The dawn broke over the forest, painting the horizon in hues of gold and red. The battlefield was eerily quiet now, the echoes of the night’s chaos still reverberating in Lena’s mind. Wolves moved about, tending to the wounded, their faces somber. The victory over the hunters and the shadow creature felt hollow, the cost etched into every scar and broken body.
Lena sat between Marcus and Damien, her hands trembling as she alternated between tending their wounds. Marcus had taken a blow to his ribs that left him breathing shallowly, while Damien’s side bled from where the shadow’s claws had raked him. They were alive, but barely.
“You don’t have to stay here,” Marcus murmured, his voice hoarse. His piercing blue eyes met hers, filled with both concern and an unspoken plea.
“I’m not
