Chapter 5 A Growing Connection

The sun had risen higher, casting long shadows that danced over the uneven terrain as Aria and Ethan trudged forward. The forest seemed quieter than usual-too quiet. Even the birds had fallen silent, as if sensing the danger that lay ahead.

Aria couldn't get Travis's warning out of her mind. A beast that wasn't just a wolf? A guardian of the Whispering Isles? She glanced at Ethan, who moved with his usual unwavering determination, eyes scanning the path ahead.

"Do you believe him?" she asked, quickening her pace to walk beside him.

Ethan didn't look at her, keeping his gaze on the surroundings. "Doesn't matter if I do or not. We'll handle whatever comes our way."

Aria rolled her eyes. "You can't just muscle your way through everything, you know. Sometimes it helps to think things through."

He shot her a sidelong glance. "Thinking doesn't stop a beast from tearing your throat out."

Aria let out a soft laugh despite herself. "You've got a point there." She hesitated, then asked, "Why are you so determined to keep going? What's really driving you to the heart of these Isles?"

He didn't answer right away, and she could see his jaw clenching, as if struggling with a response. "Sometimes running toward danger is the only way to leave your past behind," he muttered, almost too quietly for her to hear.

She wanted to pry more, to understand him, but sensed he wouldn't offer more than that. Instead, she tried a different approach. "You always this charming, or is it just because you're stuck with me?"

Ethan smirked. "Depends. You always this stubborn?"

"Only when someone thinks they can out-stubborn me."

His smirk widened into a rare, fleeting smile, and Aria felt a strange flutter in her chest. She looked away quickly, focusing on the trail ahead. She couldn't afford to be distracted-especially not by him.

They made camp by a stream as the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the forest in amber light. Ethan crouched by the water, cleaning his blade while Aria gathered firewood. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, captivated by his precise, controlled movements.

When she returned with the firewood, Ethan had already set up a makeshift perimeter with a line of rocks, his instincts always in survival mode. She knelt to arrange the wood, striking a flint to spark the fire. The flames danced to life, casting warm light on their faces.

Ethan leaned back against a log, his gaze fixed on the fire. "You've got good instincts," he remarked.

Aria raised an eyebrow. "That supposed to be a compliment?"

He gave a small shrug. "Just stating a fact. Most people wouldn't have made it this far."

Her lips curved into a grin. "Guess I'm not most people."

For a moment, the tension between them softened. The fire crackled, and a cool breeze whispered through the trees. Aria hesitated, then dared to ask the question burning in her mind.

"Why did you leave the mainland?"

Ethan's face hardened, and she instantly regretted pushing. But then he spoke, his tone guarded. "Sometimes you do things you can't take back. Sometimes you make choices that haunt you."

Aria studied his face, noticing the way his jaw clenched and his gaze darkened. Whatever demons haunted him, they ran deep. She wanted to reach out, to touch his hand and reassure him, but something held her back.

"Running from your past won't make it disappear," she said softly.

Ethan's gaze snapped to hers, a hint of pain flickering in his eyes. "I know that. But it's easier to fight a monster in the woods than the ones inside your own head."

Silence settled between them, thick and heavy with unspoken truths. Aria wanted to say more, to challenge him, but the vulnerability in his voice made her hesitate. She could see herself in him-the desire to escape, to find a new purpose, to run until the pain faded.

"Maybe," she whispered, "facing those monsters makes you stronger than running from them."

Ethan didn't reply, but his eyes softened just a fraction, as if her words had chipped away at the walls he'd built around himself.

As the night deepened, they took turns keeping watch. When it was Aria's turn, she found herself replaying their conversation, haunted by the sadness in Ethan's eyes. She glanced at him sleeping by the fire, his features softened and peaceful for once.

Without meaning to, she traced her finger through the dirt, drawing patterns absentmindedly. The firelight flickered, and she couldn't help but think about what Travis had said-the guardian beast of the Whispering Isles. Was it real? Or just a story meant to scare off wanderers?

A sudden rustling in the bushes yanked her out of her thoughts, and she gripped her knife tightly, heart pounding. A shadow moved near the edge of the camp, and she rose to her feet, eyes narrowed.

Before she could react, Ethan was awake and at her side, knife in hand. "What is it?" he whispered.

"I'm not sure. Something moved over there."

They waited, tense and ready, but the movement ceased. After a few moments, Ethan lowered his weapon. "Could be just an animal. Try to get some rest. I'll take the next watch."

Aria hesitated, reluctant to leave his side, but exhaustion weighed her down. As she lay down, she couldn't shake the feeling that something-or someone-was watching them from the shadows.

And as sleep claimed her, she couldn't help but wonder if Ethan's monsters weren't the only ones lurking in the dark.