Morning sunlight slipped through the window, laying a warm stripe across the floorboards. Rowen stirred where he had collapsed the night before, still lying on the floor instead of the bed. His body felt heavy with fatigue, every muscle stiff from the strain.
Fern was slumped in the chair nearby, dozing with his arms crossed, while Shade was curled up beside Rowen on the floor, tail flicking lightly in her sleep.
Rowen opened his eyes fully, the memory of the five-element ring pulsing faintly inside him. It hadn't been a dream.
Rowen pushed himself up from the floor slowly, joints aching. His clothes were stiff with dried sweat and faint stains of blood. With a tired sigh, he went to the basin, splashing cold water on his face first, then rubbing at the smears on his arms and shirt until the worst of it came off. He scrubbed himself down as best he could, then changed into a cleaner set of clothes.
