Sky recalled the rhythm of those movements—steady, deliberate, infused with a raw desperation that echoed in his own heart now. Breathe, just breathe, a voice urged in his mind, clear even in his unconscious state. He channeled that same urgency as he pressed down hard and fast, counting in his head, mimicking the beat that had once pulled him back from the brink. The sensation of warmth returned to his chest as he leaned in, their mouths interlocking. He felt the pressure building in his own lungs, and with every breath he gave to Eve, he thought of the conviction he had felt in that moment of his revival. You can do this, he whispered silently to her, hoping his voice would reach her somehow.

With each breath he exhaled into her, he pictured the glint of hope that had filled his own heart during his struggle. He urged silently, willing her to respond, to come back. And then, as if in answer to his plea, Eve stirred. Her head recoiled from the pressure of water in her lungs, and she turned to the side, coughing violently. Relief washed over Sky like a warm wave as he watched her regain consciousness. The rain shifted from a heavy downpour to a gentle drizzle; the stream continued to lap at their feet. Night crickets echoed in the darkness, a soft symphony to accompany the rhythmic sound of the rain. Exhausted, Sky finally let himself rest, the weight of the ordeal slowly lifting as he watched over Eve, grateful to have her back.

“You’re okay!” Sky couldn’t help but smile, relief flooding through him despite his drenched, freezing, muddied, and tattered clothes. The frantic urgency that had propelled him to get her to shore finally gave way to calm as he leaned back, watching Eve begin to recover, her eyes fluttering open.

“What happened?” she murmured, confusion etched across her face.

“We got thrown downstream, but you’re safe now,” he reassured her, placing a hand on his chest as if to steady his own racing heart. The reality of their escape felt almost surreal, like a miracle. As Eve regained her strength, disbelief washed over her. She scanned the dark woods surrounding them, a twisted maze of gnarled trees and thick underbrush that seemed to close in around them. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and moss, and an eerie stillness hung in the air, broken only by the distant rumble of thunder and the patter of rain.

Sky took a deep breath, trying to ground himself. They were deep in an alien forest, perilously close to the edge of a waterfall cascading into an abyss, with no city in sight for days. It felt like they had crossed into another world entirely, one filled with shadows and strange noises. The time spent on the stream rendered them lost. The freezing rain drummed relentlessly on the earth, soaking into their clothes and chilling them to the bone. Sky realized they would soon face hypothermia if they didn’t find shelter. For a moment, being lost seemed like the least of their problems.

“At least we’re out of the river,” he said, trying to inject some levity into the situation. A nervous chuckle escaped him, but it felt hollow. Then, far off in the distance, a new sound pierced the air—deep bellows and howls of ravenous beasts echoed through the forest, chilling him to the bone, followed by a flash of lightning that illuminated the dark trees for just a heartbeat.

“Great. Just what we need,” he muttered, a shiver running down his spine.

Eve turned, her gaze locked on the forest, which loomed like a dark abyss, its twisted branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. Fear twisted her stomach as she looked at Sky, her eyes silently pleading,

Is this really a good idea?

“We can’t stay here. Movement is life, right? If someone’s looking for us, they’ll search the stream and whatever's lurking out there.” Sky pointed toward the forest, but the relentless rain made it difficult to see anything clearly.

“Where are we, anyway?” Eve asked, her voice tinged with anxiety as she pushed herself up from the sand. Sky scanned the dark horizon, searching for any familiar landmarks. He opened his map, struggling to align their position with the mountains marked on it, using the intermittent flashes of lightning to guide him. But it was all too dark, and he had no clear reference point.

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“I don’t know. These forests make it difficult to see anything.” Sky scanned their surroundings, the dense cover of trees blocking visibility. “Let’s look for the highest point in the area.”

Flashes of lightning illuminated distant mountains, their jagged peaks looming ominously against the dark sky. “There,” he pointed, “but it’s a long walk.” Eve wrapped her arms around herself, shivering uncontrollably. Sky took her hand tightly, offering what little warmth he could. She remained silent as they approached the darkness of the nearby woods, her grip on his hand tightening as if to anchor herself. He wasn’t exactly sure what he was doing—only that the night had taken a chaotic turn.

Damp, cold, and on the run, they navigated through the forest step by step. The ground was thick with branches and vines, leading them to elevations and rocky outcrops that made it increasingly difficult to traverse.

“What if we end up going in circles?” Eve asked, her voice laced with anxiety.

“We won’t,” Sky replied, determined. He focused on keeping the moon in his sight, using it as his reference point and guide. The sounds of crickets and nighttime predators echoed through the forest, heightening the tension in the air. Eve’s hands shook, but she stayed close to him, entrusting her life to his judgment, terrified of the unknown darkness around her. She whispered to herself, just barely audible, “I can do this. I can do this.”

Their path led them deeper into the forest until they arrived at a rock face. Water trickled down its crevices, and moss clung to the cracks, offering temporary shelter from the rain. Figuring it was as good a time as any to rest, they set up a small bonfire using the few pieces of wood and twigs they could gather from Eve’s pack. The fire crackled weakly in front of them, a pitiful flicker in the vast darkness of the forest. It barely pushed back the cold, damp air that clung to their skin, its flames dancing feebly as if fighting against an unseen force. The flickering light cast long, wavering shadows that stretched across the ground, creating an illusion of movement in the otherwise still night.

Sky had gathered only a few twigs and damp branches, and despite his efforts, the flames sputtered and dimmed, struggling to find strength in the relentless rain. Each gust of wind sent a chill down his spine as the fire threatened to extinguish completely, leaving them vulnerable in the encroaching dark. Eve huddled close, her gaze fixed on the fire, but her expression revealed a deeper turmoil. The shadows that danced around them seemed to close in, evoking a tightening in her chest. The fire’s pitiful glow illuminated their faces for just a moment, revealing the exhaustion etched in Eve's features and the worry reflected in Sky's eyes.

Seated on the rocks opposite each other, the flickering light of the bonfire danced in the darkness of the forest. They hugged their chests, trying to regain warmth in their trembling hands. The damp soil shifted beneath them with every movement, and the earthy fragrance of wet earth, rain-soaked moss, and fallen leaves offered a small comfort.

“It doesn’t look like we’ll be going to the Inquisition anytime soon,” Sky said, trying to raise the mood. A weak chuckle escaped him, but it quickly trailed off. Eve, her gaze distant, nodded, half acknowledging his words, her eyes fixed on the fire.

“Eve, who were those strange knights? They didn’t look like the Inquisition to me.”

“No,” she replied, her voice shaking. “They were something fierce—something I couldn’t comprehend. Killed the royal guard. They killed Ilene. My father.” Panic rose in her voice, and her hands trembled as tears streamed down her face.

Sky kneeled beside her, attempting to offer comfort. He held her hands close, feeling the warmth of his touch against the frightening cold that enveloped them. Slowly, Eve managed to calm herself, regaining control of her breathing. She nodded, acknowledging his presence. “But we can’t stay here,” she said, glancing toward the darkness of the forest. As the winds began to pick up, Sky thought he heard something from behind them—a faint rustling, like branches shifting and leaves being crushed underfoot. The sounds of crickets and the steady patter of rain made it difficult to be sure.

Was it the wind?

or creatures lurking in the shadows?

Unease settled in his stomach, but he pushed the thought aside for the moment.

“Those monsters destroyed Elysian so easily. We have to warn the Empire,” Eve insisted, her voice urgent and filled with determination.

Sky pulled out the map he had retrieved from the fallen guard, spreading it open between them. The flickering torchlight illuminated the intricate details of the region, revealing mountains, forests, and the vast landscapes that stretched before them.