[ANNI-24] 4 - MEMORIES

it’s been a long day at cuerno’s butcher shop. the walk home is quiet except for idle chatter from both toro and cuerno as they make their way home. to their home.

as they enter the stone and wood building, cuerno hangs up his butcher's gear in their usual spot while toro makes a beeline straight to their nesting spot. it's a small area lined with soft grasses, feathers, and other comfortable materials. cuerno silently follows and snuggles up next to toro, quickly falling asleep.

it’s a warm night. insects outside chirp and buzz instead of the feather-folk. despite the warmth, toro can’t bring himself to move from where he is, laying peacefully next to cuerno.

it had only been months since they met, even less time since they got together, but it feels like they’ve been with each other for an eternity. toro watches the gentle rise and fall of cuerno’s chest as he sleeps, content to spend the rest of the night doing so if he could, but he knows he will fall asleep soon as well.

he thinks back to when they first met, his loud mouth and lack of filter turning out to earn him the love of a lifetime. he thinks about the festival, about each day spent with cuerno. he doesn’t exactly remember when he started spending more time in cuerno’s domicile than his own, but he appreciates every moment they have together.

toro can't believe how their relationship has progressed. it seems like it was only yesterday when cuerno gifted him with that meat after such a clumsy meeting. how is that possible? for it to seem like you've been with someone for both an eternity and just yesterday. he guesses that's just how love works. in mysterious ways.

he glances one last time at his sleeping lover before laying his head on cuerno’s chest and closing his eyes.