They settled briefly, setting down their packs.
Edrin stretched his arms, wincing slightly. "…Traveling is worse than fighting."
"That's because you're thinking too much," Ronan said.
"I always think too much."
"That's your problem."
Edrin nodded. "I've been told."
Kael stepped closer, his eyes fixed on Edrin.
"You're improving," he said.
Edrin blinked. "…That's two people saying that now."
"Three," Ronan corrected.
"I don't trust any of you."
Kael crossed his arms. "You're reacting faster."
"I noticed that."
"You're still inefficient."
"I also noticed that."
"But you're adapting," Kael continued.
Edrin hesitated. "…Everyone keeps saying that too."
Kael didn't smile.
Didn't soften.
"Then listen," he said.
Edrin sighed. "I am listening."
Kael stepped forward slightly.
"You rely on instinct," he said. "That's not a weakness."
Edrin blinked. "…It feels like one."
"That's because you don't understand it yet."
Edrin frowned. "That seems to be a recurring issue."
Ronan chuckled. "You'll get there."
Edrin looked at Kael. "…And what do you rely on?"
Kael didn't hesitate.
"Control."
Edrin nodded slowly. "…That sounds more stable."
"It is."
"I don't think I have that."
"Not yet," Kael said.
Edrin let out a small breath. "That's not comforting."
Lyra stepped in. "You don't need control yet."
Edrin looked at her. "…That's new."
"You need awareness," she said.
Edrin frowned. "That sounds like thinking."
"It's not," she replied. "It's noticing."
Edrin paused.
"…I can notice things."
"You're starting to," Ronan said.
"That feels like a very small compliment."
"It is."
Edrin nodded. "I'll take it."
A brief silence settled over them.
The wind moved through the valley below, quiet but constant.
Then—
Kael's posture shifted.
Subtle.
But immediate.
Edrin noticed.
"…That's not good, is it?" he asked.
"No," Kael said.
Lyra was already turning toward the valley. "What is it?"
Kael pointed.
Far below—
Movement.
Not one.
Not two.
Several.
Edrin squinted. "…That's a lot."
Ronan grinned slightly. "Looks like it."
"They're traveling together," Lyra said.
Edrin blinked. "…Again with the coordination."
Kael nodded. "And heading north."
Edrin frowned. "Same direction as us?"
"Yes."
Edrin took a slow breath.
"…So we're walking toward more of them."
"Yes."
"I don't like that."
"You don't have to," Ronan said.
Edrin sighed. "Good. Because I don't."
He looked down at the valley again.
At the moving shadows.
At the growing pattern.
"…They're not just reacting anymore," he said quietly.
"No," Lyra agreed. "They're moving with purpose."
Edrin tightened his grip on his sword.
"…So are we," he said.
Kael glanced at him.
For a brief moment—
He nodded.
And that—
Somehow—
Felt more important than anything else.