New Feeling

The morning light was a soft gray that filtered down through the thick canopy of the forest. Serian woke up slowly, her body still heavy with a deep, healing sleep. The first thing she noticed was the smell of something cooking. It was a simple, savory scent, and it made her stomach rumble.

She pushed herself up, her back stiff from sleeping on the hard ground. Across the clearing, the fire was going again, a small, steady blaze that pushed back the morning chill. Nox was there, his back to her, and he was crouched over a small metal pot balanced on two rocks over the flames. He stirred whatever was inside with a stick.

He didn't look like he did during the fight. The dark energy was gone, and his posture wasn't as tense. He just looked like a boy trying to make breakfast.

She tried to stand up, but a sharp pain shot through her ankle. She winced, a small sound escaping her lips before she could stop it.