A wave of blue hills. Their deep hue darkened by the setting sun.

The bleating of sheep, mingled with deep purrs of sleepy satisfaction.

Lonely against the backdrop of golden fields, one person stood amongst his flock.

He ran a gentle hand along the soft head of the animal next to him. Eyes glinting with affection, the creature’s cat-like head leaned into his touch. A long crook in the young man’s hand jingled with a bell at its curved top and all the sheep lifted their heads. Wordlessly leading them along, the man rang the bell again and his herd fell in line. The sun continued to dip below the mountains and the lights along a dirt path glowed with comforting light.

The cozy glimmer of a small town in the distance made the sheep quicken their pace at the promise of soft hay and shelter under the stars. By the time he made it back the triad of moons were high in the sky, a clear night offering as much light as one would need.

Opening a barn door, he let the sheep rush inside, watching them hop into cushioned beds and piles of warm straw. Making sure they were settled, the man closed the door, hanging up his crook before he went. A small house with warm light in the windows stood beside the barn, a single lit lamp on the covered porch waited for him with a faint blue glow. Only when all were home would that light be extinguished, lit again in the morning when beds and rooms sat empty.

The man lifted the glass, blowing out the blue flame. The wax was covered in glyphs to make it eternal so it never passed time.

The home was warm, a stove lit in the corner. The entryway was dark and the man switched on a light to happen upon a young woman sleeping with her head on the table. A covered pot sat in the middle of a handmade heated pad with a delicious smell wafting from it. 

“Hey. Hey, Sasha. What are you doing?” Walking over, he nudged her shoulder with a cross look.

The woman immediately stood up, dark blue eyes wide as she turned to the man. “Lark! Finally! I’ve been waiting for over an hour!”