Eren awoke in the middle of the night, his heightened senses catching a faint, unfamiliar noise.
It was soft at first, a creak of wood, the faint sound of movement but it was enough to pull him from his sleep. Sitting up, he strained to listen, his heart beating faster with each passing second.
Phoenix stirred from her bed across the room, her sharp instincts kicking in as soon as she noticed Eren's movement. Her piercing eyes flicked toward him.
"What is it?" she whispered, her voice low and alert.
"I don't know," Eren admitted, his long pointy ears straining. "But something's off."
Without hesitation, Phoenix rose from her bed and grabbed her dagger, her every motion sharp and calculated. Before she could move toward the door, Eren was at her side, catching her wrist.
"Wait," he said firmly. "Let's go together. Let's wake the others first."
Phoenix's eyes narrowed. "We don't have time for that—"
