Kaztos collapsed against the cave wall and clutched his stomach. He tried to calm his ragged breathing as Zeltara and Saiya crouched over him and removed his armor. The tension was palpable as they checked just how badly the abomination had hurt him. Kaztos considered himself lucky, given the circumstances. One wrong move back there and he would have been killed. It provided little comfort as his friends examined him, with worry plain to see on their faces.

  It had taken only three more hours of travel before morning came. The group had luckily found a cave on the side of a large hill to take shelter in. By that point, Kaztos could barely muster the strength to walk from the pain and exhaustion. His wound had mostly stopped bleeding during the journey, which he assumed meant it wasn’t severe. The young noble hoped it wasn’t too bad. If it were, they would have to make a tough decision.

  As Saiya inspected the injury, Kaztos wondered if he had the strength to do what was necessary. If this proved to be detrimental enough that he held the group back, could he convince them to abandon him? Their supplies were almost gone, and the caravan was getting ever farther away. They needed to keep a steady pace if survival was going to be possible. If he couldn’t continue on, then they needed to leave him behind. It would be hard, but Kaztos would convince them if necessary. He noticed Saiya lean back and sigh.

  “You got lucky, Molinar. Your armor absorbed most of the hit. Any deeper and you may have bled out already.” Zeltara exhaled in relief as the tension in Saiya’s shoulders lessened. Kaztos gave a brief prayer to the Amedori. He could continue on.

  “How bad is it?” Zeltara asked. She handed Saiya bandages and an ointment.

  “Besides the cuts, there’s a lot of bruising. That would explain the pain he is in. He’ll be ready to go off and recklessly hurt himself some more with some rest.” Despite saying the last part sarcastically, Kaztos could see the underlying worry she had.

  Kaztos grabbed Saiya’s arm to get her attention. “There’s no need for concern, Saiya. I’m okay.” The blond girl let out a huff in response. Still, she didn’t seem as stressed now. “Now, there’s no need to use that on me. The bleeding has stopped, right? We should save it unless one of us gets seriously injured.” Both girls shot him a frustrated look.

  “We have plenty of medical supplies, Kaztos. Just let us treat you,” Zeltara said, frustrated.

  “Maybe you have a head injury if you’re this bullheaded. How are you expecting to go with us if we don’t treat this?” Saiya asked. Kaztos was ready to argue, but their glares stopped him. His mouth clamped shut. Maybe it was better to fight the battles one can win. He laid back and allowed Saiya to treat his wound.

  Saiya began by rubbing the ointment in. It must have had an anesthetic in it, as feeling in his torso dulled. Next, she tightly wrapped the cut with bandages. The pressure actually felt nice. Once finished, Saiya handed Zeltara the remaining supplies while Kaztos put his armor back on. It had proven effective, even if it was damaged.

  “Thank you for treating me, Saiya,” Kaztos said, smiling gratefully. She seemed to pause before returning the gesture.

  “No, thank you for saving me, Kaztos. I would have been killed if you hadn’t gotten in the way.” The gratitude hit home as Kaztos felt himself grin. That was the reason he was doing this. Saiya may already be his friend, but seeing someone thank a Molinar for their actions made him feel amazing.

  “It’s no issue at all. A Molinar’s duty should be to protect others. But you’re welcome.” They had put away all the medical supplies, and the three were sitting back against the cave’s walls. The sunlight coming in from outside provided enough light for the group. Kaztos looked over at Zeltara to see her searching inside her satchel. She was likely getting their rations for the morning. He couldn’t wait to eat something, but found himself curious about the battle.

  “Zeltara.” She turned towards him. “What exactly happened back there? I know you drove off that abomination, but I was wondering how. There was a lot of confusion in that fight.” Zeltara hummed as she seemed to gather her thoughts.

  “Let me get our food and water. I’ll explain as we eat.” Kaztos nodded as silence settled over the group. After a minute of rummaging, Zeltara handed out their rations. Kaztos’ stomach rumbled when he was given his. His face went red as Zeltara gave him a teasing grin. He distracted himself by eating and drinking. The other two were quick to join him as they savored what might be one of their last meals.

  In-between bites, Zeltara said, “Thanks for trusting me, you two. If you hadn’t distracted that monster, I never would have pulled off my plan.”

  “We made you leader for a reason. This isn’t the first time you’ve been able to think on the fly,” Saiya said. Zeltara smiled at the praise. “But can you explain what happened? I’m not sure what you did, but we need to know in case it comes back.” That thought dampened the mood. Kaztos didn’t want to imagine the possibility that the abomination returned. They weren’t likely to survive another encounter as things stood.

