A little girl named Beatrice happily strolled around the town. It was another pretty day in the summer. Warm, but not too sunny. That's why, today, Beatrice was in good mood, but that was not the only reason.

Beatrice looked at her feather pendant and smiled, it reminded her of the dearest friend. It was a promise that she would meet her again.

Coming from the river, was a gentle breeze, so Beatrice decided to take another route home, to enjoy the weather and ponder a bit more. She climbed down wooden stairs at the side of a hill until she reached a small streamlet. Beatrice crouched and filled her hands with the water.

"Ahh, refreshing!" - She let out a satisfied sound.

"Good afternoon, Bee."

It was a familiar voice accompanied by the happy chirping of birds. Beatrice turned her head and noticed Julie, a girl with rabbit ears. She was wearing a yellow skirt and a large straw hat, that shielded her from the sun quite well. Julie was holding a bag of seeds in her hands and fed pigeons.

"Good afternoon, Julie! I'm so happy to see you!" - Bee responded with a bright smile.

Julie just smiled gently.

There was a short period of silence, until Bee simply smirked roguishly and shouted. - "Julie!"

A bit startled, Julie slightly jumped up and spilled a few seeds. She looked at Beatrice with a bit surprised eyes. - "Bee, you scare the birds."

"I never see you outside!" - Bee exclaimed. - "What changed!?"

Julie's face was showing a hint of sadness, she wanted to say something but she bit her tongue. Instead, she uttered. - "Nothing."

"Nothing?" - Beatrice could sense that something is off.

"I just... it's the gift from Amelia." - Julie slightly lifted the bag with seeds, to show it to Bee.

"Oh! She... gave you... only the seeds?" - Beatrice couldn't understand, she thought that perhaps that's why Julie was sad. - "It's weird, but Amelia surely had her reason."

"No. Those are not just seeds, it's the bag. It's magical. It refills overnight." - Julie explained.

Bee's eyes widened. - "What!?" - She exclaimed in disbelief. - "She gave you a magic item!?"

"Don't shout, please."

"She never gave a magic item to anyone! Even me! Julie! I'm jealous!"

"Don't be, Bee. I honestly don't know what to do with it. I really don't deserve it."

Bee looked at Julie. Her demeanor became a reprimanding one. - "If Amelia decided you should have it, don't doubt her!"

Julie sighed, she stared at the river in resignation. - "Bee, I just feel... like you would make a better use of it." - She tossed a few more seeds to the birds. - "A flour, or an oil... perhaps plant a few in your miniature garden."

"If I want any of that, I'll know where to ask! My good friend would surely spare a few seeds." - Bee responded.

Julie smiled gently, a bird climbed up her hand and she started to caress it.

Beatrice seemed intrigued. - "Julie?"

"Yes?"

"Do you like feeding the birds?"

"I can't lie to you, Bee. It doesn't make me feel anything. I feel like I usually do."

Beatrice saddened, she was full of hopes that Amelia's gift wasn't a missed one. It was unnoticed by Julie, who kept gazing at the river.

"Bee, it's getting late. Do you want me to walk you home?" - Julie said out of a sudden.

Bee raised her eyes, she did not expect that. - "Yes!" - She shouted in a cute voice and jumped from happiness.

Julie smiled gently, yet sadly, as she usually did. She stood up, then dusted off her dress and spilled the rest of the seeds on the ground. - "Goodbye, birds. See you tomorrow."

[ . . . ]

"Julie?" - Bee started off timidly.

"Yes, Bee?"

"Would you like to have a sleepover at my house today?"

Julie appeared uncomfortable. - "Sorry, Bee."

"Ohh..." - Bee lowered her face.

"Perhaps, another day."

Bee regained her cheerful optimism. - "Oh! I see, you must be busy! I'll be glad to have you as my guest any other day!"

"I'm not busy, Bee. I'm just a bit tired."

"I don't understand, can't you rest at my home? I promise, I'll take good care of you."

"I don't doubt it, Bee." - Julie smiled. - "It's just... I can only rest when I'm alone."

Bee could not comprehend it, but accepted the fact. - "Okay." - Although, it made her slightly sad.

Both girls arrived at Beatrice's house, but an unexpected guest was waiting for them. It was an elven girl with blonde hair, about four or five times their age.

"Jennifer!" - Bee shouted enthusiastically.

"Hello, little Bee." - Jennifer responded with a kind smile and patted the girl on her head.

"Good afternoon, Jennifer." - Julie also greeted the elf.

"Jenn! What are you doing here? I thought you always work until late night!" - Bee asked, a bit overeagerly.

Jenn kept her kind smile when talking to Beatrice, although when she looked at Julie, her expression was a bit more strict. - "I'm still working, little Bee. I need to have a small talk with your friend, Julie."

Bee could sense something was wrong, she was a bit concerned. - "Julie... is a bit tired. She planned to rest today."

"I understand that very well, Beatrice, but it's not a matter that can wait. You see, Beatrice, Julie broke the rules yesterday." - Jennifer explained.

Beatrice felt uneasy. - "Why, why are you telling me this?"

"The entire town already knows." - Jennifer responded. - "Now, will you let me talk to Julie? In private?"

Beatrice looked at Julie, unsurely, as If to check If everything will be alright.

Julie just nodded to comfort her. - "Goodbye, Bee. Have a good night."

"Goodbye." - Beatrice said in a timid manner and entered her house. She hastily tossed her things aside, then sneakily peeked through the blinds in the window.

Julie was being scolded, for quite a long time, then Jennifer took away her magical bag and left.

Beatrice's heart was aching, she couldn't bear to look at it. She hastily put on her shoes and exited the house.

"Julie! Julie!!!" - She shouted until she caught up.

"Oh, Bee. Did you see everything? You shouldn't have done that." - Julie responded, although she seemed unfazed by the situation.

"Sorry, Julie! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to... but I was worried about you!"

Julie smiled gently. - "Thank you, Bee."

"Where... where is your bag?"

"Oh, don't worry about it. Jennifer took it away only for a few days."

"That's cruel! It's your gift from Amelia, she has no right!"

Julie assumed a bit serious tone, like she wanted to educate Beatrice. - "Bee, Jennifer is the chieftess. She has more rights than you may think."

"But... but Amelia would never let..."

"Amelia has no say in that matter."

Bee lowered her head. - "Why... why would Jennifer do that?" - She loved Jennifer and trusted her, she couldn't understand this decision.

Julie seemed to hesitate, she wasn't sure whether to share the truth or not. At last, she muttered out. - "I got... a bit lost during the stargazing night."

"Is it... when you helped me?"

Julie just nodded.

"I never thanked you for that." - Bee uttered.

"There's no need, you would be able to overcome it yourself."

Bee only came closer to Julie and hugged her, hugged her very tightly. - "Thank you."

"Ouch, Bee, it's uncomfortable."

Bee hugged her even tighter and smiled brightly.