The camp was quiet as dawn broke over the forest, the pale light casting long shadows across the clearing. The Blackwood wolves, weary but resilient, were gathering their strength after their latest victory. Lyla sat at the edge of the camp, staring into the forest as if it might offer her answers. The battle against the shadow had drained her, and though the forest’s magic still coursed through her veins, it felt heavier now, burdened by the weight of what was yet to come.
She glanced down at her hands, the faint glow of the forest’s energy still lingering on her skin. It was a constant reminder of her role, one she hadn’t asked for but had come to accept.
Eli approached, his movements quiet but purposeful. “You haven’t slept,” he said, sitting beside her.
Lyla shook her head. “Every t
