Mira half-carried Selene through the forest.
The path was invisible. Just forest floor and undergrowth. But Mira moved with certainty, knowing every root and stone.
Selene barely registered where they were going. Her exhaustion was total. Physical and emotional.
She'd been running on fear and grief for so long. Now that she was safe, her body was shutting down.
"Almost there," Mira murmured. "Just a little further, pup."
The hillside appeared ahead. Covered in ivy and moss. It looked like natural terrain.
Then Mira pushed aside a curtain of vines.
A door. Hidden. Built into the hill itself.
She pushed it open and guided Selene inside.
The cabin was small. One room carved into the hillside. But it felt solid. Safe.
Herbs hung from the rafters, drying. Their scent filled the air. Lavender and sage and something sharper Selene didn't recognize.
Weapons lined one wall. Daggers. Short swords. A bow and quiver of arrows. All well-maintained. Ready for use.
