WHY ARE YOU HOLDING BACK

The fire crackled softly in the cave, casting flickering shadows on the rough stone walls. I sat close to it, my eyes darting between the entrance and the surrounding darkness, the unease of the mountain air still gnawing at me. My stomach growled loudly, breaking the silence, and I shifted uncomfortably, feeling the hunger claw at me. Marcus noticed, of course—he always did.

Without a word, he stood up, brushing some of the dirt off his cloak. He glanced at me, his expression calm but firm. "Stay on guard," he said, his voice low but commanding. "I'll be back shortly."

I nodded, though part of me did not like the idea of him going off alone. Before I could protest, he disappeared into the night, leaving me to stare into the fire and listen to the soft rumblings of the mountain in the distance. The air felt colder with him gone, the silence somehow heavier.