The morning sun filtered weakly through the dense canopy of the Ironwood forest, barely providing enough light to see by but at least confirming that day had officially arrived. Nox sat with his back against a massive fallen tree trunk, his shoulder wrapped in makeshift bandages torn from Serian's cloak, every muscle in his body screaming with the aftermath of the previous night's battle.
Serian had spent three hours healing his worst wounds before her mana reserves ran completely dry, and even with her magic working on him, his shoulder was still badly damaged. The alpha's crushing bite had torn through muscle and cracked bone, and there was only so much healing magic could do in a single session.
"You should not move that arm for at least a day," Serian said from where she sat across the small clearing they had retreated to, her own injuries bandaged and slowly healing on their own. "The tissue is still knitting together. Too much stress will tear it open again."
