"What's wrong?"
Leah blinked rapidly, her breathing uneven as her eyes darted around the forest.
Her grip tightened slightly.
"…nothing…"
Her voice came out quieter than she intended.
Uncertain.
"…just… a dream…"
Valen slowed his pace slightly, his eyes scanning ahead through the thinning mist.
"We're near the border," he said quietly.
The air felt different here.
Less suffocating.
But not safe.
Not yet.
Zyra's gaze shifted toward the darker line of trees ahead, her expression sharpening as she listened to something beyond normal hearing.
"…yeah," she said under her breath. "I can feel movement."
A brief pause.
"People."
Leah didn't react.
She remained on Zyra's back, silent; her thoughts still tangled somewhere far away, her grip absent-minded, like she wasn't fully present.
Valen stopped.
Then moved forward a step and carefully lowered Mauris to the ground near a tree, resting him with quiet respect.
He straightened.
"It's better if we leave now," he said.
No hesitation.
No softness.
Just fact.
"We don't want to draw unwanted attention."
Zyra didn't move immediately.
Her fingers tightened slightly where she held Thalia.
A flicker of hesitation passed across her face.
Unusual.
Garron saw it.
Understood it.
Without a word, he stepped forward and slowly lowered Henry beside Mauris, placing him just as carefully.
For a moment....
He stayed there.
Kneeling.
Looking at them.
Then he stood.
"I'll go ahead," he said, his voice steady again, though the weight hadn't left it. "I'll find help… bring people to carry them."
His eyes shifted briefly toward Valen.
Then Zyra.
A silent acknowledgment.
Not trust.
Not fully.
But something close enough for now.
Leah remained quiet.
Still caught between what she saw.
And what she felt.
The forest behind them breathed softly.
Ahead;
Something waited.
And they were standing right at the edge of it.
Zyra lowered herself carefully and eased Thalia onto the ground, supporting her head until it rested safely against the roots.
Valen stepped closer to Garron, his voice quieter now.
"I hope you find a way… to bring her soul back."
Garron didn't answer immediately.
His eyes rested on Thalia.
Unmoving.
Empty.
His jaw tightened slightly, the weight of it pressing deeper.
"…I will," he said at last.
Not loud.
Not certain.
But firm enough to hold onto.
He turned;
And began walking toward the border.
Zyra glanced back at Leah, then crouched slightly.
"Hey… sleepyhead," she said softly. "Wake up."
Leah stirred.
Slowly.
Zyra guided her down, letting her feet touch the ground while she kept a steady hand on her shoulder. Leah leaned against the tree, her body still weak, her breath uneven.
Her lips parted.
"…Fraaauner…"
The name slipped out like it hurt to say.
Zyra watched her for a second;
Then gave a small, confident smile.
"Don't worry," she said. "Leave that to us."
A light tap to her own chest.
"The two fearless warriors."
Valen gave a small nod beside her.
"We'll track him," he added. "And we'll find him."
Leah looked at them.
Really looked this time.
Her eyes trembled.
Then suddenly.
She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Zyra.
Tight.
Tears slipping down silently.
Zyra froze for half a second.
Then awkwardly patted her back.
"…okay, okay… don't cry that much," she muttered.
In the distance...
"HELP! HELP!"
Garron's voice echoed through the trees.
A faint reply followed.
Then.....
Footsteps.
More than one.
Coming closer.
Garron appeared again at the edge, turning briefly to look back at them. His eyes met Valen's;
Then Zyra's.
He gave a small nod.
Gratitude.
Unspoken.
Zyra shifted, gently pulling Leah back and steadying her by the shoulders.
"Don't worry," she said, her voice softer now.
"We'll find him."
A small pause.
"And we'll drag him out of this forest if we have to."
She gave a faint grin.
"Then send him back to you."
Leah's grip loosened slowly.
Zyra stepped back.
"…we'll meet again," she added lightly.
"Try not to die before that."
Valen turned without another word.
Zyra turned;
And followed.
Not looking back at first.
Not slowing.
The mist shifted as they stepped into it, parting just enough to let them through before folding in again behind them.
Valen walked ahead, steady, silent, his figure already beginning to blur at the edges as distance and fog swallowed detail.
Zyra trailed just behind.
Then paused.
Just for a moment.
Her steps slowed.
The forest felt heavier in that direction.
Darker.
Like it was waiting for them.
She glanced back over her shoulder.
Leah stood near the tree, barely holding herself upright, Garron now surrounded by faint shapes of approaching figures in the distance. The sound of voices; real, human voices—began to break through the forest's unnatural silence.
For the first time;
Safety.
Or something close to it.
Zyra's expression shifted slightly.
Less playful.
More… certain.
She raised a hand.
Not dramatically.
Just a small gesture.
A quiet goodbye.
Then she turned away.
Fully this time.
No hesitation.
Valen didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
But his pace adjusted slightly.
Waiting for her to catch up.
She did.
And together.
They moved deeper.
The mist thickened around them, swallowing their forms piece by piece. First their legs disappeared into the pale haze.
Then their silhouettes blurred.
Then only faint outlines remained.
Two figures.
Walking into something unseen.
Unknown.
Until finally.
They were gone.
Only the forest remained.
And the echo of everything that had just been left behind.