The stars hadn't faded yet when the wind changed.
Echo felt it before he heard anything
A ripple through the spiral stone at his hip, a faint tightening in his chest.
He paused mid-step, turning toward the northern ridge where the air grew thinner.
Vaya noticed too.
She didn't ask.
She simply crouched, still and watchful, her hand lightly resting on the satchel that held the tear-stone.
Then A sound.
Wings.
Sharp, low, and heavy.
Not wild.
Trained.
Echo's eyes narrowed.
He turned to the shadows just beyond the dunes.
There—cutting clean through the sand like a blade—came a hawk.
Spiral-marked. Root-woven leg band. Valley-bred.
It circled once and dropped low, landing without hesitation beside Echo's feet.
A message tube. Sealed with Liora's mark.
He broke it open.
Read quickly.
Then twice.
Then closed his eyes.
---
Vaya watched his face carefully as he tucked the scroll away.
He didn't speak immediately.
When he finally did, his voice was calm.
