The sun was nearly at its peak, its harsh light filtering down through the dense canopy, making the group’s sweat gather into droplets that slid along their necks and dampened their shirts. Every step crunched against the carpet of dry leaves, the sound constant and sharp, yet not one of them complained. After gathering a fair number of useful plants, their spirits were noticeably lighter, especially Lucas and Lucy, whose energy now seemed boundless, fueled by the morning’s small victories.
Ethan led the way, his pace unbroken despite the heat and the forest’s suffocating closeness. His eyes were sharp, scanning every tree trunk, every patch of brush, as though a natural map was already etched in his memory. One hand gripped the stone spear he had sharpened himself, the other brushed bran
