The Next Day...
The morning light filtered through the polished windows... scattering soft rays across Rin's cheek.
His lashes fluttered... and for the first time in hours... he didn't feel like curling into a ball and begging the universe to make it stop. The thick haze of heat had lifted... well, only temporarily... he knew that much. But for now... he could breathe.
And more importantly... he wasn't hot and feeling needy.
"Woof!"
A small... wet tongue licked his cheek.
Rin groaned softly... but a smile tugged at his lips. Niblet's scruffy little head popped into view... tail wagging furiously as he licked at Rin's face... barking again as if it were the greatest miracle that his master was alive.
"Niblet..." Rin murmured... scooping the little creature into his arms and nuzzling his face into its soft fur. "I thought I died yesterday. Ugh. I don't want to ever go through that again. Never."
Niblet barked again... pawing at his chest.
