When Evangeline woke up, she smelled the thick scent of blood all around.
She propped herself up, and as she looked up, she saw a dark, surging tide of insects hemming her in on all sides.
Evangeline frowned and scanned her surroundings. The Everwake was gone.
As she awoke, the swarm seemed to receive some signal. The insects froze for a moment, then receded like a tide, leaving winding trails of slime on the tree trunks.
She lowered her gaze and saw several stark beast skeletons lying beneath the tree, still streaked with blood that had yet to dry.
Evangeline rose slowly, a red thread shimmering faintly at her fingertips.
She looked up, gazing into the depths of the rain. That was the direction of the Umbral Abyss.
The Everwake hadn't stayed, but his willingness to command the swarm to protect her was a sign that his guard was lowering.
Still, she had already placed a Protective Body Restriction on herself and had absolutely no need for his gesture.
