Crown of Shadows

Chapter 6-Damion

Ryder walked silently beside us, his presence a steady reassurance in the midst of the looming forest. His ice blue eyes, keen and alert, scanned the surroundings with a practiced ease, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword.

"We're getting closer," he said, his voice low but confident. "I can feel it."

I glanced at him, noting the determination etched into his features. Despite the uncertainty of our situation, Ryder remained steadfast, his resolve unwavering.

"We have to keep moving," Nicholas said, his voice cutting through the silence. "Aelin's out there somewhere, and we won't rest until we find her."

Lou nodded in agreement, her expression set in determination. "Let's not waste any more time," she said, her voice tinged with urgency.

As we walked, the shadows lengthened around us, the fading light casting an eerie glow upon the forest floor. But we pushed forward, our resolve unshaken, our hearts set on the hope of finding our lost sister.

The forest grew denser as we ventured deeper into its heart, the ancient trees towering above us like silent sentinels. Ryder led the way, his steps sure and steady, his senses attuned to the slightest rustle of leaves or snap of a twig.

"We should make camp soon," Lou suggested, casting a wary glance at the encroaching darkness. "It's not safe to travel much further at night."

Nicholas nodded in agreement, his gaze flickering to the ominous shadows that danced among the trees. "Agreed. We'll set up camp here."

With practiced efficiency, we gathered branches and dried moss to build a fire, the flickering flames casting a warm glow upon our weary faces. Ryder took watch, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of danger, while the rest of us settled down for the night.

As we sat around the crackling fire, Aelin's absence weighed heavily on our minds, each of us grappling with our own fears and doubts.

"We'll find her," London said, her voice soft but resolute. "No matter what it takes."

"What do we do once we find her?" I asked. "I mean- you all saw our home back there right? I don't think that's a good place for a "welcome back party."

"As long as she's here with us then we're fine." Nicholas said. "But for now, let's get some rest."

Just as he said those words, we all laid down and went to sleep.

The dawn broke with a soft glow filtering through the trees, casting the forest in a gentle light. As we stirred from our slumber, the events of the previous day flooded back, reminding us of the task that lay ahead.

Ryder rose first, his keen eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. Satisfied that we were safe for the moment, he set about preparing breakfast, expertly foraging for berries and edible plants to supplement our meager rations.

While he worked, the rest of us began to pack up our campsite, folding tents and gathering belongings in preparation for the day's journey.

Once breakfast was ready, we gathered around the fire to eat, our spirits buoyed by the simple pleasure of a warm meal shared among friends. As we ate, conversation flowed freely, our voices mingling with the sounds of the forest awakening to the new day.

"So, what's our plan?" Lou asked, her eyes searching each of our faces for answers.

Nicholas frowned, considering the question carefully. "We need to find a way to track Aelin," he said finally. "She could be anywhere by now, but we have to start somewhere."

"I can try using some magic to locate her," London offered, her brow furrowing with concentration. "It might take some time, but I'll do my best."

Ryder nodded in agreement. "In the meantime, we should keep moving. The longer we wait, the further she could be."