The orange glow in the mountains remained visible long after night had fallen.
Nicole stood at the edge of the encampment, staring toward it through the trees. The distant light flickered against the dark horizon, appearing and disappearing behind the mountain ridges. It wasn't a campfire. It was too large, too steady, and far too high above the valley floor.
Something was burning.
Again.
Jasper approached from behind, his footsteps quiet against the layer of ash covering the ground. He stopped beside her, following her gaze.
"It's still there," he said.
Nicole nodded. "It hasn't gone out once."
"Which means whoever is up there wants us to see it."
Nicole looked at him. "You think it's a warning?"
"I think it could be."
Before Nicole could answer, a sudden rush of wings came from above.
Slade descended through the darkness and landed heavily upon Jasper's arm.
Jasper immediately noticed something was wrong.
"Slade?"
