Once they left the mountain, the wind finally settled down. But the silence that followed didn't feel peaceful at all. It was dense, like the world was holding its breath. The light rain had stopped, and the ground felt soft under their steps. They walked across broken stones and blackened grass, away from the Heart of Stonewake.
The Onyx Wolf walked beside Serakha, its head low and eyes scanning the land. Every now and then it would sniff the air, ears twitching.
"We're not done yet," Serakha said quietly, her voice barely rising above the sound of their footsteps.
Lucian looked at her. "Where to now?"
"The Root is showing me… shadows," she said. "There is a place south of here. A burned forest. That's where we go next."
Arden frowned. "The Ashlands?"
Serakha nodded. "That's where the next wound is."
