Page 18

Seren

Seren perched on a low-hanging tree branch, her bare feet swinging idly above the water.

The cool scent of the forest mixed with the crisp splash of Niva hitting the pool below, sending ripples across the surface.

Talis sat on a rock nearby, fiddling with some small circuit board and wires, his brow furrowed in concentration.

Seren watched him with barely concealed envy. "I still don't see why you get to mess around with all that when I'm not even allowed a phone."

Talis grinned, his dark eyes flashing with amusement. "Because I actually know what I'm doing." He held up a small device. "This? It's a receiver. If I can fix it, I might be able to listen in on the warriors' radio signals."

"Why would you want to do that?" Seren frowned.

"Because it's fun," he said simply.

Niva, bobbing in the water below, rolled her eyes. "Because he's nosy," she corrected, then smirked up at Seren. "Just like you're nosy about Hagan."

Seren scowled. "I am not."

"You so are." Niva swam closer, her golden-brown curls clinging to her cheeks. "And let's be real, he could be a hideous beast. Maybe you should just keep Talis as a backup plan."

Talis coughed violently, nearly dropping his receiver. Seren's face burned.

"Niva-!"

Niva grinned wickedly and turned toward Talis. "I mean, you wouldn't mind, would you, Talis? A betrothal's not binding if she runs away in terror, right? "

Talis, for once, was speechless. His long limbs tensed, his fingers tightening around the small device in his hands. His gangly frame made him look awkward, but there was a certain quiet confidence in him, something that only seemed to flicker when Niva brought up things like this.

Seren hastily turned back to her camera, lifting it to her eye. "I'm taking pictures now. You're both annoying."

Click.

Niva mid-splash, water glistening in the sunlight.

Click.

Talis, now studiously ignoring both of them, feigned deep focus on his gadget.

Click.

The curve of the trees above them, the way the light broke through the leaves, dappling their little hidden world.

She liked capturing things this way-fixed in time, unchanging. It made her feel like she had control over something.

"Don't ignore me, Seren," Niva called up. "We all see the way he looks at you."

Seren lowered her camera with a groan. "Will you stop?"

Talis flushed deep red and threw a small pebble at Niva, missing by a mile. "You're insufferable."

Niva cackled. "And you're obvious."

Seren groaned again, hitched her camera on a branch and let herself drop from the branch into the water, her wrap billowing before sinking.

She swam away before Niva could grab her, enjoying the chill against her skin.

When she glanced back, Talis was still on the rock, arms crossed, staring after her .

She didn't know what to do with that.

From the edge of the clearing, Rheon's voice interrupted them.

"Time's up. Out of the water, all of you."

Seren sighed but obeyed, wading out of the pool. Talis followed, pulling his trunks up higher as he stepped onto the shore. Niva, still grinning like a menace, made a show of taking her time.

Rheon waited with arms crossed, watching them like a hawk. His gaze lingered on Talis.

"You know the rules," he said, pointing at him. "Not alone with her. "

Talis deflated slightly but nodded, used to the answer by now. Seren wanted to protest-Rheon never explained why - but she already knew the response she'd get.

You know the rules, Seren.

Seren sat stiffly on the edge of her mother's bed; the old phone pressed to her ear. Her mother sat beside her, silent but watchful, as the call connected.

A deep, familiar voice answered first. "Seren," Draken's voice rumbled, warm and steady. "Good to hear from you, little one."

"Hello, Highclaw Draken," Seren said formally.

A dramatic sigh came from the other end. "Again, with the full name. Astrid, she's doing it again."

Astrid's lighter voice cut in, laced with amusement. "Seren, sweetheart, how many times do we have to tell you? Mom and Dad. Say it with me."

Seren flushed, glancing at her mother, who was smirking. She muttered, "Aaah... "

Astrid huffed. "You're ours already in every way that matters."

Draken chuckled. "We'll wear you down, pup. Eventually, you'll slip up and call us Mom and Dad without thinking. And when you do, I will gloat."

Seren rolled her eyes. "We'll see about that."

"That's our girl," Astrid said warmly.

Seren felt some of the stiffness in her shoulders ease. These calls were becoming familiar, something she looked forward to, even if she didn't always admit it. Draken and Astrid were kind, open, and eager to welcome her, even when she held herself back.

Still, the thought nagged at her, sharp and unrelenting.

She hesitated before asking, "How's Hagan?"

There was a brief pause.

Draken exhaled. "Busy."

Astrid was gentler. "You'll meet him soon, love. He's-" she hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "Not the best at this sort of thing. But he's a good boy, Seren. I promise."

Seren swallowed.

Draken cleared his throat. "Tell us-has Rheon run you ragged with training yet?"

Seren snorted, grateful for the change in topic. "He's unbearable. I think he actually enjoys watching me suffer."

Draken laughed. "That's how you know he cares."

Astrid scoffed. "Or he's just onery. "

Seren smiled despite herself. Whatever lay ahead, at least she wouldn't be completely alone.

"Now, one more time before we go," Draken said, voice teasing. "What are you going to call us next time?"

Seren rolled her eyes but didn't hang up before muttering, "Mom. Dad. "

And then the day came two days before her twelfth birthday. She was leaving for Hagan's tribe.

Her mother wept, pressing a small packet of her favourite sweets into her hands. Seren clutched them, comforted by the familiar scent. Then her mother whispered, voice thick with emotion, "I've put a phone in your bag. Call me when no one can see you."

That made Seren feel better. At least she wouldn't be completely alone. Her beloved camera was in her backpack.

The Crone was the last to bid her farewell. She placed an ancient book in Seren's hands, her gnarled fingers closing over them. She hugged her long and hard, silent tears trembling on her lashes. The lines on her face seemed deeper today.

"You have worked long and hard, daughter of my heart. I fear we have deprived you of your childhood." she sighed into her ear.

She put her gnarled hands on Seren's slight shoulders "And yet, I fear there are more burdens to come."

"A letter," she murmured as she pressed an envelope into her hands. "Open it only when you feel desperate."

Seren swallowed. Ominous .

Then, there was Rheon. He pulled her into a brief, gruff hug. "I'm proud of you," he admitted, voice rough. "And I'm going to miss you"

She blinked up at him. Her heart sank "You're not coming?"

A rare smile flickered across his sunburnt, bewhiskered face to mix with the sorrow in his eyes. "I've asked Ava to be mine. My place is here now."

Seren nodded, understanding but disappointed. Change was inevitable. But how was she going to cope without Rheon?

As she climbed into the car, her heart felt heavy and light all at once. The road ahead was uncertain, but she had survived training, survived raids, survived Rheon's relentless discipline.

She would survive this too.