112 A New Path

Cecilia’s POV

The cold scent of fir trees mixed with the crisp chill of the snowy night, lingering in the air as the last embers of our campfire fizzled out. Ulysses and I had been in this forest for an entire day, surrounded by nothing but towering trees and the biting cold.

A sudden, sharp caw pierced through the silence, snapping me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see Phoebe, her black wings cutting a thin line through the dim sky before she perched on a nearby branch.

“You're back?” Ulysses asked.

Phoebe responded with a nod, her black feathers glinting under the faint light.

Ulysses stood and extended his arm. With a swift motion, Phoebe flew down from the branch, landing gracefully on his outstretched hand.

“Did she find Klaus?” I asked, my brows furrowing in anticipation.

Phoebe made a series of strange, rhythmic squawks, the sound both familiar and grating. She shook her head dramatically, clearly understanding my question but unable to give the answer I wanted.