Morning light bled slowly across the treetops, casting soft gold over the forest clearing. Birds chirped high above as a gentle breeze whispered through the leaves. The wildlands looked almost peaceful, deceptively so.
Aria made her way through the underbrush, heart thudding a little faster than usual. The air was crisp, clean, and the stream she’d found the day before trickled gently not far ahead. Draka and the others were gone, out hunting or patrolling. She hadn’t seen him since dawn, when his massive shadow disappeared between the trees without a word.
She needed to wash. The sweat of days on the run, and the aching soreness in her bones, demanded it.
The stream came into view. Aria stripped quickly, casting wary glances around, and stepped into the cold water with a quiet gasp. It
