light. Aster trudged behind Elijah, his steps deliberate as he scanned their surroundings. The fore

steady. "We'll reach the river by nightfal

w. "Decide? I thought

gging at his lips. "But plans tend to ch

ension in the air. It was rare for him to laugh,

ijah said after a while

about... everything. The village, the

xed ahead. "You're wonderi

e way they looked at me-it was

ijah said simply. "But fear makes people d

-

and thicker, their branches weaving together like an impenetrable wall. Aster couldn't sha

said abruptly, holding up

brushing the hilt of the knife t

treetops, his muscl

there was nothing to hear. No

a faint

r, his amber eyes nar

. Aster's heart raced as he pulled out his knif

flash of steel. Elijah intercepted it with a fluid motion,

the shadows. He dodged to the side, slashing out with his knife. The bla

outed, his voice cutt

res circling them. They were cloaked, their fac

in the dim light. He twisted his body, using his smaller frame to his adv

his dagger flashing as he took down an

jah yelled, grab

ot on their heels. Aster's lungs burned, and his legs

-

r bodies worn from the relentless ambush. Aster's breaths came in shallow gasps, his arm slick with blood where a dagger had

a towering oak for support. "We... we can't keep

lared in his side. "We need to

tion. The forest was dense, but a faint trickle of water c

beneath their boots. When they finally reached the stream, Elijah collapsed onto a patch of mo

his voice trembling as he not

ged weakly.

and dipped it into the stream. The cold water numbed his fing

but didn't pull away

urprisingly firm. "You took a dagger for

. There was a determination in the younger man's move

this," Elijah sa

lp out in the village when people g

-

kets and distant howls. Aster and Elijah sat by a small fire

stick, his thoughts far away. "

tonight. They lost too many

" Aster asked, his voic

don't know. But they

jaw tightening. "I'm

id firmly. "You're more than

iction in Elijah's voice. For a moment, t

-

nd the sight of sunlight streaming through the trees. Elijah was a

Aster said, sitting

smile playing on his lips. "I'l

ged through their small pack and pulled out a piece of br

f studying Elijah. There was a calmness to

" Elijah said wi

"Sorry. I was j

bo

o calm," Aster admitted. "Even

t calm. It's survival. You learn to push everythi

ly. "I guess I ha

stronger than you think, Aster.

-

their temporary camp. Aster gathered firewood whil

fe," Elijah said as he watched

ou could say I ha

ow. "Remind me not to

e forest. It was a rare moment of levity, a bri

-

tung as it seeped into the cuts on his palms, but he didn't flinch. Elijah's faint groan

, moving to his side. "Y

. "I've been t

untered, his voice sharper than intended. He soft

smirk on his lips faded quickly. His hand moved instincti

quietly, sitting beside him. "I don't

t have to thank me. Keeping you

's voice. He didn't know how to respond, so he sett

-

old. Aster and Elijah sat together, their backs against the same tree. The s

age is still standing?

. "If it is, it's not

s shoulders sagging. "I d

h said firmly. "You dese

e would that be? In a world where pe

s amber eyes piercing. "

er off guard. For the first time in a

-

er sat by the fire, sharpening his knife while Elijah rested. His thoughts wandered to the events of

w was furrowed, and his hand rested near his weapon. Aster wondered w

es it?" Aster murmured, mor

er froze, his knife gripped tightly in his hand. The sound w

ered, reaching out

he was on his feet in an instant

the trees. "I heard

te as he stepped toward the edge of their camp

onlight playing tricks on their eyes. Aster's heart pou

the sile

ng as he lunged at the source of the sound. Aster turned to see

muttered, his voice low. "T

wed hard. "W

, his expression grim

-

ijah took turns keeping watch, their weapons never far from t

his voice hoarse from lack of sl

irrored in the dark circles un

replied. "It's risky, but it's

more often. Despite the danger and the injuries, Elijah carried himself with an un

lijah said, catching Aster'

mall smile. "I'll