The forest was unnervingly silent, as if it held its breath in anticipation of the group's next move. Each step Adira took was deliberate, her senses tuned to the faintest whisper of sound. The reactivated ward had brought a temporary reprieve, but she could feel the weight of their mission pressing down harder than ever.
Ahead, Kael moved with his usual unyielding determination, his eyes scanning for threats hidden among the trees. Kane stayed close to Adira, his protective instincts heightened after the strain she endured repairing the fractured ward. Finn brought up the rear, his nervous glances betraying the tension that clung to them like a second skin.
"We'll need to make camp soon," Kane said, his voice low. "You can barely stay on your feet."
Adira shook her head, though her body ached with exhaustion. "We don't have time. The longer we wait, the stronger the Rift's influence becomes."
