I figured that since we were in a forest, there had to be some edible fruits or berries nearby. Dominic had warned me to stay close to the cave, but the area immediately around it was barren—nothing that looked remotely edible. I’d ventured farther out than I should have, each step an uneasy compromise between hunger and fear.
The forest was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustling leaves and distant bird calls. I knelt near a bush laden with red berries, cautiously inspecting them. Were they poisonous? Edible? I wished I had asked Dominic more questions about this place.
A sudden rustling in the nearby bushes shattered the stillness. My heart leapt into my throat, and I immediately tugged my hood tighter over my head. Instinct took over, and I pressed myself against the thick trun
