The fire crackled softly, the only sound breaking the weighty silence that had settled over the clearing. Taryn sat closest to the flames, her posture stiff as she stared into the flickering light. Her blade rested across her lap, its edge catching the occasional glint of orange and gold, though her hands remained still. Kah'el leaned against a log, his sharp gaze fixed on the treeline as though expecting the shadows to shift. His blade lay balanced across his knees, its hilt within easy reach.
Lucien reclined against another log, his posture casual but edged with something unspoken. His hand rested lightly over his ribs, his smirk faint as though to mask the strain that lingered beneath the surface. For once, there were no quips, no teasing remarks to fill the space between them.