  With much less enthusiasm than before, Zeltara began explaining. “I was trying to think of a way to drive that monster off. At first, I believed it to be afraid of light, but that wasn’t exactly the case. It attacked Saiya despite holding our source of light. Sorry about that.” Saiya waved the apology off. “Upon thinking about it more. I realized it was more scared of natural light. Back at the cliff, my lantern kept it at bay. In fact, when the abomination had the chance, it tried to destroy it. Then it was about to attack but retreated when the sun rose. Finally, in our fight, it would retreat whenever my lantern was lit.” Kaztos thought back and realized Zeltara was right. The abomination seemed wary of approaching him at the top of the cliff. It was almost as if it tried to force itself to get closer, but could not.

  “It seems like mana-generated light does not count as natural light. In fact, now that I think about it, I think it may attract it,” Zeltara said. The statement caused Saiya to flinch at something. Kaztos knew why. Of the three of them, Saiya was the most gifted in channeling. It made sense that she would be targeted. She was likely to be in the most danger if another encounter occurred. Meanwhile, Zeltara didn’t seem to be targeted at all during the fight. It could have been a coincidence, but they may not have needed to protect her at all.

  “My plan was to set it on fire. I poured some spare lantern oil onto the cloth I used as a mask. I then wrapped it around a bolt head and set it on fire. The added weight made for a tough shot, but I’m glad I made it. Luckily, that caused the abomination to retreat.” Saiya appeared troubled by the memory of her near-death experience.

  “Thank you for saving me. I thought I was going to die there,” Saiya said in a mumble. Zeltara grinned at the praise.

  “It was no problem. Like I said, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you guys.” Conversation quieted down as the three finished their meals. While there were immediate concerns to address, they could take this time to bask in their victory. They finished their meal in a comfortable atmosphere.

  But all too soon, the problem they found themselves in needed to be addressed. Kaztos started by asking, “So, what’s the plan now?” The three were solemn as Zeltara took a moment to think. She then gave an exhausted sigh.

  “It isn’t much different from before. Just to confirm, you guys don’t have any more food or water on you?” Both of them shook their heads. “Then we only have enough food and water for this evening. After that, we won’t last much longer. So, we will rest until sunset and eat what’s left. Then we will get up and start walking. I’m sorry Kaztos, but we can’t afford to have you rest your injury. Once we start, we’ll keep going until we reach the caravan, or...” Zeltara trailed off, but Kaztos understood.

  They were nearing their limit. Once they ran out of supplies, resting may end up proving detrimental. They would lose ground without regaining energy. They could even be weaker than before. It was best to put it all on the line for the best chance at survival.

  “What if the abomination comes back?” Saiya asked. Zeltara grimaced at the question.

  “Let’s hope it doesn’t. Just in case, I’ll try to keep my lantern working. No mana lights. We either have my lantern’s light or we walk in darkness.” Kaztos could imagine how awful that would be. He’ll have to put faith in Zeltara’s ability to repair it soon. Still, all they could do at this point was pray that the abomination didn’t show up again. He didn’t like their chances at this point.

  He and Saiya ended up agreeing with the plan. Neither of them saw any other possibility that could be discussed. Morale within the group was low as they settled in to rest. Kaztos knew that this might be the last time they would ever get to sleep. At least he got to be with his friends for comfort. It wasn’t a feeling he had since he slept with his mother as a young child. Kaztos closed his eyes and allowed his thoughts to drift off.

  The three slept most of the day away. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a restful rest for Kaztos. After a few hours, the wound on his side started to hurt again. The salve Saiya used only provided temporary relief. He tossed and turned, trying to find a position where he could find some comfort. Kaztos hoped that his movement didn’t keep the other two awake. They needed as much energy as possible for the coming walk.

  It was evening when Kaztos woke up for the final time. He turned to see Zeltara and Saiya sitting against the wall, murmuring to each other. He got their attention by asking, “How long have you two been awake?” Both turned to look at him.

  “Only about ten minutes. I wanted to let you sleep a little longer, if possible. You seemed to be restless today,” Zeltara said. Kaztos grimaced. He had disrupted their sleep. Seeing his expression, she reassured him. “Don’t worry about that. I had trouble going to sleep anyway.”

