2025-07-26
- “Can you see it?” | “I can’t hear anything.”
- Something soft | Something broken
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"Should we make camp for the night?" Hatsu whispered as she withdrew her hand from the firebox, squinting ahead through the dark.
The road had been difficult to find — many layers of soft, matted leaves obscured what should have been a well worn path with only stone lanterns as their guide.
"I must admit I prefer having a roof over my head rather than the damp floor, my dear."
Considering the impenetrable fog that had also begun to settle in, his request was not unreasonable but no more than a few feet later, Hatsu threw her arm out to halt her companion — the sudden snapping of twigs nearly made her heart stop.
"Shh! Did you hear that?"
They glanced back down the winding path to see one less lantern lit, the darkness rushing forward as one after another was extinguished.