The first light of dawn crept through the narrow opening of the cave and palely lit the stone walls. Aria stirred from her sleep; the cold morning air bit into her exposed skin.
She sat up with a slow movement, pulling the fur blanket tighter around her shoulders, sending a glance down at Black Heart, who lay nestled against her side. His small body lay in rest, but his eyes were open to the dim light around him, as if already awake to the world.
Aria let out a sigh, her fingers tracing his dark curls with the delicacy one might use with an orchid.
He had never cried, the moment he was born. Hungry, cold-he'd looked on and on, like he absolved everything into his silence. The fire in his hair had subsided overnight, smoldering now into a soft light that did little more than flicker.
"Good morning, my love," Aria whispered, leaning down to press a soft kiss to his forehead.
He blinked up at her, his face unreadable, but she thought she saw the briefest flicker of recognition in his staring eyes.
He had never smiled, never giggled the way other children did. Not that any of it mattered, because in moments like these, she felt a connection with him, something deep and unspoken.
Aria rose from the pallet with a sigh, cradling Black Heart in her arms. The dying fire near the cave entrance showed Darken was already stirring. His broad form silhouetted against pale light, she could hear by the quiet rustling of movement that he was stirring the embers with a stick.
"You're up early," he said, not turning around, his deep voice cutting through the morning silence. He glanced over his shoulder, offering her a small nod of acknowledgment. "Sleep well?"
"Well enough," Aria returned, shifting Black Heart in her arms and settling toward the fire. "It is difficult to sleep when a girl has much on her mind."
Darken's laughter rumbled low in his chest. "I'm not surprised. You've got quite a load to bear."
Aria sat down beside him as the flames grew and began to cast a warm light across the cave. She looked down at Black Heart, who stared into the fire with that same intent focus he always wore. His small hands were curled into fists, his body relaxed, yet somehow alert, always as if he was watching, always learning.
"About yesterday." Aria began, her voice tentative. "I still can't believe what happened at the river. I mean, how could he do that? He's just a baby."
Darken's features encased into a soft curve as he tossed another log onto the flames. "He's no ordinary child, Aria. He has power in him, more than you realize. And it's only going to grow as he gets older."
Aria's heart quelled at his words. "But what if I can't protect him? What if I'm not strong enough?"
Darken turned fully toward her now, dark eyes burning as they swept over her, the pulsing of her heart quickening. "You're stronger than you think," he said softly. "But to this world, you will have to learn. That's why today we start again-lessons on how to survive and protect both yourself and him. You will need those skills soon enough."
Aria swallowed and nodded slowly. She knew he was right. It was only a few days since she had first met Darken, but already she had the weight of the dangers which surrounded them. Black Heart was special, and there were those that would want to take him, use him, or worse.
"What do we do today?" she asked, in a voice just above a whisper.
Darken arose, dusting the dirt from his palms. "Hunting," he said succinctly. "You'll need to know how to track and kill if you're going to survive out here. Today, we're going after bigger game-something that can fight back."
Aria's stomach twisted with nerves, but she didn't protest. She needed to learn, for Black Heart's sake. If she can't protect him, no one else would. She rose on her feet, securing Black Heart in the sling she had fashioned from furs, tying him close to her back. His eyes remained on the fire as she worked, his small body warm against hers.
Darken watched her with a quiet intensity, nodding his approval. "You're getting faster," he remarked as he slung his own pack over his shoulder. "That's good. Speed will save your life in a fight."
Aria forced a tight smile as she readjusted the sling, making sure Black Heart was secure. "I'll get better," she promised. "I have to."
They walked into the woods, the cold morning air slapping against Aria's skin. The ground was still wrapped in a blanket of snow, and the trees that surrounded them were heavy with frost. There was something eerily quiet about the forest; no noise was to be heard except for the crunch of their footsteps as they went deeper into the wilderness.
Darken took the lead, his gaze sweeping through the trees in search of any movement. Aria followed closely behind him, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. Black Heart was silent, as he was always, but she could feel small hands dug into the furs against her back.
They trudged what seemed to be hours, the cold seeping into her bones. Aria thought she couldn't go another step when Darken held up his hand, restraining her with a silent gesture.
"There," he whispered, pointing ahead to a small clearing where a herd of deer grazed, their brown coats melding into the white of the snow-covered ground. "We'll take one of those. Watch me."
Aria dropped to her knees beside him, her breath catching in her throat. Darken moved with a fluidity that belied his size, his footsteps silent until he'd drawn his bow. He notched an arrow and took aim, precision and control in his movements.
With a word, he let fly the arrow. It sailed in a fatal arc through the air and caught one of the deer right in the chest. The animal wavered, its eyes wide with shock, before crashing to the earth with a heavy thud.
Aria gasped-her heart pounded in her ears. Darken turned to her, his face untroubled. "Your turn," he said, extending the bow.
Aria's hands shook as she took the weapon from him, her fingers fumbling with the arrow. She had never killed anything before and never even considered it. But now, with Black Heart's life depending on her, she couldn't afford to hesitate.
Darken stepped behind her, his big hands helping to position her arms. "Steady," he murmured, as warm breath danced against her ear. "Concentrate on the target and remember-this is for survival."
Aria swallowed hard, her heart racing. She took another deep breath, pulling the string back and setting her aim once more on the remaining deer. Her fingers were still trembling when she launched the arrow, and she watched in horror as it flew wide, completely missing the animal.
Darken didn't yell at her, didn't even flinch. He simply held out another arrow. "Try again," he said, his voice cool.
She bit her lip, the trembling of her hands notching the next arrow. This time she forced herself to breathe, to steady her nerves. She aimed more carefully this time, focusing all her attention on the target.
It hit the deer's side, flying true. The animal reeled but didn't fall. Aria's stomach did flips with the thrashing of the dying creature and the pained cries echoing through the forest. Her hands shook uncontrollably, and she lowered the bow.
Darken stepped forward, finishing him off with a quick, efficient stroke of his knife. He turned back to her, wiping the blade clean on the snow.
"Good enough," he said softly. "You'll get better." Aria nodded, her throat tight with emotion.
She knew this was necessary, knew she had to learn if she was going to protect Black Heart.
But the sight of the dying deer, the blood staining the snow, made her feel weak, fragile.
Darken hunched down beside her, his dark eyes softening as he laid a hand on her shoulder.
"I know it's hard," he said softly. "But you're stronger than you think, Aria. You'll do whatever it takes to protect him. And that's what matters." Aria turned a glance backward at Black Heart, who'd sat silent through it all, his eyes in dark watching her with that same eerie intensity.
He didn't cry, didn't react. He just stared onward, as though he knew it all. "I'll try and try again," Aria whispered, with trembling voice tone.
"For him." Darken nodded, pulling his feet under him and offering her a hand.
"Let's take these back to the cave," he said, so low his voice was soft, yet unyielding. "We've got work to do." Walking back through the snow-laden forest, Aria couldn't get the feeling away that this was only just the beginning.
Darken had taught her her first lesson of survival-but there were going to be many more to follow. For with each step, she would be strong-for Black Heart's sake.