SAO: Strawberry Bunny

The next morning, Quinella had the idea for them to explore the lagoon Strawberry had tumbled into days earlier, spurred by a mix of curiosity and the desire for a change of scenery after days of intense adventuring. Muffin, of course, was all too eager to tag along, his tiny nose twitching excitedly at the prospect of another outdoor excursion.

The trio started their trek early in the morning, with the forest still shrouded in a soft mist that clung to the undergrowth like a veil. The air was crisp and carried the earthy scent of damp soil and pine. Birds chirped in the distance, their calls echoing softly through the trees. The trail leading to the lagoon was narrow and winding, occasionally forcing them to duck under low-hanging branches or step over gnarled roots that snaked across the ground.

"I swear, if I trip over one more root, I'm burning this whole forest down," Strawberry grumbled, adjusting her mask as she stepped over yet another obstacle.

Quinella chuckled softly, her silver hair glinting in the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy. "Somehow, I doubt the Faune would appreciate that."

Muffin chirped in agreement from his perch on Strawberry's shoulder, earning a side-eye from the pink-haired warrior. "Oh, so you're taking her side now?"

The rabbit wiggled his ears innocently, and Quinella laughed, the sound light and carefree.

When they finally reached the lagoon, the sight that greeted them was as picturesque as Strawberry remembered. The shallow lake was surrounded by ancient trees with roots that dipped into the clear water like fingers. The surface of the lagoon mirrored the sky above, reflecting the soft blues and greens of the forest. Small fish darted beneath the water, their scales glinting like tiny jewels.

Strawberry knelt by the edge of the lagoon, splashing her face with the cool water. Muffin hopped down from her shoulder and began sniffing around the shoreline, his little paws leaving faint prints in the damp earth.

"This place really is beautiful," Quinella remarked, stepping closer to the water. Her violet eyes scanned the area, taking in the tranquil scenery.

As they explored the edges of the lagoon, Muffin suddenly froze, his ears twitching wildly. He let out a sharp chirp and bounded off toward a cluster of rocks at the far end of the clearing.

"Muffin!" Strawberry called, scrambling to her feet. "Get back here, you little troublemaker!"

Quinella followed with a bemused smile, watching as Strawberry chased after the energetic rabbit. When they reached the rocks, they found Muffin standing atop one of them, his nose pointed toward a narrow opening in the rock face. Steam wafted gently from the crevice, carrying with it a faint mineral scent.

"Is that…?" Quinella trailed off, leaning closer to peer into the opening.

Strawberry frowned, stepping forward cautiously. "Only one way to find out."

The crevice was just wide enough for them to squeeze through, and the steam grew warmer as they moved deeper into the passage. The faint trickle of water reached their ears, growing louder with each step. The rocky walls glistened with moisture, and the air grew thick with heat and humidity.

When they emerged from the passage, they found themselves standing in a small clearing surrounded by towering rock formations. In the center of the clearing was a cluster of hot springs, their clear, bubbling waters releasing tendrils of steam that curled into the air. The springs varied in size, some shallow and wide, others deeper and more secluded. The entire area was bathed in a soft, golden light, giving it an otherworldly quality.

"Wow," Quinella breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is incredible."

Strawberry nodded, her eyes scanning the serene scene. "Muffin's nose strikes again," she said with a smirk, glancing at the rabbit, who was already sniffing around one of the pools.

The discovery of the hot springs felt like stumbling upon a hidden treasure, a sanctuary tucked away from the dangers of Aincrad. For a moment, the three of them stood in silence, taking in the beauty of the place and letting the warmth of the steam wash over them. It was a rare and precious moment of peace, and they knew they would return to this spot whenever they needed a break from their adventures.

The air was warm and humid, carrying the faint scent of minerals mixed with the sweetness of nearby flowers. The sound of trickling water mingled with the occasional chirp of forest birds, creating a tranquil melody that seemed to ease the weight of the world from their shoulders.

Strawberry crouched down by the edge of the largest spring, dipping her fingers into the water. It was pleasantly warm, the kind of heat that seeped into your bones and coaxed tension out of your muscles. She leaned back, a rare smile tugging at her lips as she wiped her damp fingers on her pants.

"Looks like we just found our new favorite spot," she said, glancing over at Quinella.

Quinella was still taking in the scene, her violet eyes wide with wonder. "This feels too perfect to be real," she murmured, brushing a strand of silver hair behind her ear. "I can't believe something like this exists here."

