I woke up to the gentle sway of the carriage, the rhythmic creaking of the wheels against the rough forest path soothing in its own way. A beam of sunlight peeked through the canopy above, casting a warm glow inside the carriage and signaling the end of the forest's deep shadows. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, feeling the stiffness in my limbs from a restless night on the blanket-covered floor.
"Will, you're awake now. Good morning." Chris's cheerful voice broke the silence. She was already sitting up, her eyes bright and alert as she looked at me.
"Yeah, good morning," I replied, stretching out with a yawn. My voice was still groggy from sleep, and I tried to shake off the remnants of the dream that clung to the edges of my consciousness.