Ethan was quiet for a moment.
Then finally, he nodded.
"All right. Just one night."
Relief flooded the hunters' faces. Some even chuckled quietly, tension bleeding from their shoulders.
Before long, they led Ethan and the girls through a narrow path in the woods, winding into a secluded village.
It wasn't the kind of place that had seen progress, let alone luxury.
The houses were built from rough-hewn timber, lashed together with vines and animal hide. Perimeter defenses were basic at best—just wooden spikes and watchposts.
But the people themselves—
Every smiling face was open, unguarded. The warmth wasn't faked. These weren't practiced gestures of diplomacy—they were just honestly happy to see strangers for once.
In the center of the camp, a tall bonfire roared, burning high against the twilight sky.
