The wind whispered over the tops of the trees, cool and dry, carrying the scent of moss, earth, and something else, something sweet and strange, faint like decaying flowers hidden deep in the forest. Jude sat by the river, feet dipped in the water, eyes vacant. The morning sun rose slow and golden, casting long shadows between the trees, painting the world in soft warmth that didn't quite reach his chest. He hadn't slept. Neither had Sophie. She hadn't said much when she returned last night, only met his eyes and gave the smallest, almost imperceptible shake of her head. Not a no, something else. A warning. A fear she hadn't found words for yet. Her silence spoke louder than anything.