The forest was quiet, the golden hues of twilight fading into the deep blue of dusk. The trio walked at an easy pace, the weight of supplies slung across their backs and shoulders. For the first time in what felt like weeks, there was no immediate urgency pressing down on them. The village trip had been successful, and the path back to the cabin felt familiar, almost safe.
Taryn led the way, her posture relaxed, though her eyes occasionally flicked to the shadows pooling beneath the trees. The trail twisted and narrowed, but the faint sound of a nearby stream guided them forward. She let out a small breath, the tension she'd carried all day easing slightly.
"You've been quiet," Lucien teased from behind her, his voice warm and light. "What's the matter, Warrior? Worried we'll get mugged by shadow lynxes?"
Taryn glanced over her shoulder, her lips twitching in the faintest hint of a smile. "I'm quiet because I'm thinking. Someone around here has to."
