The morning air was crisp and warm. Birds sang as the evergrowing land began to bathe in warm sunlight. Flowers began to bud open again, famers and merchants began their day, creatures of the wild began to stretch and stir, along with a Prince.
Raizel stirred, groaning at the sunlight hitting his face.
"Five more minutes," he groaned, searching and patting for a blanket.
Instead, his hand touched something softer. He opened his eyes slightly more to see Ophelia. There she slept at his side, not even stirring at the touch. He looked down next to her, right at his bandages naval. He moved slightly wincing as the pain set in.
"Fuck..." He breathed out quietly.
He sighed deeply, feeling the aching slowly set it. He looked back at Ophelia. Dried blood covered her hands and sleeves, heavy bags under her eyes.
God, she looked so tired.
He raised his hand slowly, placing it on her hair. Ophelia didn't stir a bit. This made him sigh, a small smile as he whispered, "Thank you..." He brushed her hair out of her face gently as to not disturb her.
Raizel slowly sat up, only wincing slightly, and inspected the dusty cabin. Dust particles seemingly danced in the rays of sunlight. He looked to the fire place, a small flame devouring the last of the wood fighting to live. He let out an amused hum, smiling knowing it was Ophelia's fire.
He turned his head again eyes scanning the rest of the home. Dust laid delicately along all of the furniture; except for the couch and floor which he assumed to be disturbed last night. The home looked as if it hadn't been touched in years. His nose began to twitch. Raizel sniffed rubbing it as he inspected the other side of the home. He jumped slightly when he noticed a figure sat in the door. Raizel reached to his belt instinctively, only taking him a moment to realize who it really was.
There sitting in the doorway was Moss. They sat with their body half in and out the door, seemingly tensed by the way they bounced their leg and scratched the floor, making a small scrape noise that's almost impossible to hear. They didn't seem to notice Raizel staring. He inspected them, noticing dry blood on their hands and wet blood on their nails; their pants and shirt seemed to be covered in blood as well. He looked down at his wound, then back to Moss.
That's not his blood.
"Moss?" He spoke slowly and quietly, maybe a bit too quiet.
Moss jumped all the same, leg and finger ceasing to move. Again, Raizel jumped, half from Moss's surprise the other half by their eyes. Moss's eyes were a shade of gold, full of surprise and anxiety. Eyebags laid heavily under their eyes, their cheeks seemingly sunken in. They looked so tired. Their body relaxed, a small tugged at their lips.
"Hey..." their voice was raspy and tired. They licked their lips and swallow. "How are you feeling?"
"Uh, yknow," Raizel stuttered, vaguely gesturing to his abdomen. "Alive."
Moss scoffed, shaking their head a bit. "Glad to see it."
Raizel smiled a bit, glancing down at their finger. Moss followed his gaze, grimacing at the sight of blood. Their shoulders tensed as they let out a long sigh.
"Sorry, sorry.." they let out a shaky breath and flexed their hand.
Raizel looked away, not knowing what to say. He looked to Ophelia instead, who still breathed steadily.
"You scared us last night." Moss spoke again, Raizel returned his gaze to them. "Really messed her up."
Raizel sighed, brushing Ophelia's hair gently. He noticed a wilted pink petal on her. He picked it off her own lighter pink hair and inspected it. He looked down noticing the spread of wilted flower petals on the floor. There were dozens after dozens, if you took one step, you'd be sure to step in one.
