.
.
.
Morning had barely stretched across the sky when Kaya and the others got ready to leave. The air was cool, calm—almost too calm—and the kind of quiet that made even the softest sounds stand out. Kaya was crouched near her things, tying her pack closed, her movements quick but distracted. Something about this goodbye felt heavier than it should've.
Just a few feet away, a little sparrow sat on a flat stone, blinking slowly as if half-asleep.
Then, out of nowhere, a low male voice, quiet but clear, whispered right into the sparrow's ear.
"Hah... still acting?"
The sparrow flinched hard, its small head whipping around. Its wings twitched, almost ready to take flight. But there was no one. No footsteps. No shadow. Nothing behind it or around.
....
A while later.
After leaving the cave, they walked deeper into the forest. It wasn't exactly a peaceful stroll—everything they carried felt heavier than it should, and the uneven ground didn't help.
