Night fell too quickly.
One moment the sky burned gold with sunset;
the next it dimmed into a heavy indigo darkness—
quiet, pressing, waiting.
The forest felt alive in a way Kanah had never felt before.
Not peaceful.
Not wild.
Alert.
Listening.
As if every leaf, every stone, every root sensed the Devourer King marching closer.
Owain stayed at her side, one arm constantly brushing against her lower back, guiding, grounding, guarding.
He refused to let her out of reach.
Dragons took shifts overhead, wings beating slow circles against the moonlit sky.
Elves wove mana barriers into the trees until the forest glowed faintly.
Leopards prowled silently on branches.
Wolves patrolled the shadows.
Kanah watched the movement, the unity, the tension—
and felt something twist painfully in her chest.
All these people…
preparing for war
because of her.
She hugged herself tightly.
Helion appeared at her side, upside down, hanging from a branch like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"You look like you're about to be sick."
Kanah sighed.
"Thank you, Helion. Really encouraging."
He dropped gracefully next to her.
"You're overwhelmed. Normal reaction. Happens to the best of us."
Owain growled from behind her.
"She doesn't need your commentary."
Helion smirked.
"She needs someone to say what she's thinking."
Kanah exhaled shakily.
"I just… didn't want any of this."
Owain stepped in front of her, his brow furrowing.
"Kana."
"I didn't want a war," she whispered.
"I didn't want to hurt anyone.
I didn't want to be the reason people died."
Owain reached for her hand.
She hesitated.
Not because she didn't want to hold him—
but because she felt fragile.
Too shaky.
Too breakable.
He didn't wait.
He took her hand gently, threading his fingers through hers.
"You're not the reason," he said firmly.
Kanah looked away.
"If I wasn't here—"
Owain cupped the side of her face, turning her gently toward him.
"Kana.
Listen."
His voice lowered into something fierce and tender at once.
"You are not the war.
Your father is the war."
Kanah's breath hitched.
"You are the peace he tried to break.
The warmth he can't understand.
The anchor he failed to destroy."
"Owain…"
"You saved people today," he whispered.
"You saved twenty broken souls who would've died screaming.
You did that."
Kanah swallowed.
Her eyes burned.
Owain pressed his forehead to hers.
"Look at me."
She did.
"You don't cause destruction.
You stop it."
Her throat closed.
"Owain… I'm scared."
His arms slid around her waist, pulling her into his chest.
"I know."
Kanah's hands gripped his tunic.
"Everyone's preparing… everyone's fighting… and I don't know what my father will do."
Owain's voice dropped into a protective growl.
"He'll try to reach you."
Kanah trembled.
"And he won't."
She blinked up at him.
"You sound so certain."
"I am."
He kissed her forehead, lingering.
"Because I am not losing you.
Because we won't let him take you.
Because every beast here is ready to bleed for you."
Kanah's chest tightened painfully.
"Why?" she whispered.
Owain's answer was simple.
"Because they believe in you."
Yllas approached quietly, hands clasped behind his back.
"Kanah," he said softly, "leaders rarely choose when they rise.
Circumstance chooses them.
You are doing what many born to power never accomplish."
Helion nodded.
"You're fighting back."
Gerrin stepped closer, offering a gentle smile.
"You're choosing who you want to be, not what the seed dictates."
Kanah's eyes warmed, tears trembling on the edges.
"I don't feel strong."
Owain tilted her chin up.
"That's because strength doesn't feel like strength from the inside."
Kanah let out a shaky laugh.
"That's unfair."
"Life is unfair," Helion muttered. "But you're kicking its ass."
Owain glared at him.
"Stop talking."
Helion winked and climbed another branch.
Yllas gave a calm nod before returning to the barrier line.
Gerrin squeezed Kanah's shoulder.
"All will be well, Kanah."
Then he moved to reinforce the elves.
Kanah's Devourer-born pack shuffled closer, their fear radiating in thin, trembling pulses.
Kanah knelt, stroking one's hair softly.
"You're safe," she whispered.
"I won't let him take you."
Owain watched her with something warm and unbearably soft in his eyes.
"Kana," he murmured, "come with me."
He led her deeper into the trees, past the barriers, to a small clearing lit by moonlight.
Kanah looked up.
"Why here?"
Owain stepped closer, hands gently cupping her elbows.
"Because tomorrow we fight," he said softly.
"And tonight… I just want a moment with you."
Kanah's breath caught.
Not in shock—
but in relief.
She leaned into him.
Owain's arms closed around her, slow and deliberate, his chin resting on her hair.
She inhaled his scent—
warm fur, forest musk, smoke from distant fires—
and something steadier, softer, uniquely him.
"Owain…" she whispered.
His voice rumbled against her ear.
"You're scared. I'm scared.
Everyone is scared."
Kanah nodded into his chest.
"But fear doesn't mean weakness," he said.
"It means there is something worth protecting."
Kanah's throat tightened.
"Owain… I don't want you hurt."
He huffed a soft laugh.
"And I don't want you taken.
So I suppose we're both very invested."
Kanah smiled weakly.
He lifted her chin with one clawed finger.
"You're not alone.
Not ever."
Kanah blinked—
and then slowly, carefully, she rose on her toes and kissed him.
It wasn't heated.
It wasn't urgent.
It wasn't desperate.
It was gentle.
Soft.
Human.
Full of everything unsaid.
Owain froze for a heartbeat—
then melted into her, kissing her back like she was breath itself.
He held her face in both hands, careful, reverent, trembling.
When they finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers, whispering:
"When this is over… I want more moments like this."
Kanah exhaled shakily.
"I want that too."
Owain's voice softened into a vow.
"Then survive tomorrow with me."
Kanah nodded.
"I will."
Owain kissed her again, slow and grounding.
The night held its breath.
And deep in the forest—
a distant, hungry rumble answered.
The Devourer King was moving.