They needed to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the rogue’s cage before night fell, before exhaustion slowed their steps, before paranoia seeped into their bones and clouded their judgment.
Neither of them spoke, but their movements were synchronized, an unspoken understanding guiding their path. They ran, leaping over fallen logs and ducking beneath hanging branches, weaving through the labyrinth of trees with ease. They had no true destination for the night, only the instinct to flee, to disappear from where they had last been. The farther, the better.
At some point, the hunger began to gnaw at their insides, demanding attention. Without a word, they veered off, their instincts kicking in, their noses twitching as they searched for prey. It didn’t take long befor
