Capering Rogues and Feathered Foes

Previously

…It was in the quiet observations, the uncomfortable whispers, and the courage to trust that tiny, persistent pebble of doubt. True friendship, I realized, wasn’t about shared extravagance; it was about shared honesty. And sometimes, even a haples, well-meaning individual armed with little more than a penchant for tripping over their own feet could bring down a carefully constructed house of cards. The ashes of Bartholomew’s reputation were a stark reminder: not everyone who shines is gold, and sometimes, the most valuable treasures are the ones you find when you’re looking for something else entirely.