“Let me check your cuts,” Vaelor pulled her to the side.
“I’m okay. Let’s get to the campsite and then we can treat everything—including the cut I see on your face.”
“It’s not bleeding.”
“Not now but it was when we finally got out of the Veil.”
“Then, let’s go,” he took her elbow firmly but gently and led her away.
She was grateful for the support because she was still reeling from disorientation.
They were a mile out from the end of the Veil boundary. Vaelor stopped and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Mara looked around for danger but didn’t see anything.
“The campsite is supposed to be up ahead another mile. But…”
She waited.
“No one is there. No fire. No scents of the other players.”
Now she was frowning. “But all the players left ahead of us. Someone should be there by now.”
“They’re not.”
“What should we do?”
He took her hand in his and began walking. “We go to the campsite.”
“But you don’t think anyone is there.”
“If there is no problem with the campsite, we will stay there tonight.”
They continued to walk the last few miles until they reached an open clearing. There was a fire pyre set up but no fire.
“It looks like it's just us,” she commented.
She was going to be alone with Vaelor, no one else around. Just him and her.
“I’ll start the fire,” he offered. He took his pack off and tossed it down.
“I guess we can set the tent up next to the fire.”
“That would be the most convenient.”
Mara opened his pack and pulled out the tent. She set it up, while he gathered more timber for the fire. Next, she pulled a food packet out for each of them.
“Here,” she handed his packet.
“Thanks.” He sat next to her, and they warmed their food packets up.
They ate in silence at first.
“I’m sorry that your friend was disqualified.”
“I can’t believe Felon would just leave Gora there injured. He’s a real asshole.”
