"Then this owl landed on a broken tree branch, maybe two meters away and it just sat there watching me like I was the intruder in its operation. No fear and absolutely nothing."
Ruyi's lips curved slightly, eyes still closed. "What did you do?"
"I blinked several times, but it didn't react, so I told it everything. I talked for over an hour, it was all about the mess we were in, how injured my teammates were, how I hated the rain, and how I wanted to disappear."
She let out a soft breath, "You talked to a bird?"
"I didn't think anyone else would listen to me at that time," he said dryly, "But it didn't leave. It stayed there the entire night and that was the first time I ever admitted I was scared, out loud."
He looked down at her again, "I'm not telling you to be like the owl. I'm telling you… It's okay to feel scared even when you are the strongest person in the room."
She opened her eyes slowly, meeting his.
"Did you make it out?" she asked softly wondering and curious.