Muffin chirped in agreement, hopping closer to one of the smaller pools. He sniffed at the steam curiously before dipping a paw into the water. The sudden heat startled him, and he quickly pulled back with a squeak, earning a laugh from Strawberry.

"Serves you right for being so nosy," she teased, scooping him up into her arms. "Guess you'll just have to stick to being the mascot while we relax."

Quinella chuckled, shaking her head. "If Muffin hadn't found this place, we'd still be wandering around that lagoon. He deserves some credit."

Strawberry smirked, gently scratching behind Muffin's ears. "Fine. He gets partial credit. But I'm taking the rest."

They spent the next few minutes exploring the area, finding that the springs were surrounded by an array of natural beauty. Lush green ferns framed the pools, their fronds swaying gently in the warm breeze. Small flowers with delicate, brightly colored petals peeked out from between the rocks, their scent mixing with the mineral tang of the steam. It was the kind of place that seemed untouched by the dangers of Aincrad, a pocket of peace hidden in a world of chaos.

Quinella knelt by one of the smaller pools, her fingers trailing through the water as she looked up at Strawberry. "What do you think? Should we claim this as our own personal retreat?"

Strawberry grinned, setting Muffin down so he could explore safely. "I'm all for it. But only if Muffin doesn't try to dive in."

Muffin huffed, flicking his ears indignantly before hopping over to a nearby rock to perch like a tiny king surveying his domain.

With a shared laugh, the two women began to set up a makeshift spot to relax. They rolled out their cloaks on a flat rock near the edge of the largest pool, where the steam rose in gentle wisps around them.

Strawberry stretched her arms above her head as she eased herself into the steaming water, her muscles sighing in relief. "Now this," she said, sinking lower until only her head was above water, "is what I call a break."

Muffin perched on a flat rock at the edge of the pool, watching her with an almost smug expression, as if he'd personally scouted the spot just for them. Strawberry flucked drops of water at him, making him jump back before retreating with a squeak.

"Don't be so smug, hm?" Strawberry teased, flicking a small splash in his direction once again.

Muffin squeaked indignantly, hopping further up the rock to avoid her antics. Quinella, already seated in the water with her silver hair tied up, chuckled softly.

"At least he's cute," she said, leaning back against the edge of the pool. Her violet eyes sparkled with amusement as she regarded Muffin. "Though I can't say I blame him. It's a bit warm for someone with that much fur."

Strawberry smirked, tilting her head to the side as she relaxed. "Yeah, well, I'm not about to give up this spot just because Muffin's picky."

The two of them fell into a comfortable silence, letting the soothing waters do their work. Strawberry's usual guarded demeanor seemed to melt away in the heat, her shoulders sinking lower as the tension left her body. Quinella watched her from the corner of her eye, noting how the steam gave Strawberry's pink hair a slightly wild, wavy look.

"It's almost unfair," Quinella said after a moment.

Strawberry cracked an eye open. "What is?"

Quinella smirked faintly, gesturing toward her. "That you can pull off looking so handsome and beautiful at the same time. It's a rare skill."

Strawberry blinked, clearly caught off guard by the compliment. "Uh… thanks? I guess?"

Quinella chuckled, enjoying the rare sight of Strawberry looking flustered. "Don't worry. I'll stop before your ego inflates too much." 'I really will need to sit and think on how I'm feeling towards her. It's getting harder and harder to just ignore it, now. '

The playful banter continued as they took turns telling stories of their adventures and mishaps in Aincrad. Muffin eventually hopped back to the edge of the pool, where Strawberry coaxed him into letting her clean his fur with a damp cloth. The little rabbit tolerated it with an air of long-suffering dignity, though his occasional squeaks of protest earned him a laugh from both women.

The springs became their go-to spot for the remaining days of their break. Each visit was a chance to unwind and recharge, whether it was through lazy conversations, shared laughter, or simply soaking in the quiet beauty of the forest. Strawberry even brought some of her freshly baked tarts one afternoon, much to Muffin's delight.

By the time their break came to an end, the three of them felt a renewed sense of focus and camaraderie.

The next morning dawned crisp and cool, with the early sunlight filtering through the dense canopy of the third floor's ancient forest. Strawberry, Muffin, and Quinella stood at the edge of the bustling town of Aruyt, their belongings packed and ready for the journey ahead. The peaceful respite of the past few days had left them refreshed and focused, their shared laughter and quiet moments at the hot springs forging a stronger bond between them.

Strawberry adjusted the strap of her scythe across her back, her mask in place as always, hiding her features from the world. "Alright," she began, her voice steady with determination. "Lets go slay some dragons."