The sun hadn’t yet touched the church spires, but the first light had started to warm the edges of the shutters.

Elynara stretched slowly beneath the blanket, letting her limbs extend one by one with a satisfying pull that ran down her back. The ache was still there, but it was quiet now. Dull but manageable.

Across the room, a faint trill sounded.

She cracked one eye open to see Starpuff hovering above the dresser, pulsing with gentle anticipation.