Awaiting The Dawn

24: A Fire Of Feelings

Hisa stayed quiet for a long while, immersed in her thoughts as she stared at the fire.

The heat reminded her of many things. Some more pleasant than others.

Like the princess' fiery colors.

The original crimson dragon who, despite his faults, shined more beautifully than any blaze.

Or her father. Arms scarred with burns, his whole right cheek a mark faded by the course of time, remorseless in the price he paid to protect a handful of books.

It reminded her of Suzu. How cold it was when the heat died and Hisa opened her eyes. Of the lifeless village that turned to ashes.

'The fire...'
'...It must be painful to be scorched by it—'

"Your hair's a mess." Yoon's voice snapped her out of it, stopping the finger that was about to reach closer to the heat.

What...was she about to do?

No, don't think about it.

Shuddering, Hisa repeated what he said under her breath, causing Yoon to make a weird expression.

"It is?" Once she grasped his meaning, she tried running a hand through it, but was stopped by a nasty tangle. "It is."

Hisa pulled her bag into her lap and grabbed the comb inside. Since she was used to the maintenance, her brushing was efficient.

"You look like a creepy hair ghost when it's all over the place. How come it's always so knotted like this in the mornings?"

A hair ghost? Hearing that caused Hisa to laugh.

They tangled together in her sleep because she hated tying her hair. She also slept outside along with Thunder and Kija, so sometimes a twig would appear the next morning.

And then look like a hair ghost groggily rising for Yoon's food.

She laughed again and tried running her fingers through. There were still a few thick tangles left. "I don't like tying it."

The exceptions were during hunting or training. For obvious reasons.

Yoon didn't say anything else for a few seconds. His eyes were on Hisa's dark hair, curious about something but she didn't know what.

What he said after staring for so long seemed to take both of them off guard. "Can I touch it?"

...Huh?

Touch what??

There wasn't a problem with her hearing, right? Or was she dreaming? Maybe she hadn't actually woken up from the cave.

Hisa couldn't have possibly heard that come out of Yoon's mouth, right?

He wanted to touch her?

"...Huh??" Hisa's heart couldn't handle her own conclusions.

After impatiently waiting for Hisa's delayed response all while regretting how he blurted out something ridiculous, Yoon tried to take it back. "Nothing! Forget I said anything!!"

How could she possibly forget this?? Her mind and heart were about to burst, trying to comprehend!

Aware she was making a silly, dumbfounded expression, Hisa laughed at herself and separated a large section for him.

Face written in flushed shame, Yoon took it and weaved his fingers through. "It's rougher than it looks. And really long."

"Up to the middle of my back isn't that long." Hisa held her comb and rubbed a thumb on the shallow nick that was made by the crafter. "Lots of people from my home village have it to the waist."