There she was.
A lone girl hung by the neck from a crooked tree limb, her feet swaying above the ground. Long black hair veiled her face in tangled strands, her arms limp at her sides. Beneath her closed eyes, streaks of dried black trailed down her cheeks like tears. Ren didn't hesitate to save her.
He sprinted toward the base of the twisted tree, boots kicking up loose dirt. He leapt forward, fingers catching the nearest branch. The bark tore into his palms as he pulled himself up.
"Come on…" He muttered through clenched teeth.
He climbed higher, reaching from one warped limb to the next, ignoring the blood slicking his fingers. The tree creaked beneath his weight, groaning like it resented being used to step on.
At last, he reached a sturdier branch. From here, he could see her clearly. The rope bit down into her neck, just beneath her jaw. Her head hung forward, hair obscuring most of her face.
So close. Ren edged along the branch she hung from, every step measured. The closer he drew, the more fragile she seemed—like she might shatter if he made a mistake.
Below, the pale steed stepped forward, positioning itself directly beneath them.
As if it already knew.
Ren drew his makeshift dagger and cut, angling the blade toward the knot.
"Hold on…" He whispered.
The rope frayed beneath the blade. Fibers snapped one by one.
Then—
SLICE
The rope gave way, and the girl fell like a broken doll.
The steed braced itself, catching her across its back with unnatural grace. Ren kicked off the branch and dropped, staggering toward them. Her body draped over the horse's back, utterly still—save for the faintest rise and fall of her chest. Ren reached out, but suddenly stopped.
Fear boiled inside, not of her, but himself.
'What if touching her hurts her?'
He pulled his hand back quickly, fingers curling into a fist.
Backing away, he sank into a crouch, elbows resting on his knees.
The steed lowered itself carefully to the ground, allowing the girl to slide off onto the ground.
She laid on her side, head turned toward Ren, hair hiding most of her features.
Ren pressed his back against a tree, unsure whether he should move. Unsure if he was even allowed to. Time passed by, when Ren noticed a faint movement. Her hand twitched.
Her fingers brushed along the dirt, slow and uncertain, before reaching toward him. He stiffened as her hand found his, grazing his knuckles with a trembling, soft touch. She didn't open her eyes. Didn't lift her head. But her fingers brushed him again—even softer this time.
"You're warm…" She whispered.
The words were so faint he almost thought he imagined them. Ren stared at their joined hands, feeling the fragile warmth of her skin against his own bloodied fingers. He didn't pull from her.
"H-hello…" He said quietly. "Can you hear me?"
No response.
He forced himself to breathe. To keep his voice as steady as possible.
She curled on her side, breathing shallow and thin. Her face remained hidden behind tangled strands of black hair, lashes resting against pale cheeks.
'What should I do? Move her? Is it safer to wait?'
He began to rise, but her fingers tightened around his.
It was just enough to stop him.
"Don't leave…" She whispered.
Her breathing was weak, like a sob she refused to let escape.
Ren looked down at their hands—his rough, bloodied knuckles locked by hers.
Slowly, he knelt back down.
"I'm not leaving," He whispered. "I promise…"
She trembled, so faintly he could only feel it through the lightest contact of their fingers.
Ren listened to her breathing—uneven, shallow…
But she was alive.
"You're okay," He murmured. "I'm here."
She shifted, inching closer.
Her hair dragged through the dirt as she pressed herself nearer, arms trembling with the effort.
Ren moved instinctively, reaching out for her. Then stopped, letting her do it herself.
She propped herself onto her side, one hand tucked beneath her cheek.
"Are you…okay?" Ren asked in a whisper, his hand hovering just above her shoulder.
She didn't answer, so he searched for something—anything—to anchor them.
"Can you tell me your name?"
The question lingered between them. For a moment, he thought she hadn't heard.
Then—
"Eva…" The whisper barely moved her lips.
"That's…" Ren said. "That's a pretty name."
Ren felt relief the moment she spoke.
"I'm…Ren."