As the day drew on, the light began to fade, and the temperature dropped even further. The group found a small clearing near a cluster of rocks and decided to settle for the night.
Elysara, exhausted from the cold and the climb, collapsed onto her bedroll beside a small fire that Rhysand had started very skillfully. His cloak had shifted slightly, giving her a brief glimpse of his rugged, angular jaw and the shadow of a scar running along his neck. But his face remained mostly hidden in the shadow of his hood.
"Thanks for the fire," Elysara said softly, pulling her cloak tighter around her as she sat cross-legged near the warmth.
Rhysand gave a small nod, "It's the least I can do."
For a moment, they sat in silence, the crackling fire the only sound between them. Elysara's gaze drifted to the flames, but she couldn't help stealing quick glances at Rhysand. Something about him intrigued her, he was so mysterious and guarded.
"You seem good at this," she said after a while, gesturing to the fire. "Starting it so quickly, I mean. Do you camp out often?"
Rhysand let out a low chuckle "You could say that. Traveling solo tends to teach you a few things."
She tilted her head, curiosity sparking. "Why are you traveling alone though? Isn't that too… dangerous."
He didn't respond immediately as he adjusted the logs in the fire. "Sometimes solitude is less dangerous than trust," he said finally.
Elysara frowned at the cryptic response, sensing there was more to the story, but she decided not to push. Instead, she leaned back, letting the fire's warmth seep into her. "I guess that makes sense. Trust can be tricky."
Rhysand's gaze flickered toward her, "It can. But it can also be powerful, if given to the right people."
She hesitated, then asked, "Do you think you've found the right people?"
His lips curved into a faint, almost wry smile. "Time will tell."
Before she could say anything else, he surprised her by shifting the focus. "What about you? You don't seem like someone who's used to long treks through the wilderness."
Elysara laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're not wrong. I grew up in a small village with my grandmother. I spent most of my time learning how to make potions and healing remedies, not… whatever this is."
"Then why are you out here?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
"Because I have to be. My grandmother and I… were searching for something important. Some important people. The Veil and its bearers are in danger, and if we don't act, everything will fall apart."
Rhysand studied her for a long moment. Finally, he said, "I must say you're much braver than you look."
The unexpected comment made her look up, meeting his gaze…. or what she could see of it. "I don't feel brave," she admitted. "Most of the time, I feel… lost."
"Bravery isn't about not feeling lost," he said, "It's about continuing forward even when you do."
Elysara blinked, surprised by his words. For a moment, they simply looked at each other, the firelight casting warm shadows between them. She felt a strange sense of connection… like he understood a part of her that she rarely let others see.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Rhysand inclined his head, but didn't say anything more. The silence between them felt different now, less awkward and more comfortable.
As the fire crackled and the stars began to appear overhead, Elysara found herself feeling just a little less lost, and for that, she was grateful.
As hours passed, she glanced at him across the fire. He was sitting upright, his cloak wrapped tightly around him, the hood still obscuring most of his face. He hadn't moved much since their talk, but she could tell he wasn't asleep.
"Can't sleep either?" she asked in a hushed voice, not wanting to wake the others.
Rhysand didn't answer immediately. When he did, his voice was low. "Something doesn't feel right."
Elysara stiffened, her hand instinctively moving toward the small dagger she kept at her side. "What do you mean?"
Suddenly, he straightened, his head tilting slightly, as if catching a sound too faint for her to hear.
"What is it Rhysand?" Elysara asked.
After a long pause, he spoke, "It's too quiet."
Elysara frowned, glancing around the clearing. "Quiet? I can hear the fire."
"Not that," he said, his tone sharper now. "No animals. No wind. The forest isn't supposed to be this silent."
She froze, her heart picking up pace as his words sank in. He was right—the usual background hum of nocturnal life was gone. No chirping insects, no rustling leaves, not even the faint hoot of an owl.
"Maybe it's just—" she began, but Rhysand cut her off, his hand rising in a silent gesture for her to stay quiet. His head snapped toward the edge of the clearing, and his sharp intake of breath made her heart skip.
"What?" she whispered, her voice shaking.
"Far off," he muttered, barely moving his lips. "A stick snapped."
Elysara strained her ears, but she heard nothing except the fire's faint crackling. Still, she trusted him… something in the way his entire demeanor shifted left no room for doubt.
"Wake the others," he said urgently. He didn't wait for her to move, stepping silently toward Aureth and shaking her shoulder gently. "We need to leave."
Elysara hurried to Alara's side, her hands trembling as she shook her awake. "Get up," she hissed. "Something's wrong."
Aureth glanced around the clearing, her staff already glowing in hand. "What is it?" she asked Rhysand.
"Something's out there," he said. "I don't know what, but we need to move. Now."
Alara, still groggy, blinked at him. "Are you sure? I don't hear anything."
"Neither do I," Aureth added, though her unease was evident.
"That's exactly the problem," Rhysand said, his gaze scanning the darkness. "The forest is too quiet. And whatever snapped that stick wasn't small."
Aureth didn't argue further. "Pack up quickly," she ordered. "We can't afford to take chances."
The group moved quickly, stuffing bedrolls and supplies into their packs. Elysara's hands fumbled as she worked, her anxiety making her clumsy. Her eyes kept darting toward the shadows, half-expecting something to lunge out at them at any moment.
"Stay close to me," Rhysand murmured seeing her tension. She nodded, feeling oddly reassured by his presence despite the growing fear gnawing at her.
Within minutes, they were ready to move. Rhysand led the way, his sword drawn and his steps near-silent on the forest floor. Aureth followed close behind, her staff glowing faintly with protective magic. Elysara and Alara stayed in the middle, their eyes wide and searching the darkness for any sign of danger.