The forest whispered secrets as Lucy and Karl trudged through the underbrush, each step a testament to their resilience. The air was thick with damp earth and tension, and above them, the canopy filtered golden light into slanted, shifting shapes. Karl leaned heavily on Lucy, his breathing ragged, every movement laced with pain. The fever had broken, but the wound on his side was still angry and red. They didn’t speak much—words weren’t needed.By late afternoon, they stumbled upon a cabin buried deep in a forgotten part of the forest. Lucy had used it once before during a mission gone wrong. It was hidden from every known path, secure—or so she had thought.She helped Karl to a low cot inside, his face twisted in a grimace as he sank into the worn mattress. “Stay here,” she said softly, brushing the sweat-damp hair from his brow. “I’ll do a perimeter sweep.”He grabbed her wrist gently. “Be careful.”She gave a quick nod before slipping out.The forest around the cabin was silent. No
Morning crept into the cave like a thief—quiet, uncertain, slipping in through cracks of stone. The storm had passed, leaving behind the damp hush of a soaked forest. Lucy stirred first, stiff and sore from sleeping against the wall, Karl’s weight still slumped against her.His fever had broken sometime in the night, but his skin remained clammy, breath uneven. Her hand had never left his shoulder. She had kept the fire alive through sheer willpower, feeding it sticks, cloth, whatever would burn. Anything to keep him warm.Now, she brushed her fingers along his temple, checking the heat. Still warm, but not blazing.Karl’s eyes blinked open slowly, unfocused.“You’re still alive,” Lucy whispered. “Good. I was running out of ways to yell at you.”He huffed a weak sound that might’ve been a laugh. “You stayed up.”She nodded. “You were burning up. I thought you’d stop breathing.”Karl shifted, groaning as pain rippled through his body. “Still might.”“Not funny.”“Didn’t say it was.”Lu
Karl stirred at dawn, his skin damp with sweat, lips cracked and dry. Lucy hovered nearby, tending the dwindling fire and keeping one eye on him, the other on the narrow cave entrance. He blinked groggily, focus slow to return."You're awake," she whispered, relief flooding her face.He tried to sit up but winced, his entire body resisting the effort. Lucy was beside him in a second, her hand firm on his chest. "Don’t be stupid. You’re still burning up."His eyes locked with hers. Something flickered in the depths—recognition, confusion, and something else she didn’t dare name. "Did you stay up all night?"She nodded, brushing damp hair from his forehead. "Someone had to make sure you didn’t die."He huffed a breath—half a laugh, half pain. "Reckless.""Says the man who took a blade to the ribs for me."He tried to grin, but it collapsed into a grimace. "Fair point."Lucy dabbed at his brow with the corner of her cloak. "You're lucky. Fever’s breaking. But you won’t make it far today.
Karl was burning up.It started with a tremor in his hands. Then the chills set in. By the time the fire had died down to embers, Lucy could see the sweat soaking through his cloak and shirt, his skin too pale, his eyes unfocused."Karl," she said sharply, moving to his side.He didn’t respond.She pressed the back of her hand to his forehead. A curse left her lips. He was boiling."Damn it," she muttered, stripping the cloak off his shoulders. "You should have said something."His head lolled slightly, his breath ragged. "Didn't want to worry you.""You're an idiot."She pulled his pack toward her, rummaging through it. He always carried some basic supplies. Dried herbs. Cloth. She found a waterskin and some crushed feverroot, then grabbed one of the thinner blankets and soaked it in the cool water before pressing it to his neck."Stay with me, Karl," she whispered.He gave a weak grunt. His muscles twitched.She stayed close, kneeling beside him, brushing the damp hair from his fore
Rain came down in sharp sheets, pounding through the canopy above and soaking Lucy to the bone. The forest trail had all but vanished beneath a mess of mud and debris, forcing her and Karl to move slower than they liked. After the ambush last night, every crack of thunder felt like a warning shot. "This way," Karl growled, his voice barely audible over the storm. His hand wrapped around Lucy's wrist as he pulled her to a narrow path winding up the rocky hill. "Are you sure?" she asked, blinking water from her lashes. He didn’t answer, just kept moving, boots digging into the slick earth. The ground trembled under a fresh roar of thunder. Lightning streaked across the sky—and then the trail collapsed behind them. Lucy spun around, eyes wide. "Shit." The slope they’d climbed crumbled, taking the path with it. Karl didn’t pause. "Keep moving." They crested the ridge just as the rain picked up. Karl led her toward an outcropping of stone, nearly hidden beneath overgrowth. He shove
The battle had ended, but the war was far from over. Lucy could still hear the echoes of steel clashing, the snarls of dying rogues, the wet thud of bodies hitting the blood-soaked ground. The scent of smoke and death clung to her like a second skin as she followed Karl through the dense forest, their steps silent, their movements tense. The night pressed in around them, the trees stretching high, their twisted branches clawing at the sky. The reinforcements had arrived, forcing the remaining rogues to retreat, but Lucy knew better than to assume they were safe. Something felt off. Karl moved like a shadow beside her, his body no longer weakened by the wounds that should have killed him. The memory of what had happened still sent a chill down her spine. She had healed him. She didn’t know how or why, but the truth was undeniable. And Karl had felt it too. She stole a glance at him. He was quiet, his face unreadable, but his fingers flexed at his sides, his claws just barely ext