The trail steepened unexpectedly, rocky terrain replacing the gentle slope. Lívia, distracted by thoughts of the woman she'd passed, misjudged her footing. Her ankle twisted with a sickening crunch, sending sharp pain up her leg.
"Merda," she gasped, sinking to the ground. She tried to stand but collapsed again, embarrassment warring with pain.
Footsteps approached. "Are you alright?"
The voice belonged to the woman from earlier. Up close, Lívia saw fine lines around her eyes, silver strands in dark hair pulled back loosely. She carried herself with an effortless movement that spoke to a calm and practiced confidence.
"Just my pride," Lívia managed, attempting a smile. "And possibly my ankle."
The woman knelt, examining the injury with professional detachment. "May I?" she asked, fingers hovering above Lívia's ankle.
At Lívia's nod, she touched the swelling gently. "Doesn't seem broken, but you shouldn't walk on it."
"Great. My first solo hiking adventure ends in rescue."
"We all make mistakes," the woman said, unlacing her own boot to remove a supportive bandage from her pack. "Some of us just make them more gracefully."
Lívia laughed despite the pain. "Do you always rescue strangers?"
"Only the reckless ones," the woman replied, wrapping Lívia's ankle with practiced efficiency. Their proximity charged the air—her hands were steady, warm against Lívia's skin. Lívia fell silent, not from pain, but from awareness.
The woman noticed the shift too late, pulling her hands back a second after the moment had stretched too long. "Can you put weight on it?"
"Not really," Lívia admitted. "I'm Lívia, by the way."
"Camila." She helped Lívia stand, supporting her weight. "The trail splits ahead. The easier path goes to the lodge."
They walked together in silence at first, Lívia leaning on Camila, acutely aware of every point of contact between them.
"Why are you hiking alone?" Camila asked finally.
"Could ask you the same," Lívia countered, then regretted it. "Sorry. I'm... figuring things out."
Camila's expression softened. "The mountains are good for that."
They reached the fork where the easier trail began. "I can manage from here," Lívia said, though she wasn't sure she could.
Camila hesitated. "I'm heading to the lodge too. We can walk together."
The offer hung between them—not just practical help, but something more unspoken.