---
Zephyr joined Fenna, sweat already beading along his brow from the oppressive heat. He worked quickly, packing fire moss into his sling bag, eyes flicking skyward every other breath.
"Last bundle," he said, voice slightly hoarse.
Fenna sliced the final mat and handed it over. Emberling chirped, peeking her beak above the sling. Her eyes caught the moss's glow, and they sparkled faintly, her first real spark since they'd left the core of the volcano.
Then a sudden sound….
Zephyr's head snapped up, ears pricking. He tilted slightly, filtering ambient noise from the direction of the ravine's lip.
Crackling. Dry twigs. A weight shifting above.
He scanned the upper ridge, squinting into the fractured light.
Star snarled, deep and guttural, cutting across the tension like a whip crack.
