Ningyan woke to the pleasant scent of food.
His violet eyes slowly opened to an unfamiliar chamber washed in white and warm blue hues. Laughter echoed faintly nearby, accompanied by the soft splash of water.
He didn't move at first. He just lay there, letting the warmth, the sounds, and the scent sink into him.
Then everything rushed back.
His breath hitched. Memories slammed into his mind all at once, sharp and merciless. Ningyan gasped and bolted upright, fingers threading violently through his hair as his pupils dilated.
"No… no… no…"
He swung his legs over the bed and jumped down and froze as a woman stepped into the room.
She had light-blue finned ears, damp hair clinging to jade-toned skin, and clothes bright and revealing like summer itself. Surprise flashed across her face when she saw him standing.
"You're awake," she said, hurrying toward him.
Ningyan didn't retreat.
