Knox's POV
The storm passed as suddenly as it had arrived.
We made camp in a rocky hollow, sheltered from the wind by jagged outcroppings of stone. The snow had stopped falling, and the sky was clearing, revealing a blanket of stars that seemed close enough to touch.
The warriors gathered around the fire, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames. The tension of the past days had eased slightly, replaced by a fragile calm. Fenris shared stories of past battles, his voice low and measured. Gretha passed around dried meat and hard bread, her ancient hands steady despite the cold.
I sat apart from them, my back against a boulder, my eyes fixed on the fire. The shard pulsed beneath my skin, a constant reminder of the darkness I carried. The memory of the panic attack in the cave sti
