The van rolled into a forest at about 8 p.m., when the forest had become quiet, dark, and covered in mist by the time they stopped for the night.
The moon hung high above the trees, casting a soft glow through the thick canopy of leaves and branches. Crickets chirped, and leaves rustled gently as the wind passed.
Nova sat by a tree, her knees pulled to her chest, and her bow resting beside her. Her breathing had evened out, and her wounds were gone, but her mind was still far from calm.
She stared into the fire Tay had built, her usually sharp eyes gray and somewhat distant.
Asher kept glancing over at her, concern building inside him.
She hadn't said a word since Zain had hit her. And while she was physically fine, he could feel something was off,something deeper than pain.
Zain sat cross-legged near the fire, poking at a sausage roasting on a stick. He looked relaxed, almost too relaxed, like the earlier fight meant nothing to him.
