POV: Aphrodite
Power reshapes relationships.
We reach the ruins on the third day of travel, exhausted and wary. Kai wasn't exaggerating about their defensibility. Ancient stone walls rise from the forest floor, half-claimed by vines and moss but still structurally sound. A small stream runs nearby, providing fresh water. Elevated positions offer clear sightlines in all directions.
It's not permanent safety. Nothing is anymore. But it's more than we've had since leaving our last camp.
The group settles in with practiced efficiency, each person finding tasks without needing direction. But I can feel the tension underneath the cooperation. We've been operating on instinct and adrenaline, reacting to threats without establishing clear structure.
That needs to change. Now, while we have breathing room.