  He moved to sit up when his wound protested. The pain caused him to wince. Seeing this, Zeltara and Saiya helped him up. Kaztos felt embarrassed about that. The injury wasn’t even that severe. He could handle sitting up.

  Saiya pulled out her medical supplies again. “Let me wrap your cut again. It’ll help with the pain when we start walking. I won’t take no for an answer.” Kaztos cut off his protests. The looks both gave him showed him he had no choice in the matter. Still, it was a relief as the pain subsided. That ointment worked wonders.

  Soon, Kaztos sat across from Saiya and Zeltara. All three felt melancholic as they stared down at the last of their food and water. One last meal before they left this cave and faced their destiny. They ate at a slow pace, wanting to enjoy this moment. Kaztos would take a bite and let it settle in his mouth. Enjoying the subpar taste of preserved food. He missed Yilatas’ cooking. If Kaztos ever saw her again, he’d make sure to thank her for everything she did.

  After they finished eating, the group left the cave. The terrain outside was the same rocky wasteland they were now familiar with. The terrain was flat except for the occasional hill. Perfect for the journey they would undertake. The sun was setting. They had at most an hour of light.

  Zeltara motioned for their attention. “We don’t know if that monster is still out there. Just to be safe, we’ll use my lantern for light. I got it working well enough to use. Don’t use any mana, got it?” He and Saiya nodded their heads. “I only have enough oil for one full night. If we get to another night after this, we’ll have to walk in the dark.”

  “Why not use a mana light afterward?” Saiya asked.

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  “Are either of you going to be able to channel mana at that point? For several hours?” Neither of them said anything. They knew the answer.

  Zeltara turned to the northeast. “Now, let’s get going. Remember, just keep walking. We keep walking even if we’re hungry. We keep walking even if we’re tired. We keep walking even if we’re in pain. We keep walking no matter what.” Grim determination filled the group as they faced the end of their journey.

  Kaztos walked up to Zeltara. When she turned to look at him, he said, “No matter what happens, let’s go knowing we did our best. That we met our fate arm in arm with friends by our side.” That helped to lighten the mood.

  “Are we done with the sappy words? Let’s just get this over with already or we’ll die standing here.” With that, Saiya walked away. After a moment, Kaztos and Zeltara rushed after her. As he caught up with her, Kaztos pulled out his hammer and playfully pointed it towards the horizon. The girls stopped to watch him.

  “Onwards! To a life of adventure and glory! May we find our way before we perish.” Zeltara’s concealed giggling made his face twitch. He tried to keep his composure until Saiya interjected.

  “Ah yes, an adventure of rocks, monsters, and death. Saying you two would be the death of me was supposed to be a joke, you know?” Her sarcastic tone caused Kaztos to burst out laughing. The other two joined a second later. He was happy that even in such a dire situation, he could be with people he considered friends. It gave him hope as they started their journey. There was little talk at first as they were determined to keep a good pace. Soon, an hour passed, and darkness came.

  As there was no light from the stars or moon, Zeltara’s lantern was their only source of light. Their world comprised a small circle around them. It felt both claustrophobic and isolating. The previous levity had given way to an underlying tension as the group remembered the attack of the night before. Kaztos felt trepidation, knowing they could be attacked at any moment. A death sentence in their current condition.

  Kaztos and Saiya stayed close to Zeltara as they traveled. Like before, she was in the middle of their group. But this time, she was the one providing them with the safety of light. Kaztos hoped the lantern was fixed. Otherwise, they would be at the mercy of the abomination. Was it out there stalking them? Or had the Amedori blessed them with the fortune to avoid it altogether? Kaztos had no choice but to helplessly wait.

  However, as time went on, there proved to be no evidence of the abomination hunting them again. Perhaps they scared it off for good. Or maybe it had found different prey to hunt. Whatever the reason, the group began to unwind. As time went on, their guard slackened as an attack appeared unlikely. They found themselves relaxed enough to pass the night in conversation.

  “You know, I kind of miss the burning sky. It at least gave me something to look at while we walked. I’d take anything other than complete darkness at this point,” Zeltara said.

  “And go back to that sweltering heat? No, thank you. I’ll take my cool blackness over that any day.” Kaztos smiled at the banter. Saiya and Zeltara seemed to argue like sisters when they got in the mood for it.

  “I find myself enjoying the breeze right now. While the sky was a sight to behold, I would rather not see the heavens themselves burn for it,” Kaztos said. Besides, it made him think about concerns he’d rather not have. It would ruin the easy conversation they were having. It helped him stay calm in their circumstances. Looking at the lessening tension with his friends, Kaztos could tell it helped them too.

