LYRA

I approached Riven cautiously while the others hung back near the tree line, giving us space but staying close enough to intervene if this turned into another trap. My hand stayed near the knife in my belt, ready despite exhaustion making my movements slower than usual, every muscle in my body screaming from days of running and fighting and surviving impossible odds.

"What about Kael?" I demanded the moment I was close enough to speak without shouting. "Is he hurt?"

"No, he's fine," ...