Ariyah's POV
Eastern Forest - Small Settlement
The world tilts, and I fall.
Elara catches me before I hit the ground, her arms wrapping around me, her voice sharp with panic. "Ariyah! Ariyah, stay with me!"
I try to answer, but the words won't come. My body feels like it's made of stone, heavy and unresponsive. The forest spins around me, trees blurring into shadows, shadows blurring into darkness.
"We're almost there," Elara says, though I'm not sure if she's talking to me or herself. "Just a little further. Please, Ariyah. Please hold on."
I want to tell her I'm trying. I want to tell her that I can feel the baby, a tiny spark of life inside me, and that I won't let go. But my mouth won't move, and the darkness is closing in.
The last thing I hear before I lose consciousness is E
