Draven and Seraphina ran through the dense forest, their breath heavy and uneven. The fall into the ravine had left them bruised, but they couldn't afford to stop. The king's men were relentless, and if they were caught, there would be no mercy.
The moonlight barely pierced through the thick canopy above, making it difficult to see. Seraphina stumbled over a tree root, but Draven caught her arm before she fell.
"Keep moving," he urged.
Seraphina winced but nodded, pushing forward. The adrenaline numbed the pain, but her body was reaching its limit.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached a small clearing near a rocky outcrop. Draven slowed, scanning their surroundings.
"We rest here for a moment," he said.
Seraphina collapsed against a boulder, trying to catch her breath. "Are they… still following us?"
Draven knelt on one knee, listening. The sounds of pursuit had faded, but that didn't mean they were safe.
"For now, we're ahead of them," he said. "But they won't stop searching."
Seraphina ran a hand through her tangled hair. "How did they find us so fast?"
Draven frowned. "They likely have hunters tracking our footprints. We need to get rid of our trail."
She groaned. "And how do we do that?"
Draven looked toward a nearby stream. "We move through the water."
Seraphina eyed the icy stream warily. "You want us to wade through that?"
"Unless you want them to find us."
She sighed in frustration but didn't argue. Reluctantly, she followed Draven as he stepped into the cold water. The shock sent a shiver up her spine, but she gritted her teeth and pressed on.
They moved downstream for several minutes before climbing out onto a rocky patch, leaving no more footprints behind.
Seraphina wrapped the cloak tighter around herself. "Where are we even going?"
Draven glanced at the sky. "South. Away from the kingdom."
Seraphina hesitated. "What happens after that?"
Draven didn't answer immediately. He hadn't planned that far ahead.
She sighed. "I can't just run forever."
Draven studied her. "If you go back, your father will force you into marriage."
She clenched her fists. "I know."
Silence stretched between them. Then, Seraphina spoke quietly.
"There's a neighboring kingdom—Eldoria. My uncle rules there."
Draven's eyes narrowed. "And you think he'll protect you?"
She hesitated. "I don't know. But it's the only place I can go."
Draven considered it. Traveling to Eldoria would take days, maybe weeks. And they had no supplies, no horses, nothing.
But it was better than wandering aimlessly.
"Fine," he said. "We head for Eldoria."
Seraphina exhaled in relief. "Thank you."
Draven didn't respond.
Because deep down, he knew their journey was only beginning.