The sun was already dipping low, its warm light slipping through the treetops.
Davien had gone to gather wood for tonight's fire and was now returning.
It was getting late.
She should have been back by now.
She had been gone longer than usual.
Davien dropped the wood onto the ground and wiped the dirt from his hands. He moved to a fallen tree log and sat down, his eyes fixed on the path she had taken earlier.
Maybe she had wandered farther than usual—or chased a stubborn rabbit deep into the forest—but she should be on her way back by now.
Seconds passed.
He stood up and began pacing back and forth, his steps restless. His gaze kept drifting toward the path, unease Slowly settling into his chest.
Each minute felt longer than the last.
His jaw tightened.
An hour passed.
Davien stopped walking, "He hesitated, debating whether or not to go look for her." Seconds ticked by, "Then he made his decision and disappeared into the forest."
"The forest was quiet today, a suffocating silence hanging in the air, interrupted only by the wind brushing against the leaves."
"Lila," he called, his voice filling the forest, echoing loud and clear—only to return without a response.
His pace quickened, breath growing shallow as his eyes moved from tree to tree.
"Lila!" he called again, louder this time. Still nothing.
A familiar tension rising in his stomach.
He knew this forest well. He had studied it from the moment they arrived until now, yet it still felt hostile—unfamiliar.
Trusting his instincts, he chose a direction and went deeper.
Then he stopped, unsure of what to do. An idea struck him.
Maybe she went to the other side of the forest.
He changed direction, walking quickly now, searching everywhere, going deeper despite knowing the danger he might face.
He reached a path covered with tall trees and thick bushes. It looked untouched.
Something lay still on the ground.
At first glance, he turned away.
A corpse, he thought.
He walked a few steps away—then stopped.
Minutes passed.
He turned back.
It wasn't a good idea, he knew, but something inside him urged him forward.
Step by step, he approached. The shape grew clearer.
His chest tightened.
His mind already screaming reality before his eyes could process it.
"No…" His voice cracked, his hands trembling.
It was Lila.
Her body lay twisted against the ground. One arm was bent beneath her, the other resting peacefully at her side. Her hair was covered with dirt and dried leaves. Her skin was pale—too pale.
He was at her side in an instant.
"Lila," he said urgently, kneeling beside her. His hands hovered for a second before touching her, gently adjusting her position.
Her chest wasn't moving.
Her body was stiff and cold beneath his fingers.
Panic surged through him.
He didn't hesitate.
Davien lifted her into his arms, cradling her carefully as he stood and ran back to the camp.
Once there, he lowered her gently near the fire pit and dropped to his knees beside her. His eyes swept over her, searching desperately for injuries.
Small cuts on her arm.
Dirt beneath her nails.
Then he saw it.
Her hand and leg was swollen.
A bite mark.
Two puncture wounds, deep and sharp.
He clenched his jaw so hard his teeth ached.
He knew the signs too well—the swelling, the pale skin, the way the veins around the wound had faded.
"Snake venom," he muttered, fingers hovering above the bite.
"Damn it," he whispered, slamming his fist into the ground. "Why was I so careless?"
If only I hadn't agreed to her request… or send her into the forest.
Pressing his forehead against hers, his breath unsteady, he murmured, "I should have watched you. I should have gone with you."
He knew there was nothing he could do. He was only a mere human.
So he stayed there, begging—praying to anything, anyone—to save her.
Suddenly—
Relief crashed over him.
"Stay with me," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Fear was clear in his eyes.
Suddenly, Lila gasped violently for air. Her body jerked as she inhaled. Her eyes flew open, and she turned to the side, vomiting dark blood that stained the ground beneath her.
Then she went still again.
"Lila!" Davien grabbed her shoulders, panic spreading through him.
Part of him was relieved she was breathing. The other part feared he might lose her at any moment.
The fire crackled beside them, its warmth brushing their skin.
After what felt like decades, her eyes fluttered open again.
She blinked slowly, her head pounding.
"Why… am I here?" she whispered weakly. "I was in the forest… about to—"
Then the memories flooded back.
"The snake," she breathed, eyes widening. "How did you find me?"
She looked down at her hand, then back at Davien.
"Do you have any idea what could've happened if you'd gone deeper?" he snapped, anger mixed with fear.
She flinched at his tone.
"What if you—" His voice broke. "You—"
"Davien," she said softly.
He stopped.
She met his eyes. "I'm sorry."
Silence stretched between them.
"I made a mistake," she continued weakly.
Davien exhaled slowly.
"It's late. You should rest," he said, standing and walking toward his sleeping area.
"Okay," Lila replied tiredly, curling up near the fire on the hard ground.
Minutes later, she drifted into sleep.
Davien stared into the fire, lost in thought. His gaze flickered to her briefly, then back to the flames.
"Most people wouldn't survive an attack like that."—at least, that's what he believed."
She was bitten twice
So how are you still alive,Lila? he murmured to himself unease settling deep in his chest.
"How?"