The sun was just beginning to rise when Lucia awoke, her dreams fading like mist as she blinked away the remnants of sleep. She sat up slowly, stretching her limbs as she looked around the small campsite. The fire had died down to embers, and the air was filled with the scent of dew-covered earth and pine needles. The events of the previous night played through her mind, but there was no time to dwell on them now. They had a long journey ahead.
Miranda was already up, checking her weapons and packing up her gear with practiced efficiency. Luke, however, was still asleep, his form barely visible under his blanket. Lucia watched him for a moment, her emotions a tangled web of confusion, doubt, and something she couldn’t quite name. The conversation they had shared outside the cave had left
