Chapter 24 Heat And Distance

• By midday, the trees began to thin, and the sun carved golden paths across the uneven terrain.
• Mikko walked slightly behind her, eyes never straying far. The pack on his back wasn’t heavy, but the weight in his chest certainly was. After they'd left the stone shelter that morning, he'd scavenged the old storeroom and managed to find a half-rotted leather satchel. It held a few basic supplies—dried food, an old blanket, a small flask, and a rusted but usable flint. Enough for now.
• Espen hadn’t spoken since they left. Not even a sarcastic quip. Not a single jab.