As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the forest was bathed in a soft, golden light. Valeria’s steps began to slow, her small body weighed down by the exhaustion of the day. Lily, walking just ahead of her, noticed her lagging pace and glanced back with concern.

“Are you alright?” Lily asked, her voice cutting through the quiet of the evening.

Valeria nodded weakly, but her tired eyes betrayed her. Lily studied her for a moment longer before giving a thoughtful nod. “We should set up camp for the night,” she said, her tone firm but kind. “We passed a stream not far back, so we can make use of it without camping too close. It’s safer this way.”

Valeria nodded again, too tired to do much else. Her mind felt heavy, her limbs sluggish. She watched as Lily began to set up camp, her movements efficient and purposeful. Valeria found herself mesmerized by the rhythmic way Lily worked—gathering kindling, lighting a fire, preparing the small clearing for the night. Soon, the crackling of flames filled the air, casting flickering shadows around them as the last light of day began to fade.

Valeria sat near the fire, staring blankly into the dancing flames. Her mind was completely empty, numb from the weight of everything she had been through. She barely noticed Lily rummaging through her pouch, pulling out ingredients she had gathered along the way. Valeria’s thoughts drifted to the moment when Lily had mentioned gathering things to cook with, reassuring her that she wouldn’t go far. It was a small comfort, but one that Valeria had held onto, listening for Lily’s voice as she moved around, always making sure to call out to her every so often.

Lily’s presence had become a strange source of calm in Valeria’s otherwise chaotic world. She wasn’t ready to trust fully, but the sound of Lily’s voice had begun to ease her nerves, slowly pulling her from the deep well of fear that had gripped her since the day before.

As the fire crackled and the stew in the pot began to simmer, Lily called out softly, “It’s almost ready.” She stirred the pot, glancing over at Valeria with a small smile. “To be honest, I don’t usually cook this frequently. So, I hope it at least suits your taste.”

Valeria nodded in response, accepting the bowl that Lily handed her. The stew smelled different than what her mother used to make, but it wasn’t bad. She took a few bites, savoring the warmth of the meal. But as she ate, the familiar act of eating dinner around a campfire brought back memories—memories of her mother’s cooking, of the comforting presence of her parents that she would never feel again.

Tears began to blur her vision, and before she could stop them, they spilled down her cheeks, silent but steady. Lily, startled by the sudden tears, quickly knelt beside her. “Is it that bad?” she asked, her voice a mix of concern and nervous humor.

Valeria shook her head, unable to speak as the grief washed over her once more. She continued to eat quietly, her tears mingling with the stew, and Lily, sensing the depth of Valeria’s sorrow, didn’t press further. Instead, she busied herself with something else, giving Valeria the space to grieve in silence.

After a few moments, Lily pulled out a shirt from her belongings, the one she had worn earlier that morning beneath her leather armor. It had been torn in several places, and she began stitching it back together with practiced hands. Valeria, still sniffling but calmer now, glanced over at Lily, her gaze lingering on the shirt.

Noticing Valeria’s curious look, Lily spoke up, her voice light. “I can’t just keep changing into a new one every time this happens, you know,” she said with a small chuckle.

But the words, simple as they were, hit something deep within Valeria. The act of sewing, of mending clothes, reminded her too much of her mother—of the quiet moments when her mother would sit by the fire, stitching up Valeria’s torn dresses or her father’s worn shirts. It was a small, tender memory that now seemed unbearably distant.

Before she could stop herself, Valeria burst into tears again, the flood of emotion overwhelming her. The sobs wracked her small frame, and she cried with a desperation that left Lily momentarily confused.

Lily quickly set aside the shirt and moved to Valeria’s side, her arms wrapping around her in a comforting embrace. “It’s alright, it’s alright…” she murmured, gently rocking Valeria as the girl sobbed into her shoulder. Lily didn’t understand exactly what had triggered the outburst, but she didn’t need to. She knew the weight of loss, the depth of sorrow that came when everything you loved was taken away.

“I’m here,” Lily whispered, her voice soft and steady. “I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”

Valeria’s sobs slowly quieted, though her tears didn’t stop completely. She clung to Lily, letting the warmth of the embrace and the soft reassurance of her words calm her. It wasn’t the same as her mother’s arms, but in that moment, it was enough.

Valeria's exhaustion slowly overtook her, the emotional weight of the day pulling her into a deep, heavy sleep. She felt herself drifting away, the warmth of Lily’s embrace and the gentle patting on her back lulling her into slumber. Before she fully succumbed to sleep, she heard Lily’s soft whisper, “Good night,” as she gently laid her down in a more comfortable position near the fire.

But when morning came, Valeria’s body felt strange. Her head spun, and she struggled to open her eyes, her limbs heavy and uncooperative. She blinked weakly, the world around her a blurry haze. The usual comforting sounds of the forest—the rustling leaves, the chirping birds—seemed distant and distorted.

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Lily, who had just returned from gathering supplies nearby, immediately noticed something was wrong. Her eyes widened with concern as she knelt beside Valeria and gently pressed a hand to her forehead. "Your temperature is too high," Lily muttered, her voice tight with worry.

Valeria’s mind was foggy, unable to make sense of the world around her. Everything felt distant, like she was watching it all through a thick mist. She could barely comprehend Lily’s words, her senses dull and sluggish.

Without hesitation, Lily scooped Valeria into her arms, holding her close as she swiftly began moving through the forest. Valeria, too weak to fully understand what was happening, clung faintly to the sense of movement. She couldn’t register Lily’s speed, only the sensation of wind rushing past her, ruffling the cloak that was now wrapped around her like a protective shield.

