Delegated

"Bella, wake up."

Draven lightly tapped Belle's shoulder.

"Y-yes?" Belle mumbled, struggling to wake up.

Her eyes were still heavy with sleep.

Draven grinned.

"Your saliva's all on your face. Wipe it off."

Belle jolted awake, wiping her mouth on her sleeve.

"Why were you watching me sleep?!" she snapped.

Draven chuckled. "I wasn't. But you still got some dried up here. Gross."

He reached out, scraping a dried streak of drool from her cheek with his finger.

"Ugh! Let me do it!" Bella swatted his hand away, rubbing at her face furiously. "Just go outside and wait for me!"

"Okay, okay, but hurry up."

—

By the time Belle stepped out of the nipa hut, everyone was already awake.

Draven had gone out earlier to hunt. And now, a freshly caught boar was strung up nearby, ready for later.

The morning air was thick with fog, curling through the trees as they prepared to move out.