The rest of the guard force seems to be focused on hauling the troll corpse away from the walls so they can burn it safely. 

They've covered what remains of Hyacinth's old body with a sheet. 

Hyacinth does her best to focus on cutting wood. 

It helps. It's good to remember that she's helping. That her death meant something. That her life still means something. 

A few zombies have been attracted by the noise, but the guards are well-trained and cut them down with not too much trouble. 

Hibiscus takes her time gathering wood this time. She very, very much doesn't want that fire to go out.

The guards slowly tire as the continual trickle of zombies wears them out, but Hibiscus gets a good few hours of woodcutting in before they give the signal to turn back. 

And, wood in inventory, they return to the town.

"Complicated day," Aria says. "Good in the end, but..." She runs a hand softly through Hyacinth's hair. "You look scared."

"I died," Hibiscus says. "Of course I'm scared."

Aria nods. "That just smart." 

She returns to the fire in the center of town, and stokes it.

"Need make sure this keeps burning while any guards outside walls. Not safe for them. But after we cuddle. Okay?" 

"Okay." 

Hibiscus sits down on the same bench Aria is sitting on, and lays her head on her shoulder.

Aria seems surprised - 

But after a moment she wraps her free arm around Hibiscus' shoulders. 

"Rest."

Hibiscus closes her eyes, and does.

By the time all the guards return, the sun is already starting to descend towards the horizon. 

It's been maybe what, four hours? Five? She supposes it'll be night soon, then, if days here are half as long. 

What a day. What a short day. Usually she runs out of things to do and ends up just waiting, but here - 

She smiles slightly, and lets Aria lead her off to her house once again.

The snuggles manifest, as promised. 

And she can close her eyes and rest.

Aria brings her a small snack for supper - wedges of a plum-like fruit, except it has no pit - and then they turn in for the night.

The night passes uneventfully. 

Hibiscus wakes early, as is her habit, and finds that the sun is already up. 

Right. Shorter nights too. 

She goes downstairs and fixes herself some oatmeal in the pot, finds Aria's spices, and prepares some for her as well. 

Then she brings Aria breakfast in bed. It just seems right to do so when she did it for her yesterday. 

Aria rubs the sleep from her eyes and smiles at her, her gaze lingering in a way that speaks of being besotted. 

As Aria eats, Hibiscus lays her hand on her shoulder, and asks. 

Teach me your language, please? I don't want to be relying on you as my interpreter forever.

"Yes! Very yes." 

And Aria starts instructing her, still in her half-taught English. 

Hibiscus gives her more words in exchange through her telepathy, and they practice each other's tongues for a while. 

An hour or so later, there's another venture out to the woods to log, but nothing more troubling than the usual zombies.