#Chapter 208: Small Mercies

Ava I sat by the fire, rubbing my hands together to ward off the chill that had set in since the sun had gone down. The warmth from the flames helped, but I couldn’t shake the cold sense of worry that was gnawing at my insides. Chris had been gone for a while now, and I was starting to get concerned. What if he’d gotten lost in the unfamiliar forest? Or worse, what if he’d encountered some dangerous wildlife? Just as I was about to get up and look for him, I heard footsteps outside and let out a sigh of relief upon picking up the familiar rhythm of his footsteps—but it also sounded like he was… dragging something? Figuring that he had found a larger animal, maybe even a deer even though we couldn’t possibly eat the whole thing, I got up to help him. But then, the door suddenly banged open, and Chris burst in. But he wasn’t alone. To my shock, he shoved a young man inside, who fell to his knees. My jaw dropped as I recognized his face immediately.