The expedition reached a fork where clean grass ended at a shelter half buried beneath the valley wall.
Rumi studied the left path and said, "The hostile route continues toward the ridge, though the shelter carries a second pulse beneath its floor."
Nari placed her palm against the right marker and replied, "The pulse is a seal waiting for a choice, and it closes only when someone holds it."
Hajin looked between the paths and asked, "Which direction carries the core, and which direction protects the refugees?"
Rumi pointed toward the ridge and answered, "The left path carries the core, and something is dragging destroyed organs toward a deeper station."
Nari turned toward Ash and said, "The shelter pulse reacts to his Ringlet, so the seal may fail if he leaves before the path accepts him."
Ash held his quiet Ringlet close and thought, 'One road asks me to follow, while one shelter asks me to stay near people who cannot defend it.'
