River Glidewell's Arc

Chapter 3 of 4

River walked through the back halls of Arctic Boughs, studying how the restaurant worked. The kitchen buzzed with energy as chefs plated dishes. Servers moved quickly between tables, carrying trays of food. River watched a waiter describe the daily special to a couple by the window. The customers nodded and smiled, then ordered it. That was the skill River needed—connecting people to products they'd love. The dining room showed what success looked like. Happy customers meant repeat business, and repeat business meant sales. River's whiskers twitched with determination. The shop counter was just the beginning. Near the staff entrance, River spotted something that made them stop. A wooden board hung on the wall with names carved into its surface. Gold leaf caught the light around each name. River stepped closer and read the labels: top salespeople from past seasons. Their paw traced the carved letters. These workers had proven themselves, month after month. The board showed what was possible. River's name could be up there too, if they worked hard enough. This was proof that the dream was real. Other people had done it. River could too. That evening, River helped set up a lantern outside the warehouse entrance. The glass was thick and frosted, with decorative branches wrapped around the stem. When lit, it glowed bright enough to see from across the town square. The warehouse held overflow stock for the shop, and customers needed to know where to find it after dark. River adjusted the lantern until it sat level, then stepped back. The warm light spread across the snow. People would see this and know where to go. River smiled. Every detail mattered. Every improvement brought them closer to that wooden board with the gold letters. The path was clear now.