Weeks had passed since Willow had found the new statue in the grove, and in that time she made sure to go back everyday in hopes of meeting the one responsible for them. But it always seemed she would just miss the person. They are visiting the grove now a lot more, however, so maybe soon Willow will finally get lucky enough to run into them.

Hunter, on the other hand, had resolved that he wanted to keep with the outcropping. He honestly enjoyed going there and seeing what the plant-grower did with his new towers, and seeing the replies to his short messages despite the trouble he was having writing them, given the limited number of pebbles.

' We made something amazing!' Was the first response he found. It made him feel strange to see that written in the same vines that had wrapped the stones, like his heart was trying to escape his chest.

'New one for you' Was his response to that, after he had made a new tower. It kept him up that night wondering if it was weird for him to specify that the tower was for them.

'Looks like a weird man' he had to laugh because the plant-grower actually formed some of the flowers to look like eyes and a smiling mouth on that tower. He half wondered if they caught a glimpse of him once, the flowers that made the two eyes were almost his exact eye color.

'Look like me' Hunter was starting to run low on rocks by then, unsure if he wanted to take from the old responses.

'How about now?' They added a flower crown to the statue, along with a batch that formed a 'tongue' poking out of the mouth. Hunter felt his cheeks actually burning a bit from this, he really couldn't help but smile.

'YES' was all he could write in response before running out of pebbles, lucky he felt he didn't have to write anymore. He left his response before he started to look for new rocks to stack.

The teen honestly couldn't believe his own actions, now. He was getting so desperate for rocks he was starting to bring them over distances he wouldn't have even bothered -just- so he could make towers for the vine-grower. Was this even training anymore? He asked himself that a few times, even though he knew the answer deep down. Just as long as his strange partner came, replied, and used their magic Hunter was more than content. Even if that means he would have to drag rocks from other parts of titan.

Hunter was in the process of stacking a bit more of a challenging tower, carefully placing rocks against each other to make a small arch with them. He knew if he was able to pull off the idea he had in his head, his plant-growing friend would love it! Should he call them his friend though? He doesn't even know their name. Well, whatever they were to him, he was sure that once they saw the newest addition they would be delighted. The arch was going to hold up a head-sized rock he found in its middle, and on the top of that would go an even smaller tower. It was the first time he had tried something like this, and it was taking a lot of concentration. So much, in fact, that he didn't even notice as Lil' Rascal turned on his shoulder, and chirped at the person who just landed in the grove.

Once Willow got out of school, she would rush to the grove to attempt to meet the person who she was corresponding with. But, it always seemed they either didn't appear that day or she had just missed them. The closest she got to encountering them other than that first time, was seeing them leaving again. She had gotten close enough to just make out a white cape over them, and with the hood down she saw they had dirty-blonde hair. Unfortunately, they did not hear her calling out to them before they disappeared in the red-light like before.

But, even after getting that close, Willow would never give chase. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep up with them, as fast as Clover is. Instead she would land in the grove to see what they had left, and she was always delightfully surprised. Her rock-building friend was obviously trying harder and harder to make more interesting designs. Were they trying to impress her? Her favorite finds, however, were the messages they left written in pebbles.

The messages were short, and a bit messy. The rock-stacker was trying to extend the use of every pebble the best they could so that they could write out a new response. Their last message 'Look like me' was proof of that. The grammar was lacking and the 'M' in 'me' almost looked like a 'n'. But she had to admit, it was kind of endearing that they wrote their last message in that way. It was obvious to her that if they were unable to just make pebbles then they must not be on a construction track. The white cape she saw raised her suspicions that they might actually be of the emperor's coven.

It took her a long time that day to decide whether or not she should continue with their game of stack-and-grow. Maybe they just wear a white-cape? They are popular outside of the coven after all. What if this person is actually really dangerous though, and meeting them could cause a problem? Willow can defend herself, even more so here. She took care of these plants, and if the rock-builder attacked they wouldn't hesitate to come to her aid. Besides, from the glimpse she caught of the rock-builder she could tell he was around her age.

