Kael
The return journey back to the estate was different.
I noticed it in the way she moved. The hesitation and uncertainty of her footing that had been present when we first came was gone. While she wasn't entirely fluid as she moved, she was doing well for herself.
She navigated the rough terrain with a confidence she hadn't possessed a little over two weeks ago.
She hung onto the branches, trunks, and rocks in our path, sure of her footing. The small sack bounced on her back with each movement. She had insisted on carrying it herself this time. I couldn't help the smile that took over my lips at her small frame in front of me.
My gaze tracked her movements. Her body had changed in subtle but unmistakable ways. The training had left its mark. Her arms showed more definition, her shoulders sat straighter, and there was a lean strength to her frame that hadn't been there before.
