POV: Violet
The morning came quietly, the forest drenched in the pale gold of sunrise. Dew glistened on the tall grass like a thousand little stars, and for a fleeting moment, it was almost easy to pretend that the world was at peace again.
Almost.
The ranger station still smelled faintly of smoke and herbs — Kendra’s doing, no doubt. She’d spent half the night mixing something in a pot, claiming it would “keep bad spirits and mosquitoes away.” It hadn’t worked on the mosquitoes, but it had filled the air with a strange, calming scent that made the place feel… less haunted.
Ryan was already up, of course. I heard him outside, the faint rustle of movement and the low hum of magic vibrating through the floorboards. He’d been reinforcing the wards since dawn — silent, focused, determined.
