The air in the forest was heavy as Cinder walked toward the edge of camp. The quiet night felt tense, as if something unseen was watching her. Jason had urged her to rest after everything with the Moon's Guardian, but sleep didn't come easily. Her mind was too full of questions and doubts.
As she moved further into the woods, she heard soft footsteps behind her. She turned quickly, her senses alert, but relaxed slightly when she saw Zara standing there.
"It's just me," Zara said, holding up her hands. Her voice was calm, but her eyes seemed troubled.
"What are you doing out here?" Cinder asked, surprised.
"I needed to talk to you," Zara replied. "Somewhere private."
Cinder frowned but nodded. "Alright. What's on your mind?"
Zara hesitated, looking down at the ground before meeting Cinder's eyes. "There's something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you a long time ago."