Though the evening was calm and protracted, there was an intolerable strain in the atmosphere. As I moved around, ensuring everyone was where they should be and checking on the guards, every step felt heavier than the last. I couldn't help but notice the uneasy silence in the camp; it seemed as though the trees were holding their breath, anticipating a terrible event.
Zack was on his way.
I was aware of it. All of us did. The worst part, though, was having to wait. Everyone seemed to be feeling a growing sense of anxiety and uneasiness. It had persisted like an unmoving shadow ever since the rescue mission. It felt as though it had grown larger now, encircling the camp and suffocating us.
As I strolled around the camp, I looked at the faces of the pack members who were trying to stren
