As night descended upon the forest, Shivay and Senira set up camp under the canopy of stars. The flickering flames of the campfire created a warm glow, their light casting playful shadows on the trees around them. Shivay sat by the fire, watching the flames crackle and pop, lost in thought.
Senira, ever graceful, was busy preparing their meal for the night. She moved with an effortless fluidity, her nine tails swaying gently as she worked. The smell of roasting meat soon filled the air, and Shivay's stomach rumbled in anticipation. He wasn't used to someone cooking for him—certainly not someone like Senira, who was as skilled in the kitchen as she was on the battlefield.
"Dinner's ready," Senira announced with a teasing smile, handing him a plate of perfectly cooked meat. "Hope you like it."
Shivay took a bite, and the flavors hit him immediately. "This is... really good," he said, surprised at how delicious it was. "You've got some serious cooking skills."
Senira chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling. "I've had a lot of time to practice. But it's nice to have someone to cook for again."
Shivay felt a strange warmth at her words, not just from the food but from the feeling of someone actually caring for him. "No one's ever cooked for me before," he admitted, almost without thinking.
Senira's playful expression softened as she looked at him. "Really? Not even in your old clan?"
He shook his head, staring at the fire. "No... I lived alone. Ate alone. Everything was just... me, you know? It wasn't exactly the kind of life where people did nice things for you. As I am the first of species there was no one to talk to to eat with"
Senira didn't say anything for a moment, simply watching him with a thoughtful expression. Then, she moved closer to him, sitting down beside him as the firelight reflected in her amber eyes. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Shivay hesitated. He had never really talked about his old life, not in any meaningful way. But something about Senira made him feel like he could open up like he could trust her. With a sigh, he leaned back against a nearby rock and stared up at the stars.
As they were talking about all this, he decided to tell Serina about himself before he came to this world.
"I wasn't always... this," he said, gesturing vaguely at himself. "I was just a normal guy to tell you the truth I am not from this world. I come from a world where there is no magic, no magical creature, nothing I worked an office job. I was quiet and kept to myself. Didn't have friends or anyone close. My life was... kind of empty. I didn't have much going on except work, and even that was just routine. Day in, day out. Same thing over and over."
Senira listened quietly, her gaze fixed on him, giving him her full attention. Shivay found it easier to continue, the words coming out faster now.
"I wasn't unhappy, but I wasn't happy either. It's hard to explain. I just... existed. Never had a girlfriend. Never really had any meaningful relationships. I kept telling myself I'd find time for all that later, but later never came." He laughed bitterly. "Then, before I knew it, I was gone. Just like that."
" And got reborn here and now, I am glad that it happened because I got everything I did not get in my old world."
Also, he told her about his hobby and the incident that took him to this world also he told her about Shunaya as Senira would be his companion and wife.
"Now I have a companion who will accompany me on this journey and a friend like Shunaya with me."
There was a long silence after he finished, the only sound coming from the crackling fire. Shivay didn't know what he expected her to say. Maybe nothing at all. But then, he felt something soft and warm drape over him. He looked down and realized one of Senira's tails had gently wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him closer to her.
He glanced at her, surprised. Senira's expression was tender, her eyes filled with understanding. "You don't have to feel alone anymore," she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of her sincerity. "You're not the same person you were back then. You've grown, and changed. And now, you've got me. I'm here, Shivay. You don't have to carry everything by yourself."
Shivay felt his chest tighten at her words. It was something he hadn't realized he needed to hear until that moment. He wasn't alone anymore. He had Senira, and even though they had only just begun this journey together, he knew she meant every word.
"Thank you," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Senira smiled, her tail tightening its comforting grip around him. "It's okay. I've been through a lot too. More than most can imagine. But we're in this together now."
Shivay nodded, leaning into her soft fur, feeling a sense of peace wash over him that he hadn't felt in a long time. The warmth of her tail and the sound of her steady breathing eased the lingering loneliness inside him.
They sat like that for a while, neither saying anything. The night air was cool, but with Senira's tail around him, Shivay felt warm, both physically and emotionally. He wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, just sitting in the quiet of the forest, but eventually, he felt his eyelids grow heavy.
Senira, sensing his weariness, whispered, "Get some rest, Shivay. I'll keep watch."
But Shivay shook his head, smiling faintly. "We can take turns, but... I don't really feel like sleeping just yet."
"Alright," she said softly, not pushing him.
The two of them talked late into the night, their conversation light and easy, flowing naturally as if they had known each other for years. Shivay found himself laughing more than he had in a long time, feeling lighter with every passing minute.
At some point, the fatigue from the day's journey finally caught up with him. His head grew heavier, and before he knew it, he was dozing off against Senira's shoulder, her tail still wrapped securely around him.
Senira glanced down at him, her expression soft as she watched him drift off to sleep. With a gentle smile, she leaned her head back against the rock and closed her eyes, her own exhaustion pulling her into a peaceful slumber.
For the first time in a long time, Shivay didn't feel alone. He had someone by his side now, and as they lay there beneath the stars, wrapped in the warmth of Senira's tails, he realized that maybe—just maybe—things were finally starting to change for the better.