Their breaths came in harsh gasps as they clambered over rocks and debris, the passageway constricting around them with every urgent step. The roar of collapsing stone spurred them on with desperate haste.
“Keep moving!” Moira shouted over the noise, barely audible. She felt Brodie close behind her, his presence grounding her.
Ahead was a tight squeeze leading upward to daylight. “It’s our only chance,” she muttered and hoisted herself up with practiced agility. Brodie followed quickly despite the danger.
As Moira breached the surface, the sounds of the cave’s demise peaked. They emerged onto the grassy land just before the earth groaned one last time.
They lay there briefly, covered in dust, silence enveloping them except for their labored breathing.
Moira looked at Brodie, her eyes meeting his steady gaze. Bound together by shared history rather than clan or feud, she asked with raw concern, “Are ye hurt?”
Brodie shook his head and sat beside her. “Nay, thanks to you.”
Dust clung to Moira’s red curls as they strode down the path through the Highlands, a reminder of the cave’s near collapse. Each step brought them closer to navigating the world with their newfound burden. The air was brisk, scented with pine, while verdant flora swayed gently in the breeze. The beauty of their surroundings contrasted with the tumultuous history they had unveiled—a history that bound all the clans together unexpectedly. If only they were still united as they had been in the mural.
Moira’s determination grew at every thought about their discovery. She glanced at Brodie, whose contemplative silence weighed heavily. He scanned the horizon like one searching for guidance. “We must encourage all our allies to join together with all of their allies against the Stewarts and theirs. I believe our army could be much stronger if we would send emissaries to the clans who are not yet part of the war.”
Their journey back consisted of shared glances and nods—affirmations of their bond and purpose. As they neared Moira’s ancestral home, she resolved it would become a bastion of change.
“Only the beginning,” she repeated softly. They exchanged a nod and walked to the keep together. She was not looking forward to him returning to McClain land.
