**Thank you everyone for golden tickets and power stones**.
Upon reaching the entrance of the forest, Dahlia stood quietly at her place. She wandered her eyes around and recalled her city life, where such peacefulness was rare to find.
"Let's go ahead," Sullivan's voice broke through the calm, pulling her from her thoughts. He stepped forward, his movements sure and purposeful as he took a rifle from one of the soldiers.
Slinging it over his shoulder, he turned to her with a cautionary glance. "Stay close. There are all kinds of animals out here."
Dahlia moved closer, falling into step beside him, her eyes darting to the weapon now resting against his back. "Are you really planning to hunt?" she asked, her voice carrying a thread of concern.
She knew Sullivan well enough to recognize the storm brewing inside him. The disappointment of the canceled hunt with his father still lingered in his eyes, and she feared he might take it out on the unsuspecting creatures of the forest.
