The mission was simple: gather waterfruit, hunt trail beasts, and restock vine twine.

  Selena walked ahead, staff in hand, scanning the ground. Rell kept pace behind her, shoulder to shoulder with Tesska.

  They were paired off — three teams spread wide through the vines.

  “Hey, copy-cat,” Tesska nudged Rell, “think you can mimic a boar call?”

  [SPEAKS]

  “…What noise pig make?”

  Grinsh howled from down the trail.

  “Like this—HRRRUUUUUUHH!”

  Everyone laughed. Even Selena cracked a smile.

  They found fruit near a thick root cluster. Zariin knelt to inspect some tracks.

  Ishro gathered vines in silence. Myla hummed.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Then — a flash.

  A shadow zipped overhead.

  Before anyone could shout, darts rained down from the trees.

  “AMBUSH!”

  Figures cloaked in leaves and bone armor dropped from branches. Teeth bared. Blades drawn.

  Selena flared fire magic — catching one in mid-air.

  Rell spun beside Grinsh, blocking with a forged plate, then countering with a shoulder strike. Tesska fought next to them, blades flashing.

  [THOUGHTS]

  Move like pack. Back to back.

  He struck, ducked, threw knees — flame burst from his palm, scattering the attackers.

  Across the chaos, Selena saw him.

  Moving like he belonged. Fighting as one of them.

  Not just her.

  Someone else.

  Her hand slipped. A blade whistled toward her ribs—

  And then—

  Nerro stepped in, taking the blow across his side.

  “Focus,” he hissed, pushing her behind him. “Now’s not the time to watch your boyfriend.”

  Selena’s eyes widened. Then narrowed. She didn’t answer.

  She lit the forest up.

  Minutes later, the attackers lay scattered. Few ran. Most didn’t make it.

  The camp crew regrouped, catching breath.

  Grinsh clapped Rell’s back hard enough to rattle bones.

  “JUNGLE BODY! THAT’S YOUR NAME NOW!”

  Tesska doubled over laughing.

  Zariin even smiled. A little.

  Selena stood to the side, stiff.

  She turned toward the group.

  “…Sorry. I should’ve seen them sooner.”

  Myla waved her off.

  “We’re still breathing. That’s all that counts.”

  Ishro nodded in agreement. Tesska grinned.

  Rell walked over. Quiet. Stood beside her.

  She didn’t look at him — but felt his shoulder brush hers.

  Her heart skipped.

  She swallowed.

  “Thanks… for backing me up.”

  [SPEAKS]

  “…Always.”

  She turned back to the group.

  “I don’t talk much. But I’m… glad I met you all.”

  The others gave her nods, claps, fist bumps.

  Even Nerro — stitched and bruised — gave her a shrug.

  “Least you light me up better than they did.”

  That night, under a moonlit tree, Rell whispered:

  [THOUGHTS]

  Whole. Not alone