Kaela awoke to birdsong.
Not the kind you'd hear in a city, or even in the edgewoods. This was deep Wilds birdsong—raw, haunting, wild.
She blinked slowly, wincing as pain lanced through her side. Her vision adjusted to dim light. A small cave, moss-lined. A fire flickered gently nearby.
And Kaden.
Leaning against the rock wall, arms crossed, headset still glowing faintly in scan mode. His eyes were closed, but she could tell he wasn't asleep. He was listening. Every sound. Every breath. Like a predator who knew the hunt wasn't over.
She cleared her throat.
He looked over. No smile. Just that serious, stormy gaze.
"You're awake."
"Clearly," she rasped.
He handed her a flask. "Drink. It's bitterroot tea. Helps stabilize ether drain."
She took a sip, coughed, and made a face. "You weren't lying about the bitter part."
That almost earned a smirk.
Almost.
Kaden shifted closer. "You said the Order took your brother. And your beast?"
Kaela's eyes darkened. "His name's Ashveil. A phoenix-class hatchling. Not tamed, bonded. We were born at the same time. We grew up together. He wasn't just my partner. He was… family."
Her voice cracked, just a bit.
Kaden looked away. "They're experimenting on evolved bonds. Trying to create something unnatural."
"Twinsouls," Kaela whispered.
Kaden froze.
"…You know that term?"
"It's not a myth," she said. "There are pairs—beast and tamer—so deeply linked they can feel each other's pain. Memories. Dreams. My brother and Ashveil were close to that. That's why the Order took them."
The fire crackled between them. Silence stretched.
Then Kaela leaned forward, her voice low. "They're building something. I don't know what. But it's big. I saw glimpses when I escaped—a forge powered by caged beasts. Experiments on demi-humans like us."
Kaden's jaw tightened.
She saw the rage flicker in him. That same anger she carried.
"We have to stop them," Kaela said.
Kaden nodded slowly. "We will."
"But we can't do it alone."
His gaze snapped to her.
She shrugged, pain flashing across her face. "You're strong, Kaden. But they'll be hunting you now. Same as me. You need allies. A team. Maybe even… a faction."
Kaden stood, pacing. "Trust doesn't come easy."
"Then let me earn it."
Hunter stepped forward, eyes locked with Kaela's. She reached out slowly—and the beast didn't flinch. A soft hum echoed through the cave. Not a Sync. But a recognition.
Kaden watched it happen—and for the first time in a long time, something in him opened.
"Alright," he said finally. "We work together."
Kaela smiled faintly. "Good. Because you're gonna need me."
She winced. "Also… I might've swallowed a tracker. So, uh. We may have company soon."
Kaden stared at her, deadpan. "Seriously?"
She nodded.
"…Great."
Hunter growled low.
And outside the cave, shadows began to shift.