Ren sat cross legged at the mouth of his tent, his arms resting on his knees, eyes locked on translucent barrier that rose from the horizon like a wall of heaven.
All he could see was what was behind it. The pale, constant light that glowed in the distance, too far to understand and too close to ignore.
He knew what it was and how to get past it. But not now. Not until they were all at their best.
The sea lapped behind them, quiet and different from most things they'd faced in their journey to get here, as if all the rage of the Deep had been left behind in the maze.
He knew he should be happy that they caught the Deep early, before it could grow bigger and create more obstacles, and he was. But there was just that feeling in his gut, and it wouldn't just go away.
Lilith lay inside the tent behind him, still wrapped in a thick blanket. He could hear her slow breathing.
