The sky was still dark when Bri’s alarm buzzed softly at 4:45 A.M.
She rolled out of bed with a groan, stretching her stiff limbs before changing into the new black training leggings and cropped top she’d bought two days prior. Pulling her hair up into a messy bun and tying her running shoes, she then grabbed a water bottle and a banana from the small kitchenette in their apartment and slipped quietly into the hallway.
Outside, the world was slowly waking. The Montana sky was painted in hushed purples and deep slate blues. The silhouette of the mountains framed the east, where the first strokes of gold and coral hinted at the approaching sunrise. The air was cool, crisp, and smelled faintly of pine and promise.
As she approached the training grounds, the quiet began to break with the s
