Thankfully, the stench of death faded the further they ran.
Evie dropped to the ground next to a cluster of birch trees and frantically tore through a patch of moss, revealing a wooden hatch. Vade helped her brush away the rest of dirt and moss, throwing open the door to reveal a ladder descending into a pitch-black hole.
“This was one of our hideout bunkers during The White War. You’ll be safe here, but don’t come out until morning,” Evie said. “He can scent creatures that aren’t of the Greywood.”
Vade stared into the hole.
“It’s safe. I promise,” Evie reassured him.
Crows shot into the sky, squawking a horrible sound.
“Get in! Hurry!” the pixie ordered.
Orelia descended the first rung and paused. “Wait! Your gems.” She started trying to untangle her crown from her hair, but Evie grabbed her wrist.
“Consider it a gift.”
“Are you sure?”
“We don’t have time for this, Orelia,” Vade said from above.
“He’s right. Keep it.” Evie gave her a warm smile, making Orelia do the same.
“Thank you. I won’t forget you, Evie.”
The pixie winked. “You better not.”
Orelia climbed down the ladder and blindly jumped the final distance, landing on hard ground. Vade descended and stopped when only his head was above ground. She could see him moving his hands to make a ward while saying something to Evie.
Orelia felt around the bunker, finding only dirt-made walls and dirt beneath her bare feet. She used the cuts from the shrubs to call on her healing and illuminate the space around them.
Broken pots lay scattered in the back of the bunker. The space was cramped, but large enough for a few people about her size to lie down comfortably. Thankfully, she could stand up straight with a few feet of clearance remaining above her head.
She walked toward the ladder, giving Vade enough light to see what he was doing.
He closed the hatch and stuck the haft of his axe through the door handle, locking them in. The head of his weapon was still non-existent, but the haft was enough to bar the door.
Vade dug through his pack and pulled out his trulight, holding it close to the ceiling and releasing it, letting the orb float. He tapped it twice, and orange light soon illuminated the small shelter they’d found themselves in for the night.
When he seemed satisfied there was nothing hiding in the shadowy corners of the bunker, Vade released a breath.
Orelia dropped her boots next to her pack. “Damn carnador ruining the first dark moon I’ve actually enjoyed.”
Vade began laying out his bedroll. “We’re lucky it didn’t find us. Without my seidr weapons working, we never would have stood a chance against it. Even my shadows wouldn’t hold up against that beast.”
“I’m angrier that it put a damper on my dancing.” Orelia began twirling, humming along to the pixie’s song the best she could remember.
“That’s what you’re most concerned about?”
Even though her eyes were closed as she danced around the space, she knew he was glaring at her. “I was having a nice night. He ruined it.”
“I don’t understand you,” Vade mumbled.
She paused. “What do you mean?”
Vade dropped his blanket and stood, head nearly touching the ceiling. “How do you do it? How do you always find a way to spin every situation into a positive? We could have been eviscerated had that monster caught us.”
“Yes, yes,” she said with a nonchalant wave of her hand, “and then we would have died, and this would have all been for nothing. I know.”
