The dark forest beyond the orpahanage perimeter was dead quiet, with only the soft rustling of the night wind moving through the pine trees. Moonlight filtered between the branches overhead, spilling pale patches of light across the damp forest as Philia and Valen made their way deeper into the woods. They had waited until well past midnight, making sure everyone inside the orphanage was fast asleep before slipping out through the perimeter, just as they had on the previous nights.
A few yards ahead, tucked behind a thick tangle of thorny brush, the soft, panicked rustle of dry leaves broke the silence.
Valen held up a hand, stopping in his tracks. "Over here," he murmured, his voice barely a breath. "The traps caught three of them."
They approached the small clearing cautiously. Three wild forest deer were caught in the traps, thick ropes wrapped tightly around their hind legs as they thrashed against the dirt, their eyes wide with terror.
