Thalina exhaled slowly, pushing away the lingering unease—only to freeze.
A pair of round, curious eyes blinked up at her from the basket.
Vanora.
The tiny pink wolf had been watching everything.
Thalina's heart jumped. The baby wolf didn't understand what she'd just witnessed, but she couldn't let her stare at this. The blood. The headless bodies. The sheer brutality of it all.
"Ah, no, no, no." Thalina rushed over and scooped up the tiny fluff ball, turning her away from the mess. "You didn't see anything. Absolutely nothing."
Vanora let out a confused whimper, squirming slightly in Thalina's grip, but Thalina was already gently shoving her back inside the basket and covering her small eyes with her palm.
She turned, looking for Zeriah—
Only to find the woman already on her knees beside Lyrix.
Lyrix was barely conscious. His body was battered, bruised, and covered in deep wounds. His once-proud form was now slumped and weak.
