Ren finished covering either side within a few minutes.
Then he walked over to Kai and sat beside him, watching Elvan.
Elvan still remained motionless.
If he had to say, Tom had been his companion after the Noir incident.
He was the one who had travelled countless journeys with him.
His travelling partner.
A partner who had been with him from his lowest point till this day.
He wasn’t family.
That’s true.
He was a partner.
Horses generally have a shorter lifespan than humans.
So Elvan knew that he would one day watch Tom leave.
But who knew that the day would come today?
Elvan was immersed in his own thoughts.
Kai suddenly spoke beside Ren.
Ren heard him.
After sitting for a while longer,
Ren stood and walked towards Elvan.
And stopped just behind him.
“Why do you think Tom—or whatever that thing was—didn’t target you?
Even though you were fully exposed.
An much easier target than me or Kai.”
Elvan turned towards Ren.
“…Why?”
“…Perhaps it was Tom.”
Ren said while gazing towards the forest.
…
“There are a few more hours before sunrise.”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s head back.”
The group entered the cart one after another.
It was going to be their fortress for the rest of the night.
Kai gently closed the last fabric zipper.
Outside, the fire that had been illuminating the area for a while now was showing signs of exhaustion.
Unlike before, the light didn’t dim slowly.
Instead, the fire crackled, like an animal taking its last breath.
Once.
Twice.
Then the darkness of the night swallowed the entire site.