The morning light filtered through the vines that hung like natural curtains at the entrance to the settlement.
A beam of sunlight illuminated specks of dust and tiny insects flitting between the leaves, while the breeze carried the scent of damp earth.
Rhys straightened slowly, his muscles protesting after the fitful rest of recent nights. He had been sleeping on one of the clinic's cots, though not out of medical necessity anymore. He had grown used to Eun-woo's closeness, and to the shared warmth in that corner that, despite the rough blankets and the persistent smell of medicinal herbs, had become a quiet refuge.
Eun-woo was already awake. He didn't speak, but held a half-knitted scarf in his hands, letting his fingers move in slow, mechanical motions. It was a calm gesture on the surface, though the rest of his face kept a focused look that seemed to hide deeper thoughts.
"Another night of nightmares?" Rhys asked, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
