Hatku awoke to the scent of something warm and earthy—bread, maybe. Spices he didn't recognize floated through the air, carried in from the kitchen by a faint draft that stirred the edge of the curtain near his bed. For a moment, he forgot where he was. The ceiling was smooth stone, the bed beneath him far softer than the ground he'd grown accustomed to. Then he remembered.
The temple. The guest room. Shyla.
Tashina was still asleep across the room, curled beneath a thick blanket, one arm flopped over the edge of the bed, the soft rise and fall of her chest steady.
Hatku sat up slowly, rubbed the sleep from his eyes, and reached for his boots. He paused when he heard humming.
Following the sound and scent, he found Shyla in the kitchen alcove near a small hearth. Her long hair was loosely braided, hanging over one shoulder. She wore a simple robe the color of sun-warmed stone, her sleeves pushed up as she worked over a heated plate.
She didn't turn when he entered, but her voice carried gently over her shoulder. "You sleep with your mouth open."
Hatku grinned, scratching the back of his neck. "Tashina snores."
Shyla laughed softly, turning to hand him a plate with bread, grilled root, and a bit of dried fruit. "Sit. Eat."
He obeyed, and for a while they sat in quiet comfort. Just the sounds of eating, the wind stirring faintly outside, and the occasional bird cry from the cliffs beyond.
"She said you have a battle soon," Shyla finally spoke, not looking at him. "In this realm?"
Hatku nodded once, keeping his voice calm. "Yeah. A few days from now."
Shyla didn't press for details. "You'll be ready."
He glanced at her, then at his food. "You always cook like this?"
Shyla tilted her head. "Only when someone's actually here to eat it. The temple doesn't get many visitors."
He smirked. "Lucky us."
She chuckled. "Lucky me."
Another silence fell—but it was a warmer one this time. No tension, no lies—just the unspoken agreement to stay in the moment.
"Your sister's strong," Shyla said at last. "Even asleep, she gives off this… charge."
Hatku smiled, quietly proud. "She's been through a lot. I don't think either of us would've survived the last few weeks without each other."
Shyla met his eyes. "That's rare. Bond like that."
He nodded slowly. "Yeah."
She stood and gathered the plates, moving with unhurried grace. "I have some things to tend to before noon. The guest room is yours until you're ready to move."
"Thanks," Hatku said, then hesitated. "For everything. The food. The room. Last night…"
Her hands paused for just a second. "It was nice. I hadn't… connected like that in a long time."
Neither had he.
As she walked away, her robe flowing behind her, Hatku stood for a moment longer before stepping out into the morning.
The sea breeze met him with a cool gust. He walked the cliff's edge barefoot, letting the salt-stained wind wrap around him. Below, the water sparkled. Above, gulls circled in the bright sky. The moment was simple, but full. Real.
Behind him, he heard soft steps and turned to see Tashina emerging, still sleepy, hair wild and eyes narrowed against the light.
"Please tell me she made enough for me."
Hatku nodded. "There's some left."
Tashina yawned, trudging past him with a mutter. "Good. You can fall in love after I eat."
He didn't respond. Just smiled faintly to himself, turning back to the sea.
The fear, the tension, the running—gone, if only for now.
And for the first time in far too long, Hatku wasn't chasing survival.
He was simply breathing.