They reached Moonlight at dusk.
The settlement emerged quietly, lanterns already strung low to keep their glow from carrying too far.
Moonlight was intact, somehow.
Snow had carried him the entire stretch.
The tiger moved at a steady pace across the narrow path, paws silent against the earth. Ryn leaned forward slightly, one hand tangled in the thick fur at Snow's neck, the other braced loosely on his side.
Blood had long stopped spilling from his eyes, however, they were still hard to lift. Ryn decided to keep them close for now.
Fritz walked beside him.
Not because he needed to.
Because Ryn did.
Fritz's armor was cracked along the shoulder, one gauntlet dented inward where bone should've snapped. He still clutched his stomach, where he had taken a bad slash.
The reaction was immediate.
Movement rippled through Moonlight like a held breath breaking.
Figures emerged from cover.
Then—
"Ryn?!"
