The forest seemed quieter than usual, the only sounds the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of unseen creatures. Elara stumbled beside me, her face pale and glistening with sweat. I had been keeping an eye on her for some time, and it was clear now that she couldn't go on like this.
I reached out to steady her as she swayed on her feet. "We're stopping here," I said firmly, guiding her toward the shade of a large tree.
She didn't argue—she couldn't. Her breaths came in shallow gasps, her body trembling as I laid her down on a patch of mossy ground. I knelt beside her, pressing the back of my hand to her forehead. Her skin was burning, feverish.
"Elara, you're burning up," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
She blinked up at me, her usually sharp eyes dulled by exhaustion. "I'll be fine," she mumbled, though her voice was weak.
I shook my head, already scanning the area for what I needed. Water was my first priority. We were too far from the base to use any of our supplies, and I hadn't planned for this. My eyes landed on the empty chest I had taken from the cave. It wasn't ideal, but it would hold water.
"Stay here," I said, rising to my feet.
"Don't…" Her hand reached out weakly, brushing against mine. "Don't leave me behind."
"I'm not leaving," I assured her, kneeling back down. "I'm just going to get water. You need to rest."
Her grip tightened slightly, but she let go, closing her eyes as I stood and headed toward the nearby stream. The chest was heavier than I expected once filled, but it held the water well enough. I hurried back, setting it down beside her and soaking a strip of cloth I had torn from my shirt.
When I pressed the damp cloth to her forehead, she let out a small sigh, her body relaxing slightly. I continued to cool her down, wringing out the cloth and re-soaking it, watching her fevered face for any sign of improvement.
Her clothes were fraying at the edges, the fabric worn thin from our journey. I tried not to notice, but her exposed skin was hard to ignore. Her delicate features, even in her weakened state, reminded me of just how unprepared she was for this kind of hardship.
"Orion," she murmured, her voice soft and almost pleading.
I leaned closer. "What is it?"
"Why… why don't you ever look at me?" Her eyes fluttered open, gazing up at me with an intensity that caught me off guard.
"I do look at you," I said, confused.
"Not like that," she whispered. Her hand reached up, brushing against my cheek. "You've seen me… like this." Her gaze dropped to her tattered clothes, her cheeks flushing. "And yet, you've never… reacted."
I felt my throat tighten. "Elara, this isn't the time to talk about—"
"Why?" she interrupted, her voice trembling. "Why do you always keep your distance?"
I didn't have an answer. Or rather, I had too many answers, none of which I wanted to share.
Her hand slid down, grasping mine. "Do you even find me attractive?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Elara, don't," I said, trying to pull away, but her grip was surprisingly strong.
"Answer me," she insisted, her eyes locking onto mine.
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. She was beautiful—there was no denying that. But this wasn't the time or place for such thoughts.
Before I could say anything, she pulled me closer, her lips brushing against mine in a hesitant, fevered kiss.
For a moment, I froze, caught between my instincts and my reason. Her lips were soft, her touch gentle despite her fever. Slowly, almost unconsciously, I kissed her back.
Her hand moved to the back of my neck, pulling me closer as the kiss deepened. I could feel her heat, her vulnerability, and for a moment, I let myself forget everything else. My fingers traced the curve of her jaw, her skin impossibly soft despite the harshness of our surroundings.
But then reality crashed back in. I pulled away, breaking the kiss, my breathing uneven. "Elara, we can't…"
"Why not?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Because this isn't… It's not right," I said, struggling to find the words.
Her eyes searched mine, hurt and confusion flickering across her face. "I just… I don't want to feel alone anymore," she whispered.
"You're not alone," I said firmly, taking her hand in mine. "I'm here. But we need to focus on surviving. We can't afford to—"
A sudden noise in the distance made me stop mid-sentence. I stiffened, my eyes darting toward the forest.
"What is it?" Elara asked, her voice barely audible.
I shook my head, motioning for her to stay quiet. The sound came again—a low, rustling noise, too deliberate to be the wind.
"Stay here," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Elara," I said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face, "this isn't over. But right now, we have to be careful."
As I stood, her fingers brushed mine again, lingering just a moment too long. I turned away, scanning the darkness, every sense on high alert.
Whatever was out there, it wasn't going to wait for us to sort out our emotions.