Dawn

The windows are open. There's a light breeze coming in and the sky is still dark, the hour is just before sunrise.

It's so early even the birds haven't begun chirping yet.

He knows that if he were out in the forest now, the deer would be about, early-morning creatures that they are.

There's a gentle clatter of dishes from the kitchen and he knows that Yoshino is up, fixing breakfast.

There will be tea and natto and rice.

The deer, it seems, are not the only early-morning creatures on Nara clan lands.

That's nice.