The crackling fire cast soft light on the girl's sleeping face. Her silver ears twitched as the scent of cooked food and warmth stirred her awake. Slowly, she sat up, blinking.
"…Where…?" she whispered.
"You're safe," Shisui said from outside the tent, his voice gentle. "I set up camp. You were unconscious after the attack."
She stepped out slowly, his kimono robe still covering her slender, curvy form. Her silver eyes met his — cautious at first, then filled with gratitude.
"My name… is Irylia Lyssara," she said softly. "I'm… the princess of the Beastkin Kingdom of Lunaris... Thank you for saving me. If you hadn't… I—"
Tears welled in her eyes as the memories came flooding back.
Shisui stood and gently took her hand. "I sealed the bodies of your people. They didn't deserve what happened to them… and I'm sorry you had to witness it."
She broke down in tears, collapsing into his arms. Her silver tail wrapped around her leg as she cried into his chest. Shisui let her cry, his arms carefully wrapped around her to comfort her.
Moments later, he guided her to the fire, where he offered warm rice balls, dried meat, and steamed buns — courtesy of Naoko and Himeya's generous bag of supplies.
Irylia hesitated at first, then ate hungrily. "This… this is delicious…"
A small smile formed on her lips for the first time since the tragedy.
After finishing her meal, she looked into his eyes and bowed deeply. "Please… take me back to my kingdom. I have no one left to trust out here… I don't even know how far I am. I beg you."
Shisui was quiet for a moment.
Then he nodded. "I'll take you home, Princess Irylia. You have my word."
She smiled warmly, her ears perking slightly, and wiped her eyes. "Thank you, kind stranger…"
He looked into the flames. "My name… is Shisui."
As the moon rose over the treetops, the two sat by the fire, strangers no longer — bound by fate in a strange new world.