Disappearance

**

Morning began with unfamiliar footsteps breaking the silence.

-Thud, thud… thud-thud… murmuring…

Tarmin slowly opened his eyes in bed and saw the warm sunlight pouring through the window, confirming that dawn had broken.

It had been a long time since someone else's footsteps had woken him.

“…Ugh, good grief.”

As soon as his mind cleared, every muscle in his body began to throb, and he groaned.

He hadn't neglected his training as a hunter, but the cause seemed to be all the unfamiliar movements he'd repeated.

The sweet breath of a woman tickled his chest. In an instant, Tarmin felt his pain fade and the happiness of last night well up again.

He raised his head, his heart full, and saw Enya asleep on his chest like a little animal...