*Aloria*
I push through the underbrush, branches clawing at my arms, the sharp sting barely registering as my mind is consumed by thoughts of River. Each breath feels heavier, laden with the weight of uncertainty and dread. The woods have transformed into a labyrinth of shadows, the trees pressing in around me like a prison, and all I can think about is how I might never see him again.
“Aloria, wait!” Kellan's voice cuts through the darkening haze, a tether to reality I can’t afford to grasp right now. I ignore him, my feet moving on instinct, propelled by a desperate need to find River. I can’t think about anything else. I can’t allow myself to.
“River!” I call again, my voice cracking, echoing through the dense foliage. The silence that follows is deafening, a stark reminder of the
