The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the camp. Ravenna sat close to the fire, absently chewing on a piece of spiced fish that Damien had caught earlier in a nearby stream. It was perfectly roasted, seasoned with wild herbs they'd found along their journey, and wrapped in crisp leaves to keep it tender. She replayed the day's events in her mind—every moment felt surreal, as if it belonged to another life entirely.
Damien sat a few feet away, sharpening his blade with a quiet focus. The rhythmic sound of the whetstone against steel blended with the crackling of the fire. Every now and then, his eyes flickered toward her, as though silently ensuring she was still there.
"Do you always keep yourself this guarded?" Ravenna asked, breaking the silence.
He looked up, startled by her question. "What do you mean?"
She gestured toward him with a piece of spiced fish. "You never let your guard down, even when it's just us. It's like you're constantly waiting for the next fight."
Damien smirked, setting his blade down. "Old habits die hard. You can't survive long in my world if you don't stay vigilant."
"But don't you ever get tired of it?" she pressed. "Of always looking over your shoulder?"
His gaze softened, and he leaned back against a fallen log. "Of course I do. But the moment I stop, the people hunting me will find me. And now…" His voice trailed off as his crimson eyes met hers. "Now I have more to lose."
Ravenna felt her cheeks heat at his words. She looked away, suddenly feeling shy under his intense gaze.
"You shouldn't have to carry this burden alone," she said quietly.
Damien chuckled softly. "You're starting to sound like someone who cares."
She glanced back at him, her expression serious. "I do."
For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. Then, before the moment could stretch too long, a sharp rustling in the nearby bushes shattered the stillness.
Damien was on his feet in an instant, his blade drawn. Ravenna stood as well, her heart pounding as her eyes scanned the darkness.
"What is it?" she whispered.
"Stay behind me," he ordered, his voice low and tense.
The rustling grew louder, and suddenly, a large, shadowy figure emerged from the underbrush. It was a wolf—not an ordinary one, but massive, with glowing amber eyes and fur that shimmered like liquid silver in the moonlight.
Ravenna froze, her breath catching in her throat. "Is that—?"
"A dire wolf," Damien finished grimly.
The wolf growled, its lips pulling back to reveal sharp, gleaming teeth. It was clearly a predator, and they were its prey.
Damien stepped forward, placing himself between Ravenna and the beast. "Don't move," he whispered.
But the wolf didn't attack. Instead, it tilted its head, as if studying them. Its glowing eyes seemed to linger on Ravenna, and she felt an odd sense of recognition.
"Wait," she said suddenly, placing a hand on Damien's arm. "I don't think it wants to hurt us."
Damien frowned, his grip on his blade tightening. "You can't be sure of that."
"Just… let me try something," she said, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins.
Before he could stop her, Ravenna stepped forward, her hands raised in a gesture of peace. The wolf growled softly, its muscles tensing as she approached.
"Hey," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's okay. We're not here to hurt you."
The wolf's growling ceased, and its head tilted again, as though it understood her words. Ravenna took another step closer, her heart pounding in her chest.
"That's it," she murmured. "You're not so scary, are you?"
To Damien's astonishment, the wolf lowered itself to the ground, its massive body relaxing. It let out a low whine, its glowing eyes never leaving Ravenna.
She reached out tentatively, her fingers brushing against its silken fur. A strange warmth spread through her, and for a moment, she felt… connected.
"It's not just a wolf," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "It's something more."
Damien sheathed his blade, though he still looked wary. "What do you mean?"
Ravenna knelt beside the creature, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns in its fur. "I don't know. But it feels… familiar."
The wolf huffed softly, nuzzling her hand. It was then that Ravenna noticed something around its neck—a thin, silver chain with a small, moon-shaped pendant.
Her breath caught. "This… this belonged to my mother."
Damien's eyes widened. "What?"
She unhooked the pendant from the chain, holding it up to the light. The intricate design was unmistakable—it was the same pendant her fake mother had hidden from her, claiming it was cursed.
The wolf let out a low growl, its eyes glowing brighter. Ravenna felt a sudden wave of dizziness, and the world around her seemed to blur.
"Ravenna!" Damien's voice sounded distant, as though he was calling to her from far away.
Before she could respond, everything went dark.