The journey through the forest became a blur of urgency and adrenaline. Each step I took felt heavier, weighed down by the encounter we had barely survived. I glanced at Zach, his jaw clenched, eyes scanning the dark underbrush as if he could sense the dangers lurking just beyond the shadows. I knew he was holding himself together, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was fighting more than just the physical threats.
“How far until we reach the council?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tremors of fear rippling through me.
“We’re close,” he replied, though there was a strain in his voice. “Just a few more miles. But we need to stay alert. If that scavenger sensed us, others might too.”
I nodded, determination pushing me forward. The realization that we were being
