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Aries stood upright, his hand covering his eyes as if shielding himself from a truth he couldn't bear to face. His gaze lingered on Estella, who sat silently in the aftermath of Thresh's death, tears staining her cheeks. He didn't want to be the one to say it aloud, but there was no choice left. "Let's leave before anything else happens," he said quietly. Estella only nodded, dragging a shaky hand through her hair as she cast one final, sorrowful glance toward Thresh's body.
Without saying much more, Aries stepped toward her and gently took her hand, lifting her to her feet. "Come on," he murmured. She gave him a nod, her lips trembling as she fought back more tears. Aries quickly scanned the area for anything they might need and gathered supplies while the moonlight cast a silver glow over the forest.
The silence between them was heavy as they walked away, the night quiet save for the rustle of leaves under their feet and the distant call of owls. The scent of moss and earth filled the air, grounding them in this strange reality, yet Estella's heart only felt heavier with each step.
As they reached the edge of the woods, Aries suddenly stopped and gently pulled her toward him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to his chest. The forest was quiet, peaceful, and yet full of sorrow. She was all he had left, and the weight of that truth sank deeper into his chest. "Estella..." he whispered into her ear, his voice low and full of warmth.
She looked up at him, her voice barely a whisper. "What?"
"Thresh is gone. He's gone," Aries said softly. "But I won't leave you. I promise."
"I—I don't want to lose you too..." Her body was weak with exhaustion, her eyelids fluttering shut as she slowly drifted into sleep in his arms. Aries carefully slipped off his leather jacket and wrapped it around her fragile frame before lifting her up again and continuing their journey. His arms cradled her as he walked—away from the body of their friend, away from death, toward something unknown.
Estella slept soundly, comforted by his warmth and steady heartbeat, her breaths soft and even against the quiet hum of the forest. Aries continued walking through the night, though his muscles ached and fatigue threatened to overtake him.
Eventually, he found a sheltered spot beneath the trees and laid down beside her. Finally, he allowed himself to rest, keeping one arm draped protectively around her. The night was still, and for a moment, despite the ache in his heart, he felt a quiet peace settle over them.
The next day, just before dawn, the first hints of red and gold crept over the horizon. Aries opened his eyes and turned toward Estella, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept. He leaned in and lightly shook her shoulder. Her eyes fluttered open, drowsy and unfocused. "Th-Thresh...?" she murmured, her voice fragile and broken. Her gaze found Aries, and her expression shifted from confusion to quiet recognition.
"It's me," Aries said softly, trying to keep his voice light, even as the pang of loss tightened in his chest. "Everything's okay now. You don't need to worry about Thresh anymore." Her eyes widened as she looked at him with an expression full of love and trust. "Aries... where are we?" she asked in a whisper, her voice thick with sleep.
