This Far: Dawn
A Thursday Prompt story
© 2021 by Walter Reimer

Prompt: face
Thumbnail art by  technicolor_pie and  Major Matt Mason



Hmm? What?

His eyes still closed, the Komodo monitor’s tongue flicked out, tasting the air. Musks, his and Meredith’s, slightly higher temperature gradient to the right . . . oh.

This Far’s sun was rising, the light filtering through the tent’s fabric, and he turned over on his side to look at his lover as the night was driven back.

Meredith was still asleep, breath whiffling through her nose. Her features were quiescent as the light level gradually rose and he watched as her face was revealed.

The light began to pick out things that he’d seen before, laugh lines around her eyes and the corners of her mouth. He liked to see her smile, and enjoyed hearing her laugh – and making her laugh, he admitted to himself.

The gathering day picked out her arm and traveled down her left breast and the stray hairs of her mane, disarrayed and lying across her shoulder. The bull admired the play of light across her headfur, but frowned as one of the hairs appeared gray. Probably stress, but she was too young to start graying. He started wishing that he could do something to alleviate her stress, just a little.

Finally the spell broke, and the daylight reached her eyes. Meredith stirred, closed eyelids closing tighter, and with a deep breath she started to blink and stretch.

He waited, and after a moment she said, “Hi.”

Fujiwara Castro smiled. “Good morning,” and he leaned forward and kissed her. “I love you.”

She smiled and wriggled forward to snuggle against his chest. “Love you, Fuji.”

He nuzzled her ears, thanking Gaia for his luck and asking Its blessing for the new day.



end