Arpious exhaled, lowering her axe but not relaxing completely. "They'll be back," she said, her voice even.
Elara nodded, rolling her shoulders to ease the tension. "Not tonight."
For a moment, none of them moved, listening to the wind whisper through the branches, to the distant creak of ice shifting in the darkness. Then, finally, the spell of stillness broke. Elara touched her son's shoulder, grounding him, and he blinked, snapping out of his frozen stance.
"We should get inside," Elara said, her voice quieter now. "We need rest."
Arpious didn't argue. The creatures wouldn't dare attack again so soon—not after their failed attempt. But she knew their hunger hadn't been sated. They would wait, watching from the trees, searching for weakness.