At first light, the girl in his arms started stirring. Nikolas hadn't slept much, he was afraid Ksinya would have another nightmare. Luckily he didn't need much sleep, and even more fortunate that she slept soundly the rest of the night. Ksinya opened her eyes slowly. She was met with grayish-blue eyes. As she awoke she realized she actually felt rested. In her past life, it didn't matter how long she slept, she would always be exhausted. "Good morning." She murmured.
"Good morning." His voice rumbled in his chest after not using it for a while.
Ksinya smiled at his cuteness. "You are a great sight to wake up to." She admitted and watched as his cheeks grew red.
Nikolas turned his face away from her. "Are you hungry? I roasted some deer last night, and I got some of those crunchy red fruits you enjoyed."
At the mention of food her mouth watered. "I could eat." She nodded.
Nikolas wriggled his way from underneath the deerskin and gathered the food. Ksinya sat up as he played the hunks of meat on a leaf in her lap. He looked at her expectantly. "I'm sorry it's cold, I wanted to cook it before it attracted flies."
"I can't eat this on my own, will you help me with it?" She tore away a small piece. "Here let's toast."
"Toast?" Nikolas raised an eyebrow.
"Oh it means we tap what we're about to consume together and share the first taste. So I have my piece and you'll grab your piece…" she urged him on, he tore a piece quickly. "And then we let our pieces touch…" she held out her piece and he let her the rest of the way. "And then we eat!" She popped the piece of meat in her mouth and he mirrored her. She chewed curiously, she had never had viel in her past life. This meat was good, albeit a bit bland. But the smoky roasted flavor saved it. "It's very good!" She picked up another piece and Nikolas quickly followed suit. "Ah, we only toast on the first bite or drink." Ksinya explained and Nikolas nodded. They ate together quietly. Nikolas went slow, letting her eat her fill. When she was done with the deer she had cherries for dessert and Nikolas finished the meat.
"Let's go to your river, I want to wash up." Ksinya suggested and Nikolas led the way with no questions.
Ksinya was sitting on a boatload of questions she had for this new world. She waited until they made it to the water to ask. "Nikolas, I'd like to know more about you. About everything really, but we'll get to that. Who is your creator? Why do you live out here alone? What did you do before I showed up?" She took his hand and stepped into the water with him.
"Well, my Creator's name is Evelyn. She is a librarian now in Seaport. My father lives with her. My siblings, well I imagine they are all doing things they like. I live here alone because I like to be here alone. I created this river and it is my home. Before you, I didn't realize how lonely I was. Fish are not the best company."
"You don't miss your family? How long has it been since you last saw them?"
Nikolas' face was blank. "Not really, I think I saw a brother of mine recently, we played a bit."
"Play? How do you play?"
"We dance or sing or swim. Well at least I do. Some Nymphs can play instruments, some like to hunt for play, some spar, some er- do other things."
"Really? Will you sing for me?" She feigned innocence of the last thing on his list.
Nikolas' eyes widened. "Of course." He cleared his throat.
"All or nothing at all
Half a love, never appealed to me
If your heart, never could yield to me
Then I'd rather have nothing at all
All or nothing at all~"
Ksinya felt goosebumps rise on her skin. First of all his voice was magnificent, she could listen to him all day. But secondly; she actually recognized the song! "Where did you learn that song?" She asked.
"My Creator. Evelyn, she told us it was a popular song. They played it on what she calls a radio. She has told me about record players as well but I'm not familiar."
"Wait wait, that's an old song, is your mother old?"
"I'm not sure."
"How old are you?!"