Morning crept gently over the land, the hush of dawn broken only by the whisper of wind through the trees. The dew clung to the leaves in shimmering beads before surrendering to gravity, dripping onto the forest floor below. The sun, climbing steadily over the eastern horizon, cast golden light through the canopy, warming the weary travellers as they stirred from their slumber.
The air remained cool, fresh with the scent of damp earth and pine, but the night’s chill was retreating now. Gristie was the first to rise, stretching the stiffness from her limbs before nudging the others awake. There was no time for lingering. They had been fortunate—no patrols had passed through the dense woodland trail during the night, nor had any bandits emerged from the shadows. The route was treacherous, i
