Inside an icy dome, a young man suddenly awoke from his slumber, his eyes dazed and unfocused.
"Ugh… my head…" he groaned, clutching his temple.
The pain wasn't just in his head—it radiated through every muscle in his body. He winced, disoriented and unsure of what had happened.
As his vision cleared, he saw a yellow dog and a translucent deer watching him with wide, anxious eyes. Nearby, two baby deer lay quietly, curled beside him.
"What the hell happened…?" he murmured, still groggy.
That young man was none other than Clayton. He had just awakened from a long coma—saved by the extraordinary efforts of the creatures around him.
Several minutes passed before his memories returned in full. He remembered how close he'd come to death—how he'd nearly crossed over. A wave of dread swept over him, quickly followed by deep, overwhelming gratitude.
How had he survived? Did his body recover naturally, or had someone—something—saved him?
