The morning sun slowly rises, its light creeping across the landscape. The forest awakens with the distant songs of birds and the soft crackle of melting ice. A cold breeze sweeps through the cave, stirring the ashes of the extinguished fire. Alynia stands near the entrance, her silhouette framed by a halo of golden light. She gazes at the horizon with a contemplative look, her arms crossed, her tail swaying gently from side to side. Veil (stretching): "Hmm... Have you been up for long?" Alynia doesn't respond immediately. Her eyes remain fixed on the distance, piercing and distant. Silence. Only the wind whispering through the cave fills the space. Finally, she breaks the quiet. Alynia (calm but firm): "I'm leaving." Veil (startled): "What? You're leaving?" Alynia tilts her head slightly toward him but doesn't meet his eyes. Alynia (calmly): "I have a mission to complete. This isn't my territory. I only stayed because of you." Her words leave an emptiness in their wake. Veil stares at her, his mouth slightly open, as though searching for the right words, but nothing comes. Veil (after a pause): "Can I come with you?" Alynia shrugs without turning around. Alynia (neutral tone): "That's your choice. If you'd rather go your own way, do it. I don't have time to escort you elsewhere." Silence returns. It isn't an uncomfortable silence, but one in which Veil is lost in thought. His gaze drops to the cave floor, feeling the weight of his decision. Veil (internal monologue): Does she want me to follow her? Or does she not care? If I leave, will she watch me go? He looks up. Veil (deep sigh): "I'll come with you." Alynia doesn't respond immediately. No smile. No visible reaction. Alynia (calm, almost indifferent): "Then don't lag behind." She exits the cave without even looking back. Veil remains still for a moment, but a faint smile forms on his face. Veil (internal monologue): She could have said no… but she didn't. The snow-covered forest stretches out before them. Thick tree trunks rise like pillars, and golden sunlight filters through the snowy canopy, creating radiant columns of light. Alynia walks ahead, her steps silent. Veil follows, matching her pace. They move in silence, but the cold begins to seep through their clothes. Snap. A faint noise echoes through the forest—a soft crack, but enough to make them both halt. Alynia turns her head slowly, her ears perking up. Alynia (low voice): "Don't move." The silence grows heavy. A second crack, louder this time. Trees in the distance shudder. Deep creaking noises follow, as if the roots themselves are twisting. Veil (whispering): "What… is that?" Alynia crouches slightly, her gaze locked in the direction of the noise. Her entire body is tense. Her tail stiffens, her claws unsheathing slightly. He understands. His breath quickens. Veil (internal monologue): She's in combat stance... Slowly, he sets his bag on the ground, drawing his rudimentary dagger, and positions himself. His eyes are fixed on the horizon, where the sounds grow louder. Every second stretches out, as if time itself is holding its breath. A heavy thud. Then another. Thud. Thud. The sound becomes rhythmic, weighty. Branches bend under the weight of something immense. A shadow spills through the foliage. A deep growl echoes—a low, rumbling sound that presses down with an undeniable threat. The trees part. A massive bear emerges slowly from the forest. Its fur is as white as the snow, but patches of its body are covered in jagged, gray stone-like plates. Its warm breath creates clouds in the icy air, and its fierce yellow eyes lock onto them. Alynia doesn't move, her gaze steady on the bear. Her breathing is calm, ready to react at the slightest motion. Veil (internal monologue): It's gigantic... bigger than anything I've ever seen. The bear growls, the vibration resonating in Veil's chest. The forest transforms into their arena.