Ashrain

5. The Landlord has no Hooves either

"What do you think of him?"

Wooyoung had got dressed entirely before he joined Hongjoong back in the kitchen, where the latter rekindled the fire to heat the stew. He hoped none of the spices in the pot would bother Seonghwa's horse stomach. His food went through two digestive systems, after all.

The hunter stemmed one hand on the table next to Hongjoong. He wore his gloves again. The left one that usually held his bow had a thumb, an index finger, and half a middle finger, while his other fingers remained bare. The right one that cradled the string wrapped all fingers aside from his thumb and his pinky. The hand on the table was his left one.

Hongjoong hummed. He plucked apart the thick loaf of bread Mingi brought home the day prior to divide between the four of them. When Wooyoung motioned not to share with him since he would eat his own meal later, Hongjoong tucked the bread into three bowls instead. The additional mouth to feed meant he had to readjust their meal plans. Until the next shopping trip, all of them would eat less.

"He seems alright after everything I heard of centaurs. When we picked him up, I expected him to slaughter us all in our sleep. He's cooperative. That's good."

When Wooyoung stayed silent, Hongjoong craned his neck to look at him. He and the hunter were about the same height, so leaning into each other came more naturally than when Hongjoong cuddled Mingi's tall frame.

"Do you think he will make trouble?"

Wooyoung stared at the bowls, thoughtful. Then he raised his head to smile at Hongjoong. It was his usual infectious grin, and it eased the tension in Hongjoong's spine.

"I will visit from time to time to check on everything. I trust you and Mingi with anything that looks even remotely like a horse. The skill of your fingers succeeds the stubbornness of a confused centaur, pretty." With that, Wooyoung smacked a kiss against Hongjoong's cheek. Giggling, Hongjoong cupped the spot with his hand. His heart was warm at Wooyoung's support.

As Wooyoung turned to fetch his equipment and make his way home to catch up on food and work, someone knocked on the door. Wooyoung threw an inquisitive glance at the wood when he passed. Before he climbed the stairs, he tugged the door to the stables shut.

Hongjoong left the food where it was and hurried to greet their visitor. He prayed Mingi understood the situation and didn't squabble with Seonghwa in the stables.

The person awaiting Hongjoong on their doorstep looked prim and proper, out of place in their humble home. White hair spilt over his tanned neck and pointy ears that stood out far from his head. It was tied together in his nape and cascaded until his hip, where the ends curled naturally. His garments were made of green silk, so filigree Hongjoong believed spiders must have woven it. Thin silver details around his wrists and hips fitted the tunic to his slender form. Despite the dirt of the street, his boots were clean, as if the forest accepted him as one of its creatures and avoided tainting him.

Silver eyes cut through Hongjoong's very bone. A carved face decorated with dangling earrings that caressed his jaw like fairies' touches took away Hongjoong's breath.

Elves were some of the most beautiful creatures out there. Every time Hongjoong saw one, they stunned him with their effortless grace that flowed like water, floated like the leaves in autumn, and shone like the sun's rays. This one was a forest elf. The subtle trail of greener grass following his footsteps gave it away if his getup didn't.

"Yeosang," Hongjoong said, lips pulling into a slim smile.

"May I come in, llynfír?"

Hongjoong nodded and moved aside. Yeosang had never explained what that word meant, but Hongjoong presumed it was a word for 'human' that bordered on being insulting. The undertone might just be the drawl of Yeosang's voice, though. It always had a slight sneer to it, as if the mere idea of humans disgusted him.