Ziva rushed to Horus's side and dropped to her knees, pressing her hands against the torn flesh of his side. A pale glow bled from her palms, weak and trembling, barely holding the wound together.
"Don't move," she said, her voice strained. "Your injury is worse than it looks. I don't know how long I can keep this up."
Ray stood rigid, eyes darting toward the trees where shadows pressed in too closely.
"What if something attacks us?" he whispered. "Horus can't fight… and neither can we."
Cato's gaze never left the forest.
"Yaksha was here," he said quietly. "No creature in this forest is foolish enough to approach while his presence lingers."
The glow around Ziva's hands flickered and vanished. A sharp chill ran through Ziva's limbs, her ears ringing as the forest tilted—and her strength gave out. She dropped to her knees.
Ray lunged forward and caught her before she collapsed completely.
"Ziva!"
She steadied herself against him, forcing a weak smile.
"It's fine. I'm just exhausted. A little rest will be enough."
Ray turned sharply to Cato. "I need wood. Fifteen—no, twenty planks."
Cato nodded once. Trees fell as if severed at the root, the sound echoing longer than it should have. Moments later, Cato returned, planks stacked neatly in his arms.
Ray knelt beside his bag, hands shaking as he searched.
"Here… found it."
He held up a compact device, scarred with age.
"My father gave me this on my birthday," he said quietly. "It helps lift heavy objects."
Metal arms unfolded with a harsh mechanical hiss that felt far too loud in the silence. Ray worked quickly, assembling the planks into a shelter. Walls rose. A roof followed.
In less than an hour, it was done.
"Bring Horus inside," Ray said.
As they stepped in, Ziva froze.
"Well done," Cato said.
Ray smiled.
"I added a bed. And chairs." He gestured. "The bed's convertible. Leaves and grass… not great, but better than the ground."
Ziva handed Horus a small vial. "This will help you heal faster."
"Don't worry. I always recover fast."
"Rest," Cato said. "I'll hunt." He vanished into the trees.
Ray watched the darkness swallow him.
"Hope he finds something," he muttered.
Later, Cato returned, placing the carcass of a creature onto the table with a dull thud. "Who's cooking?"
No one spoke.
Ray swallowed.
"I've cooked small animals before," he said quietly. "Its too big but… I'll try."
As they waited. Then they heard him cry out.
They rushed outside.
"I burned it," Ray said, his voice breaking. "Now we have nothing to eat."
Ziva took a bite, chewing slowly.
"…It's not good," she admitted. "But it's edible."
Ray stared at her. "Really?"
She nodded faintly. "See? You cooked."
They ate in uneasy silence and prepared for the night.
At dawn, Ziva woke to find Horus's bed empty.
"Oh no—"
She rushed outside.
"There you are. What are you doing up? You're not healed yet. How are you even moving?"
Horus gave a faint smile.
"I heal faster than most." His expression darkened. "I was looking for my sword. It's gone."
"Ray took it," Ziva said. "He said the blade was completely ruined."
Horus and Ziva moved toward the back of the wooden shelter, where Ray was working. The sound of their footsteps made him turn.
"Your blade is completely ruined," Ray said. "During the fight with Yaksha—and then against that shadow creature—it shattered."
Horus frowned.
"Ruined? I didn't feel my blade take any damage."
Ray exhaled slowly.
"After the first battle, its shape began to change. The heat it was emitting wasn't normal." He paused, eyes narrowing. "Metal doesn't do that on its own."
He lifted the sword. Faint distortions rippled along the edge, as if the steel had once been soft—listening to something.
"I can't fully repair it," Ray said. "I've stabilized it enough to survive a few more strikes."
He hesitated.
"But every time you draw it," he added quietly, "it'll get worse. Like it's being reminded of something."
Horus tightened his grip around the hilt.
"How many strikes?" he asked.
Ray didn't answer right away.
"Enough," he said at last. "If you choose them carefully."
Horus nodded, though his gaze lingered on the blade a moment too long—on the faint, unnatural warmth still pulsing beneath the steel.
Horus announced "I'll buy a new sword in the next city."