Cara collapsed onto the wooden couch in the corner of the ranger den. Another long, dangerous scouting expedition, and they still hadn’t found even a hint of how to save the village.

“The noose is closing in,” Kegan said, pacing up and down. “Where in the Forest are the other villages’ rangers?”

Aidan sat beside Cara, rolled back his head, and let out a sigh. “We don’t know, any more than we did the last nine times you asked.”

Nola curled up into a tight ball on the other side of Aidan, her head resting on his shoulder. “They’ll come. They won’t abandon us.”

A frown took over Kegan’s face, and his pacing shuddered to a halt. “Assuming they’re alive.”

Would they ever stop bickering? They didn’t use to. Was it her fault?

Cara stared out the window at the dying light. Why had she ever agreed to be a Prowler? “That’s enough.”

Kegan paced faster than before. “We can’t feel them!”

“That’s. Enough.” Cara glared at them both with what little energy she could muster.

There was no point arguing about it. The tree-song was weaker than ever, reduced to a background noise of fear and sorrow, cut off from the rest of the Forest. That didn’t mean everyone else was dead. They’d all seen far too much of the ring of death that circled Tolabar for Kegan not to know why they were cut off.

A ring that was now contracting.

Cara drew in a deep breath and continued. “Tomorrow, we take one of those dryads out, permanently. Tonight, we relax. I need you all fresh in the morning. Understood?”

Kegan’s eyes widened. “Yes, Prowler.”

“Don’t you go starting that again!”

“Is that an order, sir?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Everyone chuckled, and the tension in the air broke. Thank the Forest! Tomorrow would be hard enough without everyone stressed to the eyeballs. They could leave all the stress to their Prowler.

Why in the Deep-Forest was that her again?

“Who’s up for some dice?” Aidan asked.

Nola laughed and jabbed him with her finger. “What, so you can kick our asses again?”

He shrugged and failed to suppress a grin. “The dice like me.”

“None of the rest of us have Discern Magic,” Nola said, “do we?”

Aidan tilted his head and looked down at her. “Do you really think I’d do that?”

“No, but you’re cute when you blush like that.”

More laughter, tainted for Cara by the pit in the base of her stomach. “You guys have fun. I’m going to go check on Nibbles.” She rose to her feet and forced out a smile. “Don’t let them stay up too late, Aidan.”

He nodded. “I won’t, boss. Besides, they’ll be cleaned out long before then.”

Cara smiled and made her escape.

Or not—footsteps followed behind her. Too light to be Aidan’s, not frantic enough to be Kegan’s. “Nola…”

“Talk to me, Cara.”

Escape had been so close… Cara turned and tried not to disappointed. “Don’t you have seeds to be losing?”

Nola simply stared back, smiling expectantly. She wasn’t going to give up, was she?

“There’s nothing to say!”

“You’re not the only one who watches people.”

Cara narrowed her eyes. “Is watching Aidan not enough for you?”

A grin lit up Nola’s face, and she swept her gaze up and down Cara. “I didn’t mean it that way, but if you insist…”

“Ugh! You’re incorrigible!”

“Thanks.” Her grin faded into seriousness. “Feelings can be talked about, you know.”

Panic scrambled through Cara’s head. “So you say!”

“I do.” Nola’s stare refused to relent. “We need you on form, too. Don’t make me get Jeremy.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Would she? Cara looked away and pouted. What was with people wanting to talk?

“I’m a ranger. We do what needs to be done.”

Cara let out a long, theatrical sigh. “Fine! I’m scared. Happy now?”

“Nope! We’re all scared. What’s really up?”

She swallowed hard. “What if I’m not good enough?”

“You are, and tomorrow, you’re going to prove it.”

Cara scoffed. That, or they’d end up dead. “At least you have faith in me.”

“We all do. You’ve gotten us this far. Now, go get Nibbles, and get back here.”

If only. “Aidan hates her.”

“He doesn’t. Believe me, he’s just not fond of anyone nibbling his ears. You’re not spending tonight alone, and neither’s Nibbles.”

Their eyes met, and they shared a silent, grim understanding. Tonight was very likely the last night they had left all together.

Why were they foolish enough to believe in her?

Cara looked away. “Fine. You win. But I make no apologies if she tastes everyone’s ears.”

“I’d be disappointed if she didn’t.”

Despite everything, a bitter smile spread across Cara’s lips.

One final night. They might as well enjoy it, while they were all still alive.