The three of them lingered at the mouth of the hole, the cool air seeping from within brushing against their skin like a whisper of warning. Luke, standing just a pace behind, tightened his gloves and looked at the rope sprawled between them. One end led to this spot, the other trailing back toward their abandoned camp. It had served them well as a lifeline during the day, but now… they would need it differently.
"Ilyrana," Luke said, his voice low but steady. "Can you grab a few stones?"
She tilted her head at him but didn't question, slipping into the shadows nearby where the ground offered small, loose rocks. When she returned, her long fingers placed them carefully on the sand in front of the hole's mouth. She watched curiously as Luke crouched down, dragging the stones into the shape of an arrow.
"Why an arrow?" she finally asked.
