Kanah drifted awake slowly.
Warmth enveloped her from all sides—
Owain's arms wrapped around her, his chest rising softly against her back, his breath warm against the crook of her neck.
For the first time since arriving in Beastworld, she woke…
safe.
Owain stirred immediately the moment her breathing changed.
"Kana?"
His voice was thick with sleep.
She turned slightly, and his arm tightened around her instinctively.
"I'm here," she whispered.
Owain's forehead lowered to her shoulder.
"Good."
He didn't move for several long moments, simply breathing her in, grounding himself with her scent as if she were the tether holding him steady in a world that had tried to rip them apart.
Kanah relaxed into him, her hand sliding over his forearm.
"Owain… you didn't sleep much, did you?"
He grunted.
"Enough."
She smiled faintly.
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting."
Kanah laughed softly.
Owain's chest rumbled behind her—
a possessive, satisfied sound
that vibrated through her bones.
THE OTHERS ARRIVE
They didn't stay alone for long.
A soft breeze carried the scent of pine and frost—
Yllas.
An elegant shadow stepped from the trees, wings folded neatly, hair tied back with golden bands.
"Good morning," Yllas said.
Owain growled immediately.
Yllas raised a brow.
"Calm yourself, wolf. I'm not here to steal her."
"That's what a thief would say."
Kanah bit back a smile.
Yllas knelt gracefully, offering her a small pouch.
"For strength," he said.
"It's a tonic—restorative. Gerrin and I brewed it."
Owain bristled.
"Give it to me."
"No."
"She's tired."
"She's alive," Yllas said calmly. "And she can drink on her own."
Kanah accepted it before Owain could snatch it.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Yllas's expression softened—barely noticeable, but there.
Helion arrived next, dropping from a branch with his usual flare.
"Well aren't you two cuddled up like a warm pastry," he teased.
Owain's glare was instant.
Helion grinned wider.
"Relax, wolf. If I wanted your girl, you'd know."
"Try it," Owain growled.
"Do you need a nap? You're extra bitey today."
Gerrin walked up behind them, hands full of herbs.
"Helion," he sighed, "don't antagonize him. Not this early."
Helion smirked.
"He's easy to provoke."
Owain looked like he might rip out his throat.
Kanah touched his hand gently, grounding him again.
Owain inhaled slowly.
Immediately calmer.
Gerrin turned to Kanah.
"Your mana flow stabilized overnight," he said, offering her a reassuring smile.
"You're healing faster than expected."
Kanah blinked.
"Faster? But I feel—"
"Weak," Gerrin finished softly. "That's normal. Resonance doesn't heal emotional trauma. It only stabilizes the seed."
Kanah's chest tightened.
That made sense.
A little too much sense.
Helion leaned closer, surprisingly gentle.
"You don't need to be strong today," he said.
"We're all here."
Kanah looked around slowly.
At Owain, still pressing against her like a warm shield.
At Yllas, calm and poised but quietly concerned.
At Helion, hiding softness behind playful eyes.
At Gerrin, steady and constant.
The weight in her chest loosened.
She wasn't alone.
A MOMENT OF HONESTY
When the others drifted away to help the tribe leaders organize the camp, Kanah turned toward Owain.
"You don't have to guard me this closely," she said softly.
Owain's nose brushed her cheek.
"Yes, I do."
"Owain…"
He finally pulled back enough to look at her directly.
His eyes—
gold, intense, vulnerable—searched hers.
"Kana… you don't understand."
He reached up, cupping her jaw gently.
"When you fell in that battlefield, I thought—"
His voice broke.
"I thought that was it. I thought I would never hear your voice again."
Kanah's heart squeezed painfully.
"Owain—"
He continued, voice shaking.
"When you screamed his name—when you screamed for help—I felt it like my ribs were splitting."
He leaned his forehead to hers.
"And when you collapsed… I almost lost my mind."
Kanah placed her hands over his.
"You didn't lose me."
Owain closed his eyes.
"I could have."
She swallowed.
"And if you keep holding onto that moment… you'll lose yourself."
Owain stiffened.
Kanah stroked his cheek.
"I'm here," she whispered.
"I lived. I'm safe. You can breathe again."
Owain exhaled—
a shuddering, broken sound—
and pulled her into his chest, arms crushing her gently.
"You're everything," he whispered into her hair.
Kanah melted against him.
"You're everything too."
THE FUTURE CALLS
Vaeryn and Rhaegor approached shortly after, wings casting a massive shadow over the clearing.
"Wolf King," Vaeryn rumbled, "it's time to move the camp. The corrupted land behind us is unstable."
Owain nodded, keeping one arm around Kanah.
Rhaegor lowered his massive head.
"We migrate west. Toward safer ground."
Kanah swallowed.
"We're leaving this place?"
"We must," Gerrin said, joining them again.
"The corruption will take time to settle. We can't risk staying."
Owain looked down at her.
"You okay with that?"
Kanah nodded slowly.
"Yeah. It's time."
Owain brushed her hair back.
"Then we go at your pace."
Her chest warmed.
As they began preparing to move, Kanah saw the tribes working together—
dragons lifting heavy structures
elves weaving branches into shelters
wolves scouting paths
leopards carrying supplies across branches
Devourer-born helping each other for the first time without fear
And she realized something:
She didn't just survive the war.
She changed its ending.
Owain squeezed her hand.
"You ready?" he murmured.
Kanah took a long, steady breath.
And smiled.
"I'm ready to move forward."
Owain kissed her forehead, slow and deep.
"Then we go."