After a cold, restless night, dawn quickly approaches Siltria. Rays of sunlight spread across the treasured land of opportunity, greeting the province to a new day.
Soon enough, light enters through Zeb's tenement windows, awakening the dainty bovani gently.
As the room continues to brighten, Zeb flutters his eyes slightly open, slowly regaining full consciousness. He faintly yawns, stretching his arms and legs for a moment, only to turn to his side, very comfortable in his sheets.
His mind is a haze, having a difficult time recollecting what transpired the day prior. He rubs his face in the soft blankets that cover him as memories of the recent past flood back to him, one after another.
A grey huntress startling him as he was focused winding up his crank engine. Getting to know her as they drove off to Cohv together. Accidentally running over a Kunehva solider. Suddenly be sent flying from his engine's mainspring unspooling. Becoming surrounded by hunters who want to feast upon him. Waking up after passing out from being beyond mortified, only to realize that his unexpected companion not only saved his life, but carried him for miles, all the way to the outskirts of the city.
All of these events, along with their subsequent emotions, overwhelm Zeb. He couldn't begin to believe it all happened - in a single day, no less.
Just as he started to come to terms with the fact that his memories actually occurred, he felt a surge of unbridled fear take over his already sporadic mind, recalling the horrific sight from the dead of yesternight.
Glass, inexplicably out of bed for long enough that her side of the mattress had gone cold, stands across the room, jittering and gritting her teeth. Clawing at the wall, she snarls, much like a furious feral animal, ready to strike down their prey. The unnerving behavior petrifies the strayborn, leading to him trying to defend himself in desperation.
He drops a winding key he intended to use as a weapon in case Glass tried to attack him. The noise fully alerted the Sorrova, causing her to glare directly at Zeb, fangs prominently showing. All Zeb could think to do was hide underneath the covers as the hunter slowly approached him. Zeb erratically prayed to his God, shaking in pure panic as the tapping of Glass's footsteps grew louder.
Before he knew it, Glass laid back in bed beside him like nothing happened, and he passed out once again.
In the present, Zeb breathes sharply, practically hyperventilating. He had no idea what to do from this point, or even where Glass is. He observed his surroundings frantically, before realizing that Glass is beside him, in the same position she was in when the two initially fell asleep.
Not wanting to wake up his savior and potential threat after their long day together, Zeb tries to control his breathing, carefully crawling his way out of bed, brushing his body along the wall, repositioning himself to set foot on the floor.
He nearly pushes over a couple of bottles that stand in front of his bed, but he swiftly dodges them right before stepping. Inching his way to the shower closet, he slowly closes the door behind him, exhaling a sign of slight relief when shut.
He holds himself up by leaning ruggedly against the white wall, his breaths now steadying more naturally. He peers into his own reflection in the square mirror across from where he stood. His bright fur stands on end from all the anxiety educed thinking over the past few minutes.
Zeb questions the validity of what happened in the middle of the night. He is now fully confident everything that happened before dusk was true, but that only left him more perplexed about what came after.
"That had to have been a nightmare...right?" Zeb ponders, standing more upright. He looks throughout his body for signs of any fresh scars. "It doesn't look like I'm hurt anywhere, not even a scratch! Thank Shama!"
Relief flows through the tense Bovani's nerves. With no conclusive evidence, he momentarily put his worries aside to focus on his needs.
Taking a better look at himself in the mirror, Zeb realized that he hasn't showered in days. The lack of cleanliness confuses him, since he would almost always bathe after coming back home from his travels.
"Maybe taking out the wine before thinking my routine through wasn't the best decision," he thought, giving a disapproving look at himself. "What did I even do? Go to the shower closet with my sleeping clothes, changed without using the shower, and then slept filthy? That would explain the weird look Glass gave me.."
Standing up straight without the support of the wall, Zeb considers his next immediate course of action. He racks around ideas in order to clean himself without waking his guest. He greatly dislikes the sensation of being dirty, both for the repulsive feeling it gives him, along with the notion of it being unlawful in public.
"I guess I could carefully retrieve some clean clothes before showering, even though my dresser is right next to my bed. And for the actual showering part, I could just turn on the water a little bit, so it doesn't make too much noise? Maybe? Sure. Let's go with that."
Once his mind was made, he slowly walk to his destination. Forgetting about the loose screws beside his bed from a small project he tinkered with before his trip to Vebruk, Zeb stepped on one, letting out a small yelp. He holds his breath, figuring that would eliminate most sounds of pain.
His heart races, beating hard enough to be heard. He glaces over to Glass, pleased to find her still deep in slumber, partly calming his heart rate.
Getting on his knees, Zeb delicately opens his drawer. He takes out a soft dark blue undershirt, light blue midriff top, underwear, beige shorts, and a brown belt. He also grabbed his coin pouch, knowing he was set to go see his cousin Janko once he finished freshening up.
He holds the bag by it's underside, so it's contents don't produce too much noise when he moves. Zeb carries the rest of the items between his other arm and chest. Right before entering the shower closet again, he gently lays the coin pouch beside the door, repeating in his mind multiple times to pick it up before leaving.
After much internal peril, Zeb finally let's his body and mind relax, partially pulling the shower's lever to open the water flow a small amount. Quickly undressing and setting his night attire aside, he enjoys a brisk and greatly refreshing cleanse, trying not to let his lingering anxiety get the best of him.