  The three continued to talk about lighter subjects for another two hours. Kaztos talked about his days in the academy, while Saiya would explain philosophical concepts from religious books she read. Zeltara went on a lecture explaining how she came up with the ideas for her inventions. They talked about any subject that kept their minds off the situation.

  Kaztos believed midnight had passed when morale declined. He knew they were unlikely to reach the caravan this soon. The problem was they couldn’t see any sign of it yet. The horizon failed to shine with the telltale lights of the caravan. Were they going in the wrong direction? Had something happened to them? Or was there an unseen physical obstacle in the way? The group felt anxious to find their beacon of hope somewhere.

  Zeltara stopped and got their attention. “Let’s look for another hill and look around. Maybe they changed direction, and we need to spot them again.” They agreed and kept an eye out for any elevated ground. It only took a few minutes for them a spot a small hill. After climbing up, Kaztos looked around. He found it after a minute.

  “Over there! It’s to the east.” Saiya and Zeltara turned to look at where he was pointing. He looked back at the distant light. It was then that he noticed an issue.

  Saiya saw as well and said, “I can barely see the light in the distance. We lost ground from last night.”

  “It makes sense. We were held up for some time.” Kaztos’ torso hurt at the thought. He instinctively pressed his hand to the wound. “We at least made up enough ground where we’re directly behind them now. We just have to keep going. Remember, just keep walking.” Zeltara set off again towards the caravan, with the others following. Kaztos felt reassured that their destination was still there. They still had hope.

  They walked in somber silence until morning arrived. Kaztos could feel his injury ache as the Saiya’s medicine wore off. His legs burned from their continued traveling. Yet, he didn’t say anything. There was nothing to do but continue walking.

  The temperature rose. The damaged sun beat down on them with intense heat. While not as bad as several days ago, it was still more than enough to be uncomfortable. Kaztos’ mouth was dry and his throat began it itch. He found himself looking for any source of water, but there wasn’t any. His stomach ached from hunger. Combined with his wound, it made each step hurt. Yet, he continued to walk forward.

  “I’m so hungry and tired. Why couldn’t we have found something by now?” Zeltara bemoaned. Kaztos glanced over at her. Zeltara’s shoulders seemed to sag from fatigue. Her expression looked defeated. On the other side of her, Saiya wore a weary expression. However, she turned to glare at Zeltara.

  “Could you shut up? It’s bad enough without you complaining about it.” Zeltara flinched at the rebuke.

  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. It doesn’t help anything.” This seemed to do little to appease Saiya.

  “Oh, you think this is bad? Just think about the fact that the caravan is currently moving away from us. We’re not making any progress right now. How are we ever going to reach them at this rate?” Zeltara then turned to glare back at Saiya.

  “I know that, but saying it doesn’t help matters. Weren’t you just telling me I shouldn’t complain?” Saiya scoffed and looked away from her.

  “So you get to be the only one to complain? I just wanted to air my own grievances, since that seems to be what we’re doing.” This had to stop. The last thing they needed was to have another explosive argument.

  Zeltara growled and said, “I apologized. Why don’t you just lay off?” Saiya seemed ready with a rebuttal when Kaztos stepped in.

  “Enough!” His shout caused the two to look at him. “Arguing will help nothing. I know our situation is bad, but this isn’t the way. We’re the strongest when we work together. It’s how we've gotten this far. It’s how we survived that monster. If we stick together, then we can make it through this. So stop this meaningless squabbling.” Silence followed Kaztos’ tirade. He looked ahead and let them sort it out.

  After a minute, Zeltara said, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have complained like that. We’re all feeling terrible right now.” Saiya shook her head in response.

  “No, I’m the one who should say sorry. I let my temper get the best of me. The situation is just getting to me.” Zeltara let out a chuckle at that.

  “No kidding. I know the feeling. It’s frustrating knowing that we’re likely going about as fast as the caravan. But we need to do this. We might be able to reach it tonight at some point.”

  “Will we be able to go that far?” Saiya asked, almost hopelessly. Kaztos finally turned back to the two.

  “Just keep walking. We’ll make it.” Not his best encouragement, but the small smile on Saiya’s face made it worth it. Zeltara turned to look at him with a soft expression.

  “Thank you, Kaztos.” He felt his own smile join theirs. Kaztos felt glad he could get them back on track. It was the least he could do for everything they’ve given him. If they needed him to be a pillar, then he would be one. Kaztos would stand tall until he had nothing left and crumble.

