The first thing I noticed was how warm everything was. Not the painful, burning warmth of fever, but the gentle warmth of a fire crackling nearby and blankets wrapped around me. The warmth of being somewhere that wasn't the freezing forest.

I tried to open my eyes but they felt heavy, crusted with sleep or tears or both. My whole body ached a deep, bone-tired ache that made even breathing feel like work.

"She's waking up," a voice said. It sounded nervous, probably belonging to a young ...