Sleepy Fox Hollow Last long enough to go extinct,

Something in Anselm felt wretched as he watched Etienne bathe. He knew it was wrong to be witness to something so private — rude, even — yet he could not tear his gaze away. 

Something mumbled from Etienne’s mouth about his shoulders. Even if it had been audible to Anselm, he wouldn’t dream of offering help. 

Anselm started as Etienne bent over, stepping behind an ash tree bough so he would be concealed better. 

He felt a pulse knit into his stomach, stretching down along his belly and thighs with each rebounding pulse.

The water rippled as Etienne surfed along his back. For one long boyish moment, Anselm wanted to join him — but the feeling withered to ash in his mouth as he remembered everything he’d lost.