I love her still

Kenway stretched lazily, his gaze wandering over the colorful array of fallen fruits scattered across the ground. The air was crisp with the promise of autumn, and the ripe fruits seemed to beckon him with their juicy temptation. He grinned mischievously, a plan forming in his mind. "Eat, drink, and be merry," he murmured to himself, repeating the old adage. Well, if there was one thing Kenway was good at, it was making merry.

With a careless shrug, he decided to embark on a quest to create a fall-themed beverage. Mead sounded too serious, and wine too refined for his taste. No, Kenway wanted something wild, something that captured the essence of the season in all its chaotic beauty.

He began his search, scouring the forest for the perfect ingredients. Apples, pears, and plums lay strewn across the forest floor, their sweet scent mingling with the earthy aroma of fallen leaves. Kenway gathered them up with careless abandon, tossing them into his makeshift sack with a chesty chuckle. They weren't supposed to drink before their first birthday, which was rapidly approaching, but what mother and father didn't know couldn't hurt them, right?

Once his supplies were gathered, Kenway set to work. He crushed the fruits with his bare paws, reveling in the sticky mess that coated his toes. A splash of water from a nearby stream, a handful of wild berries for good measure, and Kenway's concoction was ready.

He poured the mixture into a large tortoise shell, setting it over the fire with a triumphant grin. As the liquid bubbled and simmered, filling the air with a tantalizing aroma, the young boy couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. This was his creation, his own little slice of chaos in a world that often felt too structured.

He decided it was probably best to nap while the brew finished off, if watching his dad make raider hooch was any indication, it wouldn't be done in a hurry. Hours passed, and Kenway awoke and watched eagerly as his brew transformed before his eyes. Finally, he deemed it ready, pouring himself a generous bowlful and taking a long, satisfying sip.

But as the liquid hit his tongue, Kenway's face twisted in disgust. It was awful, far too bitter and sour for his liking. He choked back a cough, his pride wounded by his failure.

With a sigh, Kenway realized his mistake. He had let his reckless nature get the better of him, throwing ingredients together without a second thought. Perhaps if he had taken the time to taste each fruit, to savor their flavors before mixing them together, he might have created something truly remarkable, though he quickly realised the effects would be the same.

With a shake of his head and a rueful grin, he dumped the rest of the batch onto the ground, where it mingled with the fallen leaves and earth. "Eat, drink, and be merry," he muttered once more, raising his mug to the sky. "Even if the drink tastes like dirt, at least we had fun making it." And with that, Kenway tossed back the rest of his brew, laughing, and grateful Siduri hadn't been here to rub his face in his failure.

"speech"