The stillness inside the cave was deceptive. Outside, the forest seemed to breathe in the night air, its dense canopy alive with the distant sounds of creatures moving through the underbrush. An owl hooted softly, its call blending with the rustling leaves. But inside, the group remained unnaturally silent, each member lost in their thoughts, their fatigue too deep for idle conversation.
Luke sat near the cave entrance, eyes fixed on the distant shadows of the forest. His mind was a whirlpool of fears and uncertainties, his body tense despite the exhaustion weighing down his limbs. He had hoped to find solace in the quiet of the night, but all he found were more questions—questions with no answers.
"Can't sleep?" Ava's voice broke the silence. She approached him quietly, her soft steps barely disturbing the stillness around them. She sat down beside him, leaning against the rough cave wall.
