Goodbye Petal Town

An hour before the morning's light would pierce the clouded sky, Thomas found himself staring blankly into his quiet homestead with an ivory lockbox tightly tucked under an arm. Everything seemed smaller than he remembered. He creaked the front door shut and let out a sigh. Two days had never felt so short.

"Morning," Elero greeted him as she sat on the stairs descending to the courtyard.

"Morning," Thomas yawned. He scanned the courtyard and frowned. "Doevm said to meet here. Where is he?"

"Late again, apparently," Elero shrugged. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. Thomas assumed she was cold, but thought against it after he plopped down next to her.

Her emerald green dress, fur running along the edges, hung loosely over a gray underlayer; Simple, elegant, and quality, clothes fit for nobility. Thomas gestured to it: "Have you worn this before?"