"I think we're just going in circles," Khierra muttered, frustration slipping into her voice. "We've passed that tree before. I'm sure of it."
Winter paused, her eyes scanning the area. The thick canopy blocked out most of the moonlight, and everything looked the same dark, cold, and unforgiving.
"Why don't we rest for a while?" Ynah suggested gently. She glanced at Ayra, who was starting to lean heavily on Winter. "She needs it."
Khierra stopped walking and exhaled slowly. "Yeah… alright."
They found a small clearing beneath a thick-rooted tree. Khierra knelt down and gathered some dry branches and dead leaves from around the base.
With a snap of her fingers, a small flame ignited in her palm. She placed it into the pile and whispered, "Feura ignis."
The flame caught quickly, flickering to life.
"This will keep us warm for now," she said.
Ayra sat down, her legs trembling. "Thank you…" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "For not leaving me."
Ynah sat beside her and offered a small smile. "We don't leave people behind. That's not who we are."
Winter remained quiet, her gaze fixed beyond the trees. "Something's still out there."
Khierra looked up at her. "You felt it too?"
Winter gave a subtle nod. "We're being watched. Maybe followed."
The crackle of the fire was the only sound for a few seconds.
"Should we keep moving?" Ynah asked, concern in her voice.
"No," Khierra said firmly. "We'll rest for a few more minutes. Let Ayra gather her strength. If something wants to come at us, it'll have to face fire and blades."
Ayra blinked at her, surprised. "You… you're not scared?"
Khierra chuckled dryly. "Terrified," she said. "But fear just means we fight harder."
Winter finally turned back to them, crouching near the fire. "We'll get out of here. Together."
The three girls and Ayra sat close to the fire, surrounded by shadow and uncertainty but for the first time in hours, the warmth gave them a brief moment of peace.
A still breath in the middle of the storm.
The flames crackled softly, casting warm light over their tired faces. The shadows danced around them, but for once, none of them flinched. The silence was comforting, the forest momentarily still.
"We'll rest just for a few minutes…" Khierra murmured, settling back against the trunk of the tree. Her eyes remained sharp, but her body betrayed her exhaustion.
Ynah yawned beside her, arms wrapped around her knees. "Just enough to catch our breath…"
Winter sat with her orb laid across her lap, her eyes scanning the dark woods. But her head began to dip… once, twice… then slowly rested against her shoulder.
Ayra was already curled into herself, her breathing even. Safe. Warm.
One by one, they drifted off.
Khierra's fire continued to burn low, keeping them safe for now but its glow began to dim.
None of them intended to sleep.
None of them meant to let their guard down.
But exhaustion clung to them like vines, and despite the fear, despite the woods, despite the whispers that once surrounded them…
Sleep took them.
And the forest watched in silence.
--------
Birds chirped softly in the treetops, and golden rays of sunlight pierced through the gaps in the leaves, casting warm speckles of light over the forest floor.
Khierra stirred first, her brows furrowing as the brightness touched her face. She blinked rapidly, realizing the fire had long since burned out. "What the—"
She jolted upright, her heart thudding. "Guys wake up! It's morning!"
Winter sat up groggily, eyes wide as she looked around. "We… we fell asleep?"
Ynah stretched, disoriented. "We were just going to rest for a few minutes…"
Ayra, still curled beside them, slowly opened her eyes. "Did… did we sleep through the whole night?"
"Yeah, and it's a miracle nothing attacked us," Khierra muttered, standing up and brushing leaves off her uniform. "I don't know if the forest gave us mercy or if something was watching."
Winter stood as well, checking her blade. "Either way, we can't waste more time. We need to get out of here and fast."
"Which direction do we go?" Ynah asked, shading her eyes and glancing around.
Winter closed her eyes for a second, steadying her breathing. Then she pointed east. "That way. I remember seeing moss on the trees it's thicker on the north side. If we follow the opposite, we'll eventually reach the border near the academy."
Ayra looked at them, a little pale but stronger. "Thank you. For staying with me."
Khierra gave a small smile. "You're one of us now. That means something."
With renewed energy, the four girls started walking again, this time with sunlight at their backs and hope finally rising in their chests.
They didn't know what would be waiting when they got back but they knew they wouldn't be coming back alone.