In that moment, I knew that no matter what lay ahead, we would face it together. Our pasts may have shaped us, but it was our present, and the moments we shared, that truly defined us. And as I looked at Ava, her strength and grace shining through even in her pain, I couldn't help but feel a surge of hope. We were fighters, she and I.
The day wore on, Ava's strength waning with every step. I could see it in the pallor of her skin, the weariness in her eyes. Still, she pressed on, a fighter to the very end.
"Lucas," she teased, a weak smile on her lips, "I've heard of bad luck, but this is a whole new level."
I chuckled, determined to keep her spirits up. "Well, Ava, if there's anyone who can turn bad luck into an adventure, it's us."
We reached the clearing where Carmin's hut stood, a
