They made camp in silence.
No one talked about what happened in the Trial chamber.
No one mentioned the Hollowfang.
No one dared speak Shoto's name.
He sat on the far side of the clearing, back to a moss-covered rock, knees drawn up, head low. The firelight danced across his face, but his eyes never left the ground.
He hadn't said a word since Pate stopped him.
Since he nearly lost control.
Since he nearly hurt her.
Elizabeth watched him from across the flames.
KJ was sharpening a blade nearby.
Braydon was pacing.
Pate was standing guard, still glowing faintly — not from power anymore, but from tension.
She waited until the fire had burned low.
Then she stood, silent, and crossed to Shoto.
He didn't look up.
"I thought you might run," she said softly.
"I wanted to," he replied. "Still do."
She sat beside him, close but not touching. "Then why didn't you?"
Shoto exhaled, a shaky breath. "Because if I leave… I might never come back from what I become."
Elizabeth looked at him then — really looked.
And for the first time, he wasn't the furious, explosive force she'd seen in battle.
He was a boy who didn't trust himself anymore.
"You stopped," she said gently. "You didn't lose everything."
"Only because of you."
Silence.
Then… her fingers brushed against his.
Just lightly. Just once.
And when he didn't pull away, she held them.
"I'm not scared of you, Shoto."
His eyes turned to her, unsure.
"You should be."
"I'm not," she said again, firmer now. "Because when that storm started, I was the one you heard. I was the one you reached for. That means something."
His throat tightened. "Elizabeth…"
Her hand slid to his wrist. Warm. Steady. Real.
For a moment — just a moment — she leaned in.
Close enough to feel his breath.
Close enough to kiss.
But before anything could happen—
"Hey!" Braydon's voice cut through the dark. "We got movement. Something in the trees."
The moment shattered.
Elizabeth stood quickly, hand falling from his.
Shoto stayed sitting, jaw tight, heart racing.
But for the first time since the Trial…
He didn't feel alone.
⸻
Tension sparked back to life as the group stood.
Braydon gripped his weapon, scanning the tree line. "Whatever it is, it's not wandering. It's tracking."
"Could be another Trial," KJ said, shadows flickering at his feet. "Or worse."
"We can't fight like this," Pate muttered. "We're falling apart."
No one said it — but everyone thought it.
Maybe they couldn't stay together.
Not after what they saw.
What they heard.
What they did.
And deep in the darkness beyond the trees, something watched them…
Waiting.