The night wrapped around the clearing like a suffocating shroud, the darkness pressing in on all sides. Even with the fire casting its warm glow, the forest seemed to teem with unseen threats. Amaya sat hunched beside the flames, her knees drawn to her chest, staring into the flickering light. She was trying to keep her breathing steady, but every rustling leaf and creaking branch set her nerves on edge.

It had been hours since they’d set up camp, yet none of them had managed to relax. Kai sat on the opposite side of the fire, his gaze fixed warily on the surrounding trees, eyes wide and alert. Lina leaned back against a moss-covered rock, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her face was calm, but her tense shoulders betrayed her unease.

No one spoke. It was as if saying anything out loud would make the darkness closing in on them feel even more real. Amaya felt a pang of loneliness pierce her chest, but she shoved it aside. It wasn’t just her they were protecting anymore. It was each other. And whoever the other guardians were.

Guardians, she thought, the word tasting foreign and strange. Protectors against some coming darkness.

“Did you hear that?” Kai whispered, breaking the silence. His head snapped to the left, eyes narrowing.

Amaya tensed, heart hammering. She strained her ears, trying to catch any hint of movement. The crackling of the fire was too loud, masking the sounds of the woods around them. She glanced at Lina, who shook her head slowly.

“It’s nothing, Kai,” she murmured, her voice soft but steady. “Just a squirrel, or the wind.”

“Or something worse,” Kai muttered, his jaw tight. He shot to his feet, pacing restlessly around the edge of the clearing. “Just sitting here… it’s driving me crazy. We’re supposed to be these ‘guardians,’ right? Then why are we cowering here like scared little kids?”

Amaya stayed quiet, the frustration bubbling in her own chest. She glanced between Lina and Kai, seeing her own confusion and fear mirrored in their eyes. Just a few hours ago, they had been strangers. Now, they were supposed to be teammates—no, more than that. Guardians. It felt surreal, like some twisted dream she couldn’t wake up from.

“I’m not cowering,” Lina said softly, her voice cutting through the tension. “I’m resting. We’re no good to anyone if we’re too tired to think straight.”

Kai’s fists clenched. “Resting? With that thing out there?” He shook his head, letting out a bitter laugh. “Do you realize how insane this is? We don’t even know what we’re up against! Or how to fight back!”

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“We’ll learn,” Lina replied, her voice calm and even. “But right now, we need to keep moving forward. Staying put all night, panicking, isn’t going to make us safer.”

“But doing nothing isn’t making us safer either!” Kai snapped, his voice sharp. “We don’t even know if there are more of those creatures out there, waiting for us to let our guard down!”

Amaya bit her lip, feeling the tension ratcheting up between them. She understood Kai’s frustration—felt it herself, in the restless way her muscles twitched, in the constant knot of anxiety in her stomach. But Lina was right. Running themselves into the ground wouldn’t help. And neither would arguing.

“We can’t keep going like this,” she said quietly, drawing both of their gazes. “We’re not soldiers. We’re not ready. But we have to rest, or we’ll be no use to anyone—especially not each other.”

Kai opened his mouth to argue, then faltered, the fight draining out of him. He dropped back down beside the fire, his shoulders slumping. “I just… I don’t like feeling helpless,” he mumbled. “We’re supposed to be these ‘guardians,’ right? Then why do I feel so… useless?”

The question hung in the air, sharp and painful. Amaya glanced at Lina, who was staring at the fire, her face thoughtful.

“Because we’re not there yet,” Lina said softly, her gaze still on the flames. “We’re not the guardians we’re supposed to be. Not yet. But that doesn’t mean we can’t get there.”

“How do you know?” Kai’s voice was raw, almost desperate. “What if we’re just… wrong for this? What if Sarlon made a mistake?”

Lina’s gaze lifted, meeting his. Her eyes were steady, a quiet strength burning in their depths. “Because I refuse to believe that,” she said simply. “We’ve already faced more than most people ever will. And we’re still here. We’re still fighting. That has to count for something.”

Kai looked away, his jaw clenched, but he didn’t argue. Amaya watched the exchange in silence, something stirring in her chest. She didn’t know much about Lina—none of them really knew anything about each other—but there was a strength in Lina’s eyes that made Amaya want to believe her. It was the same strength she had seen when Lina had faced that dark creature in the woods, fearlessly raising her hand and calling the water to defend them.

“We’re not ready now,” Amaya murmured, glancing between the two of them. “But we can be. We just… need to keep going.”

Kai let out a shaky breath, his shoulders sagging. “Yeah. I know.” He rubbed his hands over his face, the tension easing slightly. “I just wish we knew where we were going.”

Amaya hesitated, turning her focus inward. That faint warmth she had felt before was still there, a tiny flicker pulling at the edge of her senses. It wasn’t strong, but… it was enough.

“We’ll find them,” she said softly, more to herself than to Kai. “I know we will.”

Kai glanced at her, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. “You sound so sure.”

Amaya shrugged, managing a small, tired smile. “I don’t know why. I just… feel it.”

He held her gaze for a moment longer, then sighed, nodding slowly. “Alright. I guess that’s better than nothing.”

The fire crackled softly between them, casting long shadows that danced across the clearing. Amaya leaned back, staring up at the night sky. The stars were hidden behind a thick canopy of branches, leaving the world above a dark, impenetrable void. For a moment, she wondered if the other guardians—whoever they were—were looking up at the same sky, just as lost and scared as they were.

We’re coming, she thought, sending the silent promise out into the darkness. Just hold on.