Ravenna stirred awake as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the canopy of trees. The faint chirping of birds accompanied the rustle of leaves swaying in the cool morning breeze. She blinked, rubbing her eyes to adjust to the light, and realized she was alone. The fire near her had burned down to glowing embers, and the blanket she had used for warmth still clung loosely around her shoulders.
For a moment, her mind felt light, almost empty, until memories of the previous night began to flood back in vivid detail. She remembered the overwhelming heat in her body, the way her mind had clouded, and how Damien had calmed her through it all. Her cheeks grew warm at the memory of his touch, his steady voice guiding her through the storm within her.
"What am I even thinking?" she muttered to herself, shaking her head as if to dispel the images.
She sat up, brushing her hair out of her face, and glanced around. That's when she noticed Damien was nowhere to be seen. A sudden pang of unease hit her chest, but it quickly dissipated when the faint aroma of roasting meat reached her nose. Her stomach growled in response, loud and demanding.
Throwing on her boots, she stepped out of the makeshift shelter they had camped in and followed the smell. The sight that greeted her made her pause. Damien was crouched by a fire, expertly turning a rabbit skewered on a stick. Its golden-brown skin glistened as the fat dripped into the flames, sizzling and crackling in a way that made her mouth water. Beside him were a few roasted tubers and what looked like a handful of wild herbs he had foraged.
Damien glanced up, and a soft smile spread across his face as he heard her stomach rumble again, this time louder than before.
"Good morning," he greeted, his voice light with amusement. "It seems someone's hungry."
Ravenna crossed her arms, feigning annoyance even as her stomach betrayed her again. "You could've woken me up. I could've helped with breakfast."
Damien chuckled, his deep voice warm and easy. "You needed the rest. Besides, you've been through enough already. Let me take care of this one."
She approached the fire and sat down across from him, the aroma of the food making her head spin. "It smells amazing," she admitted, eyeing the skewered rabbit like it was the most delicious thing she'd ever seen.
Damien sliced off a generous portion of the meat and handed it to her, along with one of the roasted tubers. "Here," he said. "Eat up. You'll need your strength."
Ravenna didn't need to be told twice. She bit into the meat, savoring the smoky flavor that melted on her tongue. The tuber was soft and slightly sweet, the perfect complement to the savory rabbit. She let out a contented sigh as she ate, her earlier embarrassment fading into the background.
"Where'd you learn to cook like this?" she asked between bites.
Damien shrugged, a hint of pride in his expression. "You pick up a thing or two when you're always on the road. Survival demands it."
Ravenna nodded, swallowing another mouthful. "Well, it's incredible. Thank you."
They ate in companionable silence for a while, the tension of the night before replaced by an easy warmth. As Ravenna finished her meal, she found herself stealing glances at Damien. There was something about him in the morning light—his relaxed posture, the way the firelight flickered in his dark eyes—that made her heart skip a beat.
"You're staring," Damien said suddenly, his voice teasing.
Ravenna nearly choked on the last bite of her tuber, her cheeks flushing. "I am not," she retorted quickly, looking away.
Damien chuckled, clearly enjoying her flustered reaction. "If you say so."
After breakfast, Damien stood and dusted off his hands. "Ready for round two?" he asked, a playful smirk on his face.
"Round two?" Ravenna echoed, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"Sword training," Damien clarified, walking over to where his sword leaned against a tree. "You did well the first time, but there's always room for improvement."
Ravenna hesitated, her muscles still sore from the previous lesson. But the determined look in Damien's eyes spurred her on. She stood, rolling her shoulders. "Alright, let's do this."
Damien handed her the sword, and this time, she held it with more confidence. "See?" he said with an approving nod. "Already better than last time."
They moved to a clearing, and Damien began running her through the drills. "Focus on your footwork," he instructed as Ravenna parried one of his light swings. "Your strength doesn't come from your arms alone—it's your whole body."
Ravenna adjusted her stance, planting her feet firmly as she moved. This time, when she blocked his attack, the force didn't knock her off balance.
"Much better," Damien praised. "Now, try this."
He demonstrated a series of quick strikes, and Ravenna mimicked his movements. Sweat dripped down her brow as she concentrated, but she felt a rush of pride each time she executed the moves correctly.
As they practiced, Damien pushed her to move faster, to anticipate his strikes before they came. At one point, she managed to catch him off guard, nearly knocking the sword from his hand.
"Impressive," he said, his voice tinged with genuine admiration. "You're a natural."
Ravenna smirked, lowering her blade. "Maybe you're just getting slow."
Damien laughed, a deep, hearty sound that echoed through the clearing. "We'll see about that."
Their sparring session ended when Ravenna's arms began to shake from exhaustion. Damien led her back to the campfire, where he handed her a water pouch.
"You're improving faster than I expected," he said as she drank. "At this rate, you'll be ready to take on the world in no time."
Ravenna smiled, a spark of pride in her chest. "Thanks to you."
But their moment of peace was cut short when a distant howling broke the quiet of the morning.
Both of them froze, their gazes snapping toward the forest. The howls were low and menacing, echoing through the trees like a warning.
"Wolves," Damien muttered, his jaw tightening. "And they're close."
Ravenna's stomach dropped. The peace of the morning was shattered, replaced by the chilling reminder of the dangers that lurked in the wild.
"Stay close," Damien said, his voice low but firm. "And don't forget what I just taught you."
With that, they quickly packed up their camp and prepared to move, the howls growing louder with each passing moment. The wilderness was unforgiving, but they were determined to face whatever came their way—together.