  They continued to walk through the hot day. Kaztos’ thirst intensified as time went on. His throat burned, and his tongue felt swollen. The dull ache of his wound grew sharper. The pain clouded his mind. His eyelids felt heavy from the weariness he felt. Yet, he continued to walk. One step in front of the other.

  Their pace slowed as exhaustion and hunger set in. The group had long since stopped talking to focus on their task. The only sounds heard besides footsteps were their pained grunts. A haze seemed to settle over them as the three marched forward. How long had it been since they'd had proper rest and food? A few days? A week? The three had lost track by now. Their condition made it difficult to think clearly.

  After a horrible day of travel, the sun finally set. With it, the temperature mercifully cooled. Kaztos relished the minor respite. It wasn’t much, but the cool breeze felt like a gift from the heavens. He felt himself stand just a little straighter. A dash of energy flowed through him. He could do this. They just had to keep going.

  Kaztos almost missed it when Saiya stopped walking. He turned to see her gasping for breath. Her hands were on her knees as she heaved. He and Zeltara stopped and stared at her. The blond girl wobbled back to her feet.

  “I can’t. I need a break. Please, can we rest for a few minutes?” Saiya pleaded. Her voice was raspy from dehydration and fatigue. Her eyes had a sheen to them that showed that she wasn’t completely there.

  Zeltara approached and put her hands on Saiya’s shoulders. It helped steady her. “I’m sorry, but we have to keep going. If we lie down here, then we won’t get up again.” Her voice was similarly weak. But unlike Saiya, her gaze still held grim determination.

  “We’re going to die out here, aren’t we?” Saiya swayed dangerously, her words barely audible. Zeltara growled before bringing her hand up and slapping the other girl’s cheek. The blow brought awareness back to Saiya.

  “Don’t say that. Don’t even think about it. We’re going to get out of this. The caravan is ahead of us. We can reach it. Just keep walking, okay.” Zeltara shook her shoulders. After a moment, Saiya nodded. She let her go and took a step back.

  “We’re not going to last much longer,” Saiya said. She still looked on the verge of giving up. Kaztos could see Zeltara close to tears. So, he cleared his throat. As they turned to him, he spoke.

  “I know it seems hopeless, but we’re almost there. We have come so far and overcome so much. All to see another tomorrow. Well, tomorrow is right in front of us. We just need one more push. I know we can do it. So, please don’t lose hope.” Kaztos’ voice almost gave out by the end of that speech. It was a desperate plea for his friends to fight on. Because if they gave up, then Kaztos wouldn’t know how to keep going. He sent up a prayer to the heavens. If the Amedori were still there to listen, to give them the strength to continue.

  After a few moments, Saiya only nodded. She then wordlessly continued to walk east. Her stride was unsteady, but it didn’t fail. Zeltara wordlessly followed after her. Kaztos walked to the back of the group. This didn’t feel like a triumphant second wind to him. No, this was a desperate last gasp.

  Kaztos knew Saiya was right. They would not last much longer. Days of limited sustenance, perilous travel, harsh conditions, and deadly battles had left the three at the limits of their strength. It had been just over twenty-four hours since they'd had any kind of rest or nourishment. Every step they took could be their last. But Zeltara was right as well. If they dropped, they would not get back up again. The past full day of travel used up all of their energy. They wouldn’t die right away, but it’d be a slow and miserable death wasting away on the barren ground. The fact of the matter is, they would not make it to morning.

  Night descended on the group as they continued to travel. Kaztos’ mind was in a fog as he stared down at the ground. He focused on his feet, taking one step after another. Just keep walking. The pain on his side had spread even further. Was it a sign of infection, or just the result of exhaustion? Kaztos didn’t have the strength to check. He focused on the bandages chafing him to distract himself from the pain. Better an annoyance than this awful ache.

  They continued to walk for an unknown time. It could have been minutes or hours. Kaztos was no longer lucid enough to know. Instead, he focused only on putting one foot in front of the other. Just keep walking.

  His mind momentarily cleared as darkness again befell the group. The oil lantern went out. Zeltara cursed in front of him. Instinctively, he brought his hand up and channeled a mana light. The veins in his arm burned from the effort of generating a small flickering light.

  “Stop. You need to save your strength,” Zeltara said. The words came out in a raspy whisper. He let the light go, allowing the darkness to return.

  Saiya’s voice rang out. “Are we supposed to wander blindly in the dark?”

