The sun was barely a sliver above the horizon when the dense forest finally gave way to a clearing. Twilight's soft glow bathed the space in muted purples and grays, the shadows stretching long across the ground as the trio stumbled forward. The air was sharp and cold, carrying the faint, earthy scent of damp leaves and distant water.
Taryn stopped first, her sharp gaze sweeping the clearing's edges. Towering trees encircled them, their gnarled branches reaching high to form an almost impenetrable canopy overhead. A narrow stream snaked along one side of the clearing, its surface glinting faintly in the fading light.
Her breath came out in a hard exhale, breaking the fragile quiet. "This is it?" Her voice was low, tinged with exhaustion.
