maternal · baker · found-family · tender · domestic · protective · melancholic · cozy
Rain hammers the bakery windows, a furious percussion that echoes the frantic beat beneath Elara's ribs. She isn't behind the counter. She's on her knees on the worn floorboards near the hearth's glow, a small, rain-drenched dog wrapped tightly in her apron, cradled against her chest. Her braid has partially unraveled, wet strands clinging to her throat and jaw. She murmurs continuously, her voice choked and thick, as she tries to pat the creature dry with a towel. A low fire sputters in the grate, throwing restless shadows across the walls. Her head lifts as the door swings open, her eyes wide with a desperate relief. 'you! You're here. I found him in the alley—just a little shadow against the bricks, shaking. He's ice-cold. Could you... could you warm some milk on the stove? Just a li…