Anthony suddenly awoke to the smell of smoke and roasting birds. He lay on his bedroll, a sense of dread slowly creeping over him as he remembered what awaited outside. The makeshift campfire had been lit, ready for breakfast. Beside him, Julian stirred, but didn't wake up on account of Anthony's silence. Pulling himself from his covers, Anthony cautiously stepped towards the fire. His heart was pounding as he caught sight of it, a poor little creature suspended on a spit above the flames, its skin crisping and turning dark brown.
The fire was crackling, sending sparks of warmth into the cold morning air. I could hear Julian still snoring softly in his bedroll, oblivious to the life around him. Momentarily leaving my task of readying my feathered wards for breakfast, I glanced towards Anthony standing nearby. His hazel eyes were wide and unblinking as he stared transfixed at the dance of flames before him; each flicker captivating in its movement across glowing embers. I couldn't help but admire how his toned muscles rippled as he approached the fire, taking a shirt off to get closer, unaware of my presence behind him. Mesmerized by the sight of his determined stance and chiseled torso, I felt my cheeks heat up as butterflies swirled around my insides like a tornado inside an hourglass.
My eyes lingered on Anthony, taking in every defined detail of his being. His broad shoulders indicated strength and purpose, while his kind gaze spoke to the warmth behind those powerful walls. I sighed as my thoughts drifted away from meditations of piety and devotion, instead being replaced by a sudden longing for connection and infatuation. I could not deny the craving that grew for him in my heart, even though it was forbidden by our beloved Chantry's vow of celibacy. But despite my admiration, I knew deep down that no matter what he did or how strong he might be, regardless of the chantry's vow of celibacy, Anthony would never find me attractive anyway.
Every time I looked at Anthony, I felt an unbridled surge of emotion radiating throughout my body. It was as if he had placed his powerful magic on me and no matter how hard I tried to resist it, the feeling remained constant. Thoughts of him filled my days and, even more so, my nights.
The sun was beaming in its glory, and the air around us filled with a sweet scent of flora. The camp was in the middle of a vast meadow surrounded by towering trees stretching so high towards the azure sky, it almost seemed like they were swaying along to its gentle melody. As I stand in the golden light of a sunlit meadow, I take stock of my bodily form. My skin, like the light of a foggy sky, gave no hint of its own luminescence and I could feel the weight of each late-night snack embedded into my thick thighs and protruding stomach. This body felt so foreign to me; yet it was the only one I had ever known.
The roundness of my stomach is evident beneath my skin, not like the idealized figures such as the feminine statues.
As Anthony's palm met my cheek, I felt a wave of warmth wash over me. Our eyes locked for what seemed like eternity, though it was only a few moments before we heard Julian stirring in his sleep. In an instant, the spell that bound us together was broken and Anthony quickly got to tending the fire near our campsite and checking on our meal of roasted birds.
Julian awoke to an unfamiliar sound that seemed to echo across the campfire. Sitting up and rubbing his eyes, he realized that it was there but an audible snoring from what they had roasted, a bird of some sort.
The birds were roasted perfectly, the golden brown skin crackling in the flames of the campfire as we ate. As he tore pieces off a roasted bird with his claws, Julian asked, "Did anyone hear that loud shrieking last night? It sounded like a maiden in the moonlight." We exchanged glances of concern but no one said anything. It felt like a chill running down your spine, almost as if a maiden in the moonlight was singing through its harpies' wails. I glanced over at Anthony expectantly, silently begging him to understand what was happening as much as I did. He just stared back at me blankly, rolling his shoulders uneasily and clenching his fists tightly.
The morning air carried a slight chill as the sun began to rise. We had finished our breakfast and Julian had stated that it was time to begin packing our belongings; we had a long journey ahead of us if we were to make the trip back to Silvestia. Although we may have been traveling back, it felt as though this journey would never end, an ominous cloud looming over every step towards our destination.