Willow knew a good way to test the waters, though. They said the statue looked like them, so what if she tried to poke a little fun? One outrageous flower-crown later, and the addition of some flowers to look like a tongue, the statue was now looking sillier than before. She had to laugh a little to herself, she really hoped the other wouldn't take offence to it. But, if she came back and saw their reaction was poor, then at least she knew it would be better to cut ties than continue this strange relationship.

And today was the day she was hoping to see a reply. The other hadn't been there for a few days, as far as she could tell. But, from what she could surmise, the rock-stacker came every three to four days. As Willow made her way to the grove, she couldn't help but feel her heart getting faster in anticipation. She was nervous, of course, her mind wanting to think of worse-case scenarios, but she was also excited. Maybe they actually liked the silly addition?

She landed gently in the grass, looking over first to the man-statue to see if it was disturbed before freezing in place… her view of the statue was obstructed, but not by another tower.

The Rock-Stacker was standing just a few feet from her, back facing her as he worked. He held his staff out as rocks levitated from a pile to his newest work, carefully placing the rock, adjusting it, then adding a new one. His dirty blond hair was bellowing in the light breeze, and from what Willow could tell, he hadn't noticed her arrival at all. Heck, he didn't even flinch or move when the palisman on his shoulder turned to look at her and gave a few chirps.

She was at a loss of what to do now. She wanted to meet them, and he was standing just a few feet ahead of her, working on what she could only assume was an arch! He was so deeply concentrated, too, if she interrupted him would he accidentally drop his work? Should she just stand there and wait for him to finish before announcing herself? Oh titan, he is wearing what looked to be casual clothing! She was in her Hexside-outfit, would that be weird? Is it weird just standing here?

Lucky for Willow, she wouldn't have to take action...because her palisman took it upon herself. Clover lept from her staff, buzzing loudly as she darted over to the other guy.

"Clover! No! Get back here!" Willow acted before thinking, not realizing she spoke that outloud...and apparently loud enough to-

" GAAH!" Hunter jumped, swinging around and aiming his staff at the sound of the voice he heard. A girl stood just a few feet away from him, her hand outstretched to a bee-palisman that was barreling toward him! Lil' Rascal jumped off his shoulder and flew directly at the bee, the two meeting in the air with buzz's and chirps of delight as they flew in a dance around each other. Hunter blinked a few times as he watched the display, lowering his staff slightly before looking back to the girl.

'Wait…' He thought, 'she's wearing the hexside uniform color for-' he felt his heart skip in his chest. Was the girl in front of him his plant-grower? He felt his eyes widen and a bit of blush appearing on his cheeks, he couldn't do anything but just stare at her. She had dark-hair, eyes that colors reminded him of green apples, and stood, even in the strange situation, with a sense of self-importance and power that demanded respect, but oddly still gentle enough to be welcoming. And she was staring right at him. What should he say? Should he even say anything? She looked like a snaggle-back that had just tripped and fallen onto their back. Maybe he should let her make the first move to talk?

Willow knew he was in the same boat as her. Awestruck, unable to find words, but unable to look away. The boy before her had a roguish charm that came through his looks alone. He had a scar on his cheek, tired bags under his ruby-colored eyes. So that is what he meant when he said 'look like me'. His mouth was open enough to show a tooth-gap between his front teeth. Willow was stuck between trying to say something, and trying to run away...because there was something else unmistakable about him. She was right, he was part of the emperor's coven, but wasn't just another witch in a uniform. He was holding the staff of The Golden Guard. He was the leader! And he was out here building the rock piles? What should she do?

It took a few more moments before they both made their decisions, by talking at the same time.

"So I was just here-"

" Well this was unexpect-"

They both stopped, letting out a few nervous chuckles. Hunter moved to rest his staff by his side, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. Willow wrung her hands together in nervous tension.

