The cave seemed to grow smaller as Yves's intense gaze bore into Rami. His question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications and the weight of past betrayals. Rami's mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of his cryptic words. *What did he mean by "witch's mark"? What kind of world was this, where such things held sway?*
She took a small step back, her heart pounding in her chest. "I... I don't understand," she stammered, her voice trembling despite her efforts to remain calm. "I don't know what you're talking about." Her fingers fidgeted with the rough edges of her newly fashioned fur garments, the cold sweat on her back a stark reminder of the danger she found herself in.
Before she could formulate another response, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the cave. Rami squinted against the sudden influx of sunlight as a figure stepped into view. Yves, it seemed, was not alone.
The man who appeared was lean yet strong, his form suggesting both agility and endurance. His hair, a mesmerizing blend of mahogany and dark hues, seemed to shimmer with an inner energy, like scales catching the light. He wore a simple animal pelt skirt and a single strap top, his bare torso glistening with the heat of his journey.
"Yves!" he called out, his voice deep and resonant. "The hunting team is ready to depart..." His words trailed off as his gaze fell on Rami. A look of confusion flickered across his features. "Female?"
Rami's eyes darted to where Yves should have been, realizing too late that he had already left. The new arrival's scrutiny was almost as unnerving as Yves's earlier interrogation. She managed a small smile and a wave, trying to appear harmless. It seemed to work—up to a point.
The man hesitated, his instincts clearly warning him against entering another's cave uninvited. But curiosity—or perhaps a lack of caution—won out. He strode inside, and Rami couldn't help but feel a flash of irritation at his casual disregard for personal space.
In the next instant, he moved with surprising speed, lifting her into his arms as if she weighed nothing. Rami gasped at the suddenness of it, her body stiffening in protest. But before she could voice any objection, he set her down gently on a grassy clearing outside.
She realized with a start that she had no idea how to leave the cave—or, indeed, where "home" even was in this strange, magical world.
As he straightened, Rami noticed the questions forming in his eyes—the unspoken Who is she? How did she get here? Especially in HIS cave..'
But before he could voice them, a booming voice called his name.
"Kai!!"
The man, now identified as Kai, flicked his tongue in a gesture of annoyance—or perhaps resignation—and turned to join the hunting party. Rami watched him go, her mind reeling. She had hoped for answers, but instead, more questions swirled around her like a whirlpool.
Where was Yves? What had he meant about witches and marks? And who was this Kai, so confident in his intrusion?
Rami's eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the dense foliage and the distant sounds of the hunting party preparing.
As the sounds of the hunting party grew louder, Rami stood frozen, torn between the desire to flee and the fear of venturing into the unknown beyond the clearing. The weight of Yves's unanswered questions lingered like a shadow, and she couldn't shake the feeling that her very presence here was somehow... unwanted.
'What had she gotten herself into?'