched him. His silver hair caught the dappled light like starlight, and the freckles across his cheeks were more pronounced in the sun. His field notebook was already out, balanced on one knee, and he was whispering to himself with that same passion he always did when he found something fascinating.

You didn’t interrupt. You didn’t have to.

He looked up a moment later and grinned.

“I think we’re near a water source. Maybe a stream that feeds this area,” he said. “And look—these mushrooms only bloom this bright near high humidity. We must be getting close to a waterfall.”

Your eyes lit up. “You think we’ll find it?”

“Only one way to know,” he said, tucking the notebook away and offering you his hand.

You took it, your fingers warm in his, and together you followed the sound of rushing water.

The waterfall wasn’t massive—it spilled over a tall curtain of stone, hidden behind a veil of vines and thick canopies. But it was beautiful. It was a place where you'd expect to find an elusive Mizutsune. Thankfully, there was no monsters present.

The stream frothed below into a crystal pool, ringed in moss and pale stones. Fireflies flitted through the mist like golden stars caught in slow motion, dancing in and out of the silver spray.

But what caught your attention most was the shallow cave behind the falls.

“It’s a hidden cave,” Erik whispered, eyes wide. “It’s... perfect.”

You squeezed his hand. “Let’s go in.”

Inside, the stone cavern curved inward like a natural cathedral. Water dripped steadily from overhead, echoing gently, and the fireflies danced even here, casting little golden glimmers over the rock. There was soft moss to sit on, a view of the falls just beyond, and—for once—no bugs, no monsters, and no one else.

Just the two of you.

Erik sat down and exhaled deeply, pushing back his hair. “We should mark this on the map. Maybe we can turn it into a secondary base for study.”

You knelt beside him. “Or maybe we don’t tell anyone and keep it as our secret.”

That caught his attention. He looked over at you, something playful flickering in his green eyes. “Is that so?”

“Mhm.” You leaned in slightly. “I think we deserve one little secret, don’t you?”

Erik reached up, cupping your cheek in his hand. His thumb brushed over your skin, soft and deliberate. “I think,” he murmured, “this is the best thing I’ve discovered all week.”

Then his lips were on yours.

The kiss was slow, sweet at first—an exploration more than a hunger. He kissed like he studied: carefully, fully present, deeply focused on every small detail. The way your breath hitched. The way your hands slid into his hair. The way your knee nudged closer to his until your thighs touched.

You broke the kiss only for air, but Erik didn’t move far. He pressed his forehead against yours, still breathing fast. He nuzzled his nose against yours.

“I missed you,” he whispered.

“We saw each other this morning.”

“I know. I missed you anyway.”

That made you laugh softly, and then your lips met again, this time more urgent. More needing. His hands ran along your back, pulling you closer. Yours slid under his collar, fingertips tracing the line of his neck, his jaw, the curve of his shoulder. Every touch felt like a spark in this darkened hideaway.

You didn’t know how long you stayed there. Time blurred with the sound of rushing water and the flicker of fireflies. Erik kissed you like he never wanted to stop, and you were more than willing to get lost in that feeling.

Somewhere between kisses, your forehead fell against his shoulder, your fingers resting on his chest, his arms holding you like you were something fragile he was afraid to lose.

“I could stay here with you forever,” he murmured, voice low.

You smiled against his shirt. “We’d probably starve.”

He chuckled. “Then I’ll build a fire.”

“I've seen you burn meat.”

He tilted your chin up again, that teasing glint in his eye. “Then you’ll keep me alive. Deal?”

“Deal.”

What you didn’t realize—what neither of you saw—was the small pair of feline eyes peeking from behind the curtain of vines.

Your Palico, P/N, had trailed after you both, intent on “keeping watch” in case a Lala Barina tried anything funny (we didn't need that again). What they witnessed instead had them frozen, tail twitching with glee, their little jaw dropping in disbelief.

They didn’t make a sound.

Not then.

No, they saved the moment for later.

That evening at camp, Erik was back to scribbling in his notes, a flush still stubbornly on his cheeks. You were trying very hard not to smile whenever he looked your way.

Then P/N cleared their throat.

Very loudly.

The entire crew—Alma, Olivia, Werner, Gemma—turned toward the Palico as they dramatically planted their paws on the table.

“Well, somebody had a steamy waterfall date today,” they declared, their voice full of smug satisfaction.

Your entire body froze.

Erik looked up, blinking. “What...?”

P/N grinned, tail curling. “A lot of kissing. A lot of moaning. Fireflies. Pretty cave. Oh, and Erik and Y/N were totally getting it on!”

Erik turned a shade of red you didn’t think was humanly possible.

Alma nearly dropped her field notebook. Olivia choked on her rations. Gemma calmly nodded and muttered, “Knew it.” And Werner looked like he just saw the secrets of the universe.

You groaned and buried your face in your hands.

“P/N,” you said through your fingers, “I am going to reassign you to Dung Collection duty for a month.”

They winked. “Worth it.”

That’s when Werner—ever blunt, ever tragically awkward—cleared his throat.

“I’m just gonna say it,” he began, already visibly regretting his own words. “The most terrifying thing about all of this...is that it's Erik.”

You all turned to look at him.

He looked you square in the eye, then flicked a glance at Erik, then back to you.

The room froze.

Werner frowned. “I just… I’ve tried. I’ve really tried. But I cannot picture sweet, nerdy, field-journal-cuddling, pollen-dusted Erik—ravishing someone. Like, passionately. Intentionally.”

Erik let out a noise somewhere between a sputter and a dying bird.

Olivia burst into laughter, leaning on the table to stay upright. “Werner!”

“I’m serious!” Werner insisted, clearly disturbed by his own imagination. “He blushes if someone says ‘mating behavior’ in a field report. I just assumed he was a deeply confused virgin.”

Alma turned away, covering her face with her notes as laughter began to ripple around the room.

“I take detailed notes!” Erik snapped, ears turning crimson. “I’m a biologist!”

“Yeah,” Gemma wheezed, wiping tears from her eyes. “Well apparently your field studies include hands-on research now.”

Your own laughter cracked through you like a sunbeam through clouds, suddenly feeling less irritated at your Palico's betrayal. You buried your face in Erik’s arm as your shoulders shook, both horrified and delighted by the absolute absurdity of the moment.

“Is this how it’s going to be now?” Erik groaned.

“Oh,” Alma said dryly, finally looking up, “you’re never living this down.”

Later that night, Erik sat beside you outside the tents, face still flushed. He reached for your hand and laced his fingers with yours.

“I regret nothing,” he whispered.

You smiled. “Me neither.”

But then you looked toward the tent where your Palico was very smugly humming to themselves.

“Except maybe not checking behind the waterfall.”