The seasons turned, and life in the valley settled into a comfortable rhythm.
Caleb rose with the sun each morning, checking his traps and hunting for their meals. The forest provided generously—deer in the autumn, rabbits in the winter, fish from the stream in the spring. He learned the land's secrets, its hidden paths and secret places, and he brought home food enough for all of them.
Elara tended the garden, gathering vegetables and herbs, while Luna played nearby, chasing butterflies and splashing in the shallow edge of the stream. The garden grew well in the rich valley soil—tomatoes and beans, carrots and herbs, more than they could eat themselves. Elara learned to preserve the excess, drying and salting and storing for the winter months.
By midday, Caleb returned, and they ate to
