----
At first gray light the camp looked stripped but purposeful. Lean-to canvas rolled. Racks folded and tied. Smolder pits are buried. Only glassy scorch marks bore witness to two C-rank beast Tamer tombs.
Zephyr double-checked cart braces; the wagon creaked airy and light. Muse pawed the ground, jittery with surplus energy—she hadn't hauled an empty cart like this in two weeks.
"Ready, war-cow?" Zephyr asked.
Muse flicked her ear, she meant, "faster than you."
Aurora perched on the shaft, wings fluttering in the dawn breeze, plumage still flecked with obsidian glass. Fenna mounted the driver bench, bow across her back, eyes scanning the treeline for any last minute beast attack.
Star loped alongside, tail swishing like a banner of molten promise.
Zephyr climbed up beside Fenna. He squeezed her hand once. It was steady, grounding. She squeezed back.
"Route?" she asked.
"Old guild road to Emberfall city Gate, then west river ferry. One day if we push without stopping."