" I mean I can leave if you-"

" Honestly I didn't realize how late-"

They talked over each other again, stopping once more. Willow smiled, letting out the sweetest giggle. Maybe The Golden Guard isn't as intimidating as she was thinking? He had flicked his ears at her and gave a shy smile as his cheeks turned a deeper shade of red. She guessed he was only older than her by maybe a year or two? He could have honestly fooled her for being a student at hexside. As he cleared his throat, he motioned to her, asking her to speak first.

"A-Ahh...Hi there. Uhhmm…" Willow breathed in deeply, trying to tame her nerves, before smiling at him again, " You are the one who stacks the rocks, right?" She knew the answer, but it was best to start this conversation somewhere.

"I-I am, yes." Hunter replied, scratching his neck as he smiled at the girl across from him. " I assume you are the one who wraps them with vines and flowers?"

Willow nodded, wringing her hands again as she tried to think about what to say. Hunter was at a loss as well, moving to look at the dirt, not noticing he had made a groove under his feet from how he was shuffling them.

" I think what you do is really neat!"

"I think what you do is really cool!"

They both spoke over another again, freezing as they said the same thing before they both laughed. Hunter called his staff away, half hoping the girl didn't recognize the staff as The Golden Guards but knowing the chances of that are slim. He cleared his throat again before offering his hand out to her.

" I'm Hunter, it is a pleasure and honor to finally meet you." He smiled at her. He could feel his ears flicking against his will. Why were they doing that? And why did it feel like his heart was sprinting even faster as she smiled back to him and gently took his hand?

" Willow. The pleasure is all mine, Hunter." She smiled up at him. Hunter, unable to stop himself, bowed and placed a kiss on the back of her knuckles. After he straightened his back he could hear every part of his mind screaming 'WHY DID YOU DO THAT, YOU IDIOT?!'

Willow looked rather surprised on the other hand, a light blush now appearing on her own cheeks at the action. That was a bit weird, and by the look of his expression one he didn't think that out and was now panicking about it. She smiled, giving a small laugh as she took her hand back from him. He looked about ready to stamber out an apology before the two palisman intervened. Clover buzzed up and flew around Willow's head before landing on the top of her, as Lil' Rascal went straight for Hunter's shoulder and just started to chirp out a song.

"I suppose I should introduce this one as well!" Willow moved her hand up to give a little scratch to the top of Clover's head, " This is Clover."

"A-ah right! Right! T-This is Lil' Rascal." Hunter moved to give his own palisman a scratch under their chin, " I-it seems that the two of them know e-EAch other." Did his voice just crack? By titan and all his minions, he is making such a giant fool of himself. He was THE Golden Guard! How is he losing his cool over finally meeting the plant-crafter?

" They do, don't they? Maybe they have a past together?" Willow took Clover off her head to hold the bee in front of her, who buzzed cheerfully.

"Y-yeah. Lil' Rascal just kind of found me one day, I don't really know where he came from." Hunter shrugged, knowing he was lying but...by titan he was not about to tell Willow how he actually got Lil' Rascal.

Willow nodded as she looked around the grove for a moment, before up to Hunter once more, " Hey...would you like to go get something to eat? I don't have to be home for a few more hours."

"A-Ahh...Yes! Yes absolutely!" Hunter felt his ears going again, he had to fight himself to not just slap his hands over them. Instead he went to summon Lil'Rascal's staff instead of the Golden Guard one, before Willow put her hand up.

"It is a really nice day. Maybe we can walk there and chat on the way?" She suggested, a smile still on her lips. Hunter blinked a few times before nodding.

"Y-yes! Please, lead the way." He straightened himself up slightly as Willow nodded and turned to lead him out of the grove. As the two left, they both glanced back at their work, and silently thanked Titan for how things worked out for them to finally meet.