Thalina's eyes flickered open.
Her breath hitched.
The first thing she registered was cold—a damp chill that clung to her skin, wrapping around her like a second layer. Her limbs felt heavy, like she had been drenched in exhaustion, her muscles refusing to cooperate.
Where…?
Her mind struggled to grasp reality. The cave. The scent of earth, stone, and something faintly metallic filled her lungs. Soft moss cushioned her back, but even that comfort felt distant.
She blinked.
And then—movement.
Something stirred on top of her.
Her body tensed. Instinct took over before thought, her hands twitching, ready to defend—
But then she saw her.
Vanora.
The wolf lay motionless, her small form pressed against Thalina's stomach, her fur barely rising and falling with shallow breaths.
No.
Thalina's heart stopped for a second before slamming into motion.
"Vanora!"
