Chapter 83:
The pale light of dawn crept over the horizon, casting long shadows across the camp. Winter stirred, his body stiff from a restless night. The ground beneath his makeshift bedroll offered little comfort, and the chill of the early morning air seeped into his bones.
He lay still for a moment, listening to the soft sounds of the camp—nothing but the distant hum of nature and the crackling remnants of the dying fire.
A sudden sense of unease prickled at the back of his neck. His mind immediately raced, and his heart skipped a beat. He instinctively noticed that Zara wasn’t beside him. The realization hit him like a rush of cold water, panic flooding his chest.
He sat up hastily, his breath coming out in short, shallow bursts. His eyes darted around, scanning the camp with urgency.
And then, he saw her.
Zara was already awake, moving quietly as she prepared breakfast with the limited supplies they had.
Her face was filled with concentration, though the shadows under her eyes betrayed her fatigue. She didn’t seem to notice Winter’s startled awakening as she bent over the small cooking area, focused entirely on the task at hand.
Winter’s breath slowly returned to normal, the panic in his chest dissipating as his eyes lingered on her. She was fine. She was right there. His heartbeat was still a little too fast, but he forced himself to breathe deeply, trying to calm the remnants of the panic that had seized him. A strange sense of relief washed over him, though it left behind a strange tightness in his chest.
He rubbed his face, trying to shake off the remnants of the anxiety. His gaze flickered toward her again—Zara, calm and absorbed in the task of breakfast.
Leo was still asleep, nestled snugly in the sleeping bag beside Winter. His small form curled into a ball, his soft breaths mingling with the faint crackle of the dying fire. Winter’s gaze lingered on the boy for a moment longer before shifting to Zara. Their interaction the night before replayed in his mind.
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