The first cry of Leo Hawthorne echoed through the small, rustic cabin nestled against the Spine's towering peaks, marking the beginning of his life. His mother, Elira, a woman of quiet strength and warmth, held him close for only a brief moment before her body, already weakened from the hardships of childbirth, gave way. The birth had been difficult, the kind that leaves a mark on both mother and child, but Elira had been determined to see her son's first breaths.

Her husband, Roderic, stood at her side, his calloused hands trembling as he wiped the sweat from her brow. He was a man of few words, a quiet soul who preferred the solitude of the mountains to the company of others. He had learned long ago to speak little, and even now, in the most important moment of his life, he found it difficult to express the overwhelming emotions stirring within him. His gaze fell on Elira, whose eyes fluttered as she held Leo for the last time.

"I... I love you," Elira whispered, a final sigh escaping her lips as her eyes closed for the last time.

The room fell silent.

Roderic stared down at his wife, his heart shattering as the life faded from her. He clutched Leo tightly, holding him close to his chest, vowing silently to protect the boy in the way he could not protect Elira. He swore on his life that he would raise Leo, teach him the ways of survival in the harsh, unforgiving Spine, and make sure he never felt the loss of a mother who had given everything for him.