The storm raged through the night.
Wind howled against the rocks, rain hammering the cave entrance like a relentless drum. Kaela sat with her back to the wall, sword across her lap, eyes fixed on the shadows beyond the firelight. Arion lay beside her, feverish and pale, his breathing shallow but steady.
She checked his bandage again. Still bleeding. Still too warm.
"Stubborn idiot," she muttered under her breath.
Arion stirred, brow furrowing. "Kaela…?"
She pressed a hand to his shoulder. "Rest. You're safe."
He relaxed at her voice, drifting back into uneasy sleep.
Kaela's chest tightened.
Safe.
She wasn't sure she could promise that.
A low rumble echoed outside — not thunder. Something heavier. Closer.
Kaela stiffened.
Another rumble. Then a scrape of claws against stone.
Her pulse quickened.
"Not now," she whispered. "Not when he's like this."
She rose silently, moving to the cave entrance. Rain blurred her vision, but she saw it — a massive silhouette pacing just beyond the rocks. Too large for a Ravager. Too heavy for a wolf.
A Direhorn.
Her blood ran cold.
The creature stepped into view, its massive frame illuminated by lightning. Thick fur matted with rain. Curved horns glowing faintly with bioluminescent veins. Eyes like molten gold.
A territorial beast.
And they were in its shelter.
Kaela gripped her sword. "Of all the caves in the Wildlands…"
The Direhorn snorted, steam rising from its nostrils. It lowered its head, horns scraping the stone.
Preparing to charge.
Kaela stepped forward, blocking the entrance with her body. "Come on then."
The beast roared.
Arion jolted awake. "Kaela—?"
"Stay down!" she shouted.
The Direhorn lunged.
Kaela rolled aside, its horns slamming into the cave wall with a deafening crack. Stone shattered. Dust filled the air. Kaela struck its flank, but her blade barely pierced the thick hide.
The creature bellowed, swinging its head toward her.
Arion struggled to rise. "Kaela—"
"Don't move!" she snapped.
He ignored her, pushing himself upright with a groan. "You can't fight that alone."
"I can and I will."
The Direhorn charged again. Kaela dodged, but the beast clipped her shoulder, sending her crashing into the wall. Pain shot through her arm.
Arion's voice broke. "Kaela!"
She forced herself up, vision swimming. "I said stay down!"
The Direhorn pawed the ground, preparing for another strike.
Kaela tightened her grip on her sword. She couldn't kill it — not with her blade, not in this space. But she could outsmart it.
She waited.
The beast lunged.
Kaela sprinted toward the wall, leaping onto a jutting rock. The Direhorn followed her movement — too fast, too focused. She pushed off the wall, flipping over its head as it crashed into the stone.
The impact shook the cave.
The ceiling cracked.
Kaela landed hard, rolling to her feet. "Arion! Move!"
He dragged himself toward the back of the cave as rocks tumbled from above. The Direhorn shook off the debris, enraged, turning toward Kaela again.
She raised her sword.
But before the beast could charge, a massive slab of stone broke free from the ceiling and crashed down between them, sealing the entrance.
Silence.
Only the storm remained.
Kaela stood frozen, chest heaving, dust settling around her. The Direhorn roared from the other side, but the rock held.
For now.
She lowered her sword, trembling.
Arion slumped against the wall, breath ragged. "Kaela… are you hurt?"
She turned to him, anger and fear and relief crashing together. "I told you not to move."
He gave a weak smile. "I don't take orders well."
She marched to him, kneeling at his side. "You could have torn your wound open. You could have died."
"But you didn't," he murmured. "You're safe."
Kaela froze.
He wasn't worried about himself.
He was worried about her.
Her voice softened despite herself. "You're the one bleeding out."
Arion's eyes fluttered. "Still… wouldn't let anything happen to you."
Kaela's breath caught.
She pressed a hand to his cheek — checking his temperature, she told herself. Nothing more.
He leaned into her touch, eyes half‑lidded. "Kaela…"
"Don't talk," she whispered. "Save your strength."
His eyes closed.
Kaela stayed there, hand on his cheek, heart pounding in a way she didn't understand — or didn't want to.
Outside, the Direhorn roared again.
Inside, Kaela realized something far more dangerous than the beast was happening.
She was beginning to care.
And caring could destroy them both.