Warmth…
The strange sensation spreads through every inch of my body, sinking deep into my exhausted muscles and washing away the fatigue from last night's brutal battle with the ghost. It leaves me drifting in pure comfort. I draw in a slow breath and force my eyes open. A thin ray of morning light slips through a crack in the rough wooden wall of the hut, illuminating the cramped space around me.
A woman kneels directly in front of me in perfect seiza posture. Long black furry ears rise from her head, twitching faintly. Her face is beautiful yet fragile, with slightly hollow cheeks hinting at a life of hardship and a body touched by faint malnourishment. A dirty brown gown, torn at the shoulder, hangs loosely off her frame and leaves one breast completely exposed. A long pink nipple crowns the soft swell, and a glistening bead of white milk slowly trails down her pale skin.
She presses a hot towel gently against my forehead. The heat feels heavenly.
