Travels

Days and Nights blurred together as they walked, the forest stretching endlessly in every direction. Nova found herself falling into a rhythm. she felt she was forging her place among the towering trees and the unfamiliar scents that clung to the air. Kael led the way, his movements purposeful yet relaxed, as if he had been born in the wilderness. Maybe he had. 

They camped in caves, or clearings that were tucked away, always careful to stay hidden. Kael never seemed to linger in any one place for too long. "Never stay where someone might look twice," he had said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

At night, as the fire crackled softly, Kael would sit across from her, his gaze steady but not unkind. "Focus," he would say, nudging her gently when her mind wandered. He had a way of pulling her back from the edges of her fear, guiding her through the tumult of her emotions.

"It's like a storm," Kael had explained one evening. "If you fight against it, you'll drown. But if you learn to move with it, to feel its rhythm, you'll find the eye—the calm."

Nova wasn't sure if she believed him, but she tried. Each attempt to meditate felt like a battle. She was at war within herself, and while they were on the move she kept distracted enough to put it out of her mind. However, when she sunk into silence, the weight of her pain pressed against her chest, and each time, Kael would pull her back.

During the day, he taught her other lessons. He would pause suddenly and point at the ground. "See that?" he asked, his voice low but firm. Nova squinted at the faint impressions in the dirt. "Deer tracks," he said. "Fresh. See how the edges are sharp?" He walked a few paces ahead and pointed again. "And here. Claw marks. A bear passed through. Not too long ago."

Nova nodded, trying to commit it all to memory. Kael's patience surprised her, though he never coddled her. If she asked too many questions, he would just smirk, which was both infuriating and oddly amusing.

Plants became another focus of their lessons. Kael would pluck a leaf or point out a cluster of berries, explaining which were safe to eat and which would leave her regretting it. "You see this one?" he said, holding up a glossy green leaf. "Good for wrapping wounds. But don't eat it unless you feel like throwing up for hours."

Nova couldn't help but roll her eyes. "I'll try to resist."

Kael chuckled, the sound low and genuine. "Good. You're catching on."

The teasing was constant, and at first, it grated on her. But over time, she found herself smiling more than she realized. There was an ease to his presence, a steadiness that made the vastness of the forest feel less overwhelming. She realized she was beginning to fall into step with him, her movements becoming less awkward, her senses sharper. She even started noticing things on her own—an oddly bent branch here, a faint rustle there. Kael always noticed, though he didn't always comment, his approving nods enough to keep her motivated.

Still, he rarely spoke of himself. Nova had tried once or twice to prod him, to learn more about the man who had become her guide and protector, but his answers were always vague, deflective. "There's not much to tell," he had said once, his gaze distant. "The past doesn't matter as much as the road ahead."

Yet for all his reticence, Kael had a way of drawing her out. His teasing, was never cruel, and it softened the edges of her fear and uncertainty. Nova found herself laughing at his dry wit, her shoulders relaxing more with each passing day. It was a strange, fragile rhythm they had fallen into, but it felt like progress.

By the end of the third day, Nova was exhausted but felt a flicker of pride. She hadn't tripped over roots or jumped at every sound. She had kept up with Kael's brisk pace, and though her muscles ached, it was the kind of ache that came with effort, with growth.

As they set up camp that night, Kael glanced over at her, his expression unreadable. "Not bad," he said, his tone light. "For a city girl."

Nova smirked, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "And you've almost upgraded from mildly insufferable to tolerable," she shot back.

Kael chuckled, shaking his head as he fed sticks into the small fire. "Progress," he said, his voice carrying a note of approval that warmed her more than the flames.

As the stars began to dot the night sky, Nova lay back on the cool earth, her thoughts drifting. After the fire burned low and silence enveloped the camp, Kael shifted, lying down beside her, though keeping a respectful distance.

Nova turned her head slightly toward him. "After that first night, we keep ending up like this," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Next to each other."

Kael let out a low chuckle, the sound deep and warm in the quiet night. "It's survival," he said, his voice tinged with amusement. "But maybe there's more to it than that."

She smiled faintly, feeling an unexpected comfort in his words. "You don't seem like the type to stay close to anyone."

"I'm not," he admitted, his tone softening. "But you're easy to keep an eye on when you're right here."

Nova huffed a quiet laugh, feeling her cheeks warm slightly. "Convenient for you, then?"

Kael smirked but didn't respond immediately. Instead, he shifted slightly, lying back to gaze at the stars. "Maybe," he said after a pause. "But I'm getting used to it."

She blinked, unsure how to respond, but the warmth in his tone was undeniable. The sounds of the forest filled the spaces between their words, and despite everything, Nova felt a little safer, a little stronger. The forest still felt vast and unfamiliar, but for the first time, she didn't feel so lost. She glanced over at Kael, his silhouette framed by the firelight, and wondered what the days ahead would bring.