The flames of the campfire danced and crackled before me, their rhythmic snaps joining the nightly chorus of chirping crickets and the occasional, distant hooting of a lone owl.
Placing a few more dry sticks into the heart of the blaze, I watched the wood ignite into a bright, golden flare. I took a slow bite out of the smoked meat Darius had brought along from our meager supplies, deeply thankful that his method of curing it had managed to preserve its rich, savory taste despite the rough journey.
Across from me, Darius chewed on his own portion, but his focus was entirely absent from the meal. His head moved at intervals, his sharp gaze scouring the dense tree line to the left and then to the right. Every single time a harmless cricket chirped too loudly, a bird rustled a branch, or a