  Zeltara’s voice rang out. “No, look in front of us.” Kaztos glanced up and saw the caravan lights. They were closer than they had ever been before! How far were they? A few miles? A dozen? Kaztos wasn’t sure, but their salvation was right in front of them for the taking. “We can use the lights as a guide. Come on, we’re almost there.” Saiya didn’t respond as the three continued forward. Kaztos didn’t even feel anything beyond a flicker of hope from how close they were. Excitement was far too tiring to be felt at this point.

  Instead, Kaztos now focused on the lights in front of them. Just a little more and they’d be there. His mind’s singular focus was to stare at the lights in the distance. Their one chance at survival. Kaztos hoped the people there were accommodating. They weren’t in the condition to do anything if they got turned away.

  The lights inched closer as they continued. Their progress was slow, as now they had to stumble through the dark. Kaztos had stopped himself from falling several times already. He didn’t know if he could stand up again if he tripped. Each stumble shot pain up his entire body. He almost felt feverish, and his head pounded with pain. Did he have an infection, or was he hallucinating? Consciousness was becoming almost impossible to hold on to. Just keep walking.

  Kaztos heard an impact in front of him. What was that? The answer came when light returned to the area. Zeltara had lit a rag on fire. She dropped it to the ground before the flames reached her hands. The flames devoured the cloth. They had only a minute of light at the most.

  “Saiya!” Zeltara weakly shouted. Saiya lay on the ground, unconscious. Zeltara reached down and shook her shoulder. “Please. You need to get up. Please.” Saiya mumbled something unintelligible, then fell silent. Zeltara talked louder, her voice cracking under the strain. “Wake up! Come on. You have to wake up, Saiya.” This yielded no response. Kaztos could only stand there as Zeltara let out dry sobs. “We can’t leave here, or she’ll die out here. We can’t stay, or we’ll die. I don’t know what to do.”

  The hopelessness in her voice brought Kaztos out of his stupor. As the remnants of the cloth extinguished, Kaztos Molinar felt a new flame ignite within him. Careless of the pain, he stepped forward and, with all his remaining strength, picked up Saiya and threw her over his shoulder. The strain was immense, but Kaztos held strong.

  “Don’t worry. I have Saiya. Let’s keep going.” He heard Zeltara stutter out some words before recomposing herself.

  “You’re amazing, Kaztos! I don’t know how you found the strength to do that.” She coughed for a moment before continuing more quietly. “Come on. We’re almost there.” They traveled on in one last effort to reach the lights. He kept his mind on what Zeltara had said. Just keep walking.

  The pain consumed Kaztos. Every part of his body is screaming at him to give up. To keel over and accept his fate. From the throbbing ache at his side, to the encompassing hunger and thirst he felt. His muscles were on fire, his lungs heaved in the effort to keep him conscious, and his mind started to fail him. But Kaztos Molinar didn’t yield. Just keep walking.

  He felt something fall onto his side that almost made him topple over. A mumble revealed it to be Zeltara. She kept walking, yet seemed unable to support herself any longer. Kaztos was left as the pillar that kept all three moving. Gritting his teeth, he continued his march forward. He wouldn’t falter under this burden. Just keep walking.

  “You two are the best friends I could’ve ever asked for. I’m glad to have met you two,” Zeltara whispered. It was like a revealed secret before the grave. One final confession before one met their maker.

  Kaztos reflexively tried to swallow but failed. “I feel the same, but our friendship has a long path to travel yet.” Zeltara only hummed before falling silent. He wondered whether she was still lucid at this point. No matter, he would guide them to the end. Just keep walking.

  They are almost there. He can see it. The outline of a camp. The quiet sounds of people talking and moving reached his ears. His stamina was failing him. He dragged one foot after the other. Breathing came in labored, sputtering gasps. Kaztos willed his body to just go a little further. They were almost there. Just keep walking.

  His vision swam. All he could hear was ringing in his ears. He stumbled. Kaztos was almost falling forward rather than walking. His soul screamed at his body to keep going, but it was breaking down. The light was upon them. They were almost there. Just keep walking.

  With the last of his strength, he brought the three of them within the camp perimeter. A buzzing sound reached his ears. Kaztos believed it was yelling, but wasn’t completely sure. His body failed him, and they all collapsed to the ground. The buzzing got louder. Darkness filled his vision. Kaztos whispered out a plea for help. His breathing slowed as the end neared. Just keep walking. And Kaztos knew no more.