Though disoriented, Valeria could feel the rapid rise and fall of Lily’s chest, her steady heartbeat the only sound grounding her in the midst of her fevered haze. Every now and then, a strange warmth washed over Valeria, spreading through her body like a gentle, soothing wave. It was unlike anything she had felt before—magical, almost—and though she didn’t understand it, it made her feel a little more at ease.

As Lily continued to carry her through the forest, Valeria slipped in and out of consciousness, the fever pulling her deeper into a dazed state. Time lost all meaning, and she had no idea how long they had been moving. The only constants were the wind, the warmth of Lily’s body, and that strange comfort flowing through her.

After what felt like an eternity, faint voices began to filter through the fog in Valeria’s mind. She could hear an argument, the voices distant and unclear, but she recognized one of them as Lily’s. The tone was firm, though Valeria couldn’t make out the details of the conversation.

“… I will help guard the…” was the only fragment Valeria could comprehend before her mind slipped away again, too tired and feverish to hold on to anything more. The words faded into the background as she drifted back into unconsciousness, her body limp in Lily’s arms.

...

Valeria awoke, her mind much clearer than before, though her body still felt sluggish and weak. The soft, now-familiar blanket covered her, providing some warmth, but her heart quickened as she realized something was wrong. She quickly scanned her surroundings, her eyes darting around the cart she was lying in, but the one person she was searching for—Lily—was nowhere to be seen.

Panic surged in her chest. She sat up, feeling the cart sway slightly beneath her, and before she could stop herself, she cried out, her voice trembling, “Lily? Lily!”

Almost immediately, someone pulled back the cover on the side of the cart. A young man appeared, his face a mix of concern and confusion. “Hey there, kid,” he said, his voice calm but casual. “Your mother will be back soon.”

The mention of her mother sent Valeria’s already fragile mind spiraling. Mother? The word hit her like a cold splash of water, and for a moment, her memories came rushing back—her mother, the village, everything she’d lost. Tears welled up in her eyes as she crawled closer to the man, her small hands gripping the edge of the cart. “You... you know where my Mom is? Where is she?” she asked, her voice shaky, the tears threatening to spill over.

The young man blinked in surprise, clearly startled by her reaction. “Whoa, whoa,” he said, holding up his hands as if trying to calm her. “She just went on patrol to make sure the area is clear or something. She’ll be back soon, so calm down.”

Valeria’s mind struggled to make sense of his words, but then it clicked. He wasn’t talking about her mother—he was talking about Lily. A wave of disappointment washed over her, and she murmured quietly, “Lily isn’t my mother…” Her voice was dejected, her hope fading as quickly as it had surged.

The young man’s expression brightened at her response. “Oh, really? Sister then?” he asked with a curious smile.

Valeria shook her head, and the young man’s brows furrowed. “Huh… no wonder you two look nothing alike,” he mused aloud, more to himself than to Valeria.

Valeria’s quiet hiccups pulled him back to the present, and he crouched down beside the cart, his tone softening. “Oh, sorry, kid. How are you feeling? Do you want to join us? We just finished setting up camp for the night.” He reached out briefly, checking her forehead for signs of a fever. His touch was gentle, but Valeria couldn’t help but flinch slightly at the unfamiliar contact. Her fever seemed to have gone down, but she still felt weak and shaky.

The smell of food drifted through the air, and despite her emotions, Valeria’s stomach let out a loud growl. The young man grinned, clearly in a good mood. “Well, that answers that,” he said, standing up and offering her a hand. “Come on. Let’s get you something to eat.”

Valeria hesitated but nodded, allowing herself to be guided out of the cart. As she climbed down, she saw a small group of people gathered around a campfire, chatting and eating. They greeted her with friendly smiles, though Valeria could sense that she didn’t quite belong. The young man who had helped her introduced her to the group with a quick wave before hurrying off to grab her a portion of food.

Valeria stood there, her small frame shaking as she took in her surroundings. The people around the fire were rough-looking, their clothes and armor worn from travel and battle. One of them, a large, grizzled man with a thick beard and a scar running down his cheek, sat quietly by the fire, his presence commanding, though he didn’t speak.

The others continued chatting with one another, their voices low and relaxed, but Valeria couldn’t help feeling overwhelmed. Her legs trembled, and her hands tightened around the blanket still draped over her shoulders. She had never been surrounded by so many strangers before, and the fear she had tried to push down began to bubble up again. Despite the warmth of the fire and the friendly smiles, she felt out of place, small and vulnerable.

The young man returned with a bowl of food and handed it to Valeria with a grin. “Here you go,” he said, sitting down beside her with his own portion. “Eat up. It’ll make you feel better.”

Valeria sat down, the food in her hands, but her hands were still shaking, and the tears that had welled up earlier hadn’t stopped. She was surrounded by strangers, and the uncertainty of it all made her feel even smaller. She missed Lily’s presence, the one person she had begun to trust in this terrifying new world.

Even as she ate, her tears silently slipped down her cheeks. And though she tried to hide them, the young man beside her noticed. He gave her a sideways glance, his expression softening. “Hey, it’s alright,” he said quietly. “You’re safe here. Lily will be back soon. You don’t have to worry.”

But even his kind words couldn’t stop the tears. Valeria was still so far from understanding everything that had happened, and the weight of that uncertainty, combined with her grief and fear, was too much for her small heart to bear. She sat there, quietly crying, the world around her feeling distant and unfamiliar.