22

The place was filled with colored fabrics hanging from the clothesline. Other fabrics hang on low tree branches, drying well and flowing about with the wind. Langdon decided that he would have different colored fabrics after all, hence, her dwelling looks like a scene from a pleasure pub.

"You are a rabbit, you are supposed to be eating plants. Why are you always staying close to the shed? There's only cured meat in there."

Tahlia rolled her eyes when she heard the man talking to the hopper the latter found yesterday. It was still a kit hopper, rabbits. Langdon found it in the base of an oak tree where they gather materials for the dye. The animal was hugging the root, shivering in fear. She almost smacks the man's head when he decides that he is going to bring the animal home. However, she also nodded in approval that the man is slowly waking his survival instinct.

Domesticating the hopper, fattening it up, would be useful in the future. It'll be a good source of meat. When she told him exactly the idea, he pushed her away in a hurry. As if she is going to eat the hopper right there and then. She ended up stumbling on the roots and fell on her backside. The glare did nothing wrong to the man as he glared back, protectively hiding the kit from her eyes.

"Leave that kit alone and help chop these woods." she called out to the man.

She was smoothly hacking the wood, splitting them for firewood since her wood pile was missing a noticeable chunk. The culprit decided that he was above all hard work and would choose to do other things that are not essential to surviving in a forest. Not the basics.

"Chopping wood could ruin my hands," he answered.

Lately, Langdon can successfully take a trip alone without her help at all. He was quick to remember landmarks and make better markers. He could familiarize most of the plants they gather for food. Unfortunately, apart from that he did not want to learn the other things.

Hunting for meat made him tremble and almost shed a few tears since he was not used to killing animals. She understood his point, he was sheltered but for him to survive the complexities of the forest, food is one of the priorities. You either hunt for it or domesticate it.

"Who gives a damn if you grow calluses on your hands. Start chopping." she sneered at the man sarcastically. She tossed the axe in his direction, and it landed on his feet. "You used half of the firewood pile, better replenish it." she tilted her head where the pile was. Langdon looked at her funny. His eyebrows raised in suspicion.

"You should mind the softness of my hands. You are going to use it in the future after all. Men prefer soft hands." he shot back, picking the axe awkwardly. She already taught him the proper way of handling the equipment, yet the idiot would always do the exact opposite. The hell.

"Heck, you. Keep the racy comments to yourself." she buzzed. It is past noon, and there is nothing left for her to do. It is one of those days where she has no chores to do. That means, she can relax and spend the afternoon doing things she enjoys the most.

Some things changed when Langdon arrived in her dwelling. She usually spends the slow days to herself frolicking in the nearest pool. It should be one of those days. But she is hesitant since the man can't be trusted with the axe and she doubts he'll get the work done in time.

After giving it some thought, she decided to do it. She left the man to his task and went inside the dwelling. Packing a few of her belongings and some soap that he made, she sneaks out of the place, using the fabrics hanging as a cover. The soap he made was definitely nicer and fragrant, but she won't admit it to his face after calling it impractical.

Tahlia was already yards away from the dwelling, skipping in happiness. A human would always need time for themselves, and so she walked with a skip on her steps. She did not notice the prostitute with a knowing smirk on his face.

***

Langdon slowly made progress chopping wood. All the time while he was doing the chore, the smirk on his face did not leave. It stayed there for a long time. The hermit was adorable, and albeit a little tolerant of him. After weeks of staying in Talon's house, he was beginning to get familiar with the areas around it. All those days, he was also slowly getting introduced to the man's quirks and habits.

The man was pure hard work. He works hard every day, finishing all the needed tasks before retiring for the night. It was exhausting to watch him. He easily rivaled all the workers in the district. Another secret smile graces his lips. He could not stop smiling these days because of him. Maybe, he should really give up his dream of starting a family of his own.

He glanced at the direction the hermit disappeared when he thought he did not see him snuck out of the place. Langdon bet that the man was in the pool again. He would usually take a dip in the pool. He knows it since he would come back with wet hair and smelling like the soap he made. It was thrilling.

A chopping sound resounded as he split the last timber. He might act like a brat but he already knew how to do the chores properly. He just likes getting on the man's nerves. It excites him, making him giddy and a lot more.

Another peek was given to the direction the hermit disappeared to. The kind, grumpy man didn't know it but he already knew the way to the pool he usually frequented. They fished for their dinner there one time and he did his best to memorize the way even with the unclear trail. The hermit did not bring him again after that.

What he could not understand is why the hermit would rather walk an hour just to bathe when the dwelling was already equipped with a spring right inside it. The little spring was bubbling next to the kitchen. The hermit made a small washing area next to the spring and made sure to surround it with big chunks of rock and solidify it with clay. He also treated it. Protecting it.

Debating with himself, he decided to not pursue the idea of following the man and instead prepare for dinner. Smoked meat, and the sweet potatoes sound lovely. A warm soup would be also good for the hermit once he's back from his bath.

Stepping inside the dwelling immediately reminded him of Talon. He could not help sniffing the air inside the dwelling. Although it was filled with different smells from fruits to herbs, he could smell the man's subtle smell in the air. He had developed a weird hobby of smelling the sheets on the bed, or the pillow the man would usually rest his head on.

"Damn, I could not stop thinking about him." he swore under his breath and placed the kit in the basket atop the dining table. Shaking his head to clear his wayward thoughts, he grabbed some of the vegetables he found in the kitchen and proceeded with preparing the dinner. Even though he tried to win over it, he would always find himself smiling, thinking about the hermit. It was like a disease he never wanted to recover from. It was so bad.

A chuckle escaped from his lips while he roasted the sweet potato. He is happy, so very happy after a long, long time. Langdon was loving all of it, embracing it. It was all because of one man. It was all because of Talon.