Rustle~
"…Lyra.... something's not right here. I think we're being watched..."
Dimitri shifted uneasily, glancing at the thick mist crawling between the trees. His hand tightened around the hilt of his blade, though his knuckles were pale.
Lyra walked ahead, her golden eyes scanning the shadows. Sparks crackled faintly across her fingertips as if her body couldn't fully contain the energy within her.
"You're not wrong," she said simply.
Dimitri swallowed hard, keeping close behind her.
"Then… what do we do?"
Lyra stopped suddenly and turned her head.
"We wait. And when they come—" Her eyes met his, sharp and calm. "You stay back."
"What?" Dimitri blinked, his voice rising slighly.
"I can fight—"
"No." Her tone was firm, final. "If you step in the way, I'll have to protect you, and that will slow me down. Simply stay back."
Dimitri grit his teeth, but before he could argue further:
CRACK!
