The cave smelled faintly of smoke and roasted meat, a small fire crackling at its center. Noel crouched near it, carefully turning strips of meat skewered on a metal rod. The orange glow danced across his face, highlighting the sharp curve of Revenant Fang lying beside him.
Selene sat a few feet away, her wand resting loosely against her knee. For once, she wasn't standing guard or scanning the shadows—just sitting, silent, watching him work.
"This reminds me of the last time," she said suddenly, her voice quiet but cutting through the crackle of the fire.
Noel glanced at her, brow raised. "Last time?"
"The Iskandar Peaks. When you… took me." She hesitated over the words, her cyan eyes flicking to the meat before turning away. "It feels the same."
Noel's smirk faded, a flicker of memory pulling at him. He remembered the frozen cliffs, the biting wind, and Selene clutching food with trembling hands, tears streaming down her face as she ate like she hadn't seen a meal in weeks.
