Hope's POV.
The early morning sun warms my skin. The clouds and fog over the last couple of days finally clearing - as if the forest itself is sending a message: A new day has dawned, and with it a new me.
I feel the heat of Malakar next to me, the steadiness of his breathing. The slow and easy rhythm of his heartbeat. Next to him, I feel safe. Like I belong.
He feels like home.
I roll over onto my back, my eyes slowly opening. The sky is glorious - clear and a deep blue, highlighted with soft golden hues. The sound of the nearby waterfall is calming. Welcoming even. Everything around me seems clearer this morning - like I'm experiencing it all for the first time: the birdsong, the rustling of the leaves as the breeze plays gently through the branches, the sweet smell of the moss on t
