**Winter's POV**
The forest seemed to whisper my name as I pushed onward, my heart racing as though it knew something I didn’t. The magical air around me felt more alive than ever, charged with power and waiting for a command. Yet, contrary to my intentions, my body felt heavy and sluggish.
Each step toward Lily was excruciating. My legs screamed in exhaustion, my muscles threatening to betray me with every stride. I clutched the map we’d created like a talisman, its promise of guidance through the unknown spurring me forward.
But then it hit—a sharp, searing pain that ripped through my abdomen. I crumpled to the forest floor, a cry spilling from my lips. The agony was worlds apart from anything I'd experienced, each wave relentless in its savagery.
No, I couldn't let this stop me. Li
