The sacred temple, usually a place of solemn discussions and strategic planning, had descended into chaos. The scent of incense hung thick in the air, mixing with the crackling of torches and the raised voices of the tribal leaders around you. The heavy stone walls, carved with the history of the Wild Spices Tribes, bore silent witness to the brewing storm of clashing wills.

You lay on a woven mat, exhaustion pressing against every muscle in your body. The feverish heat behind your eyes blurred the edges of the figures standing around you, their arguments overlapping in a frustrating cacophony. Though you had pushed yourself past your limits before, this time, your body had given out, forcing you into rest—whether you wanted it or not. But rest seemed impossible with the ongoing dispute unfolding before you.

Nutmeg Tiger Cookie stood tall, arms crossed over her chest, her golden eyes sharp with determination. "I am the obvious choice to take care of him," she declared, tail lashing behind her. "I have the instincts, the discipline—and I won't let him push himself again."

Saffron Buffalo Cookie let out a deep, measured sigh, his presence as steady as ever. "Care isn't about who's the strongest," he countered. "It's about who will make sure he actually listens and takes the time to recover properly. He needs structure, not just protection."

Pepper Pangolin Cookie scoffed, cracking his knuckles. "Oh, come on! You two are acting like he's some delicate flower. What he needs is someone with energy—someone who can keep up with him and make sure he doesn't slip back into work the second we look away!"

Cilantro Cobra Cookie let out a small, knowing chuckle, idly spinning a dagger between her fingers. "Tch. All of you are thinking about this too simply," she mused. "If you really want him to rest, you don't force him—you convince him. And no one is better at persuasion than me."

The tension in the temple thickened, each leader standing firm in their belief that they were the most suited to tend to you. Voices overlapped, irritation flared, and the headache forming behind your temples pounded in time with the rising heat of the argument.

Then—

BANG!

The temple doors swung open with force, sending a rush of cool air spiraling through the chamber. The torches flickered wildly, casting long, shifting shadows against the stone.

Leaning against the doorway, looking as smug as ever, stood Shadow Milk Cookie.

His grin stretched wide as he took in the scene before him, tail lazily curling behind him. "Now this is interesting," he mused, blue and cyan eyes gleaming with amusement.

Nutmeg Tiger Cookie immediately stiffened, her claws twitching. "You have no reason to be here."

Saffron Buffalo Cookie exhaled sharply, already looking exasperated. "Leave, Shadow Milk Cookie. This isn't a matter for you."

Pepper Pangolin Cookie groaned, rubbing his face. "Great. Just what we needed on top of all this."

Cilantro Cobra Cookie merely smirked. "Tch. You showing up at a time like this? Either fate has a cruel sense of humor, or you're just that good at sniffing out trouble."

Shadow Milk Cookie ignored the growing irritation around him, stepping inside with an easy stride. "Oh, I just came to bother him," he said casually, his sharp gaze flicking toward you. "Didn't expect to walk in on such a passionate discussion."

His smirk deepened as he leisurely settled onto a cushion, stretching his arms behind his head like he had all the time in the world. "Y'know... I think I'll stay. Watching you all argue is way more entertaining than whatever I had planned today."

The already tense atmosphere thickened further as the gathered leaders bristled at his presence. With frustration mounting, the dispute over who would care for you showed no sign of ending anytime soon. Meanwhile, Shadow Milk Cookie sat back, clearly entertained by the growing chaos, his gaze flicking between you and the others with a look of pure amusement.