Stepping carefully to avoid the small mounds of salt scattered across the floor, Tanya took the empty bowl Ian handed back to her.
"Was it alright?"
"Yeah. It was delicious."
He was exhausted and wanted sleep more than food, but since Tanya had looked ready to feed him herself, Ian had managed to sit up and eat the porridge on his own.
He hadn't had much of an appetite, but as soon as the first spoonful hit his tongue, a forgotten hunger awakened, and Ian finished the bowl in an instant.
Getting some food into his system seemed to bring back a bit of vitality.
Tanya gave a small smile and set the empty bowl on the floor.
Ian felt a genuine sense of improvement this time. He felt as though he'd be perfectly fine after a good sleep.
"I think I'll be okay after some rest, so you can head back now, Tanya."
"I'll go once you've fallen asleep."
Tanya reached out slightly to check Ian's temperature.
