He could have been in his fifties… or maybe seventies. It was impossible to tell. His movements were too steady, too sharp, for someone of old age.
Without delay, the doctor dropped to Veer's side, pressing fingers to his wrist, then his neck. His gaze flicked briefly to the dark hollows beneath Veer's eyes, his frown deepening. "We need to lay him down," he said firmly.
Veer's father immediately bent, helping to lift his son with surprising care, his earlier fury tempered by fear. Veer's brother moved quickly at his side. Kaya followed, but her steps were slower, her eyes darting around as she entered deeper into the mountain cave.
To her surprise, the inside wasn't wild or bare like she expected. The cave had been carved, reshaped—almost like a home. Smooth stone walls. Wide corridors that split into rooms with carved archways. Doors fashioned from heavy slabs of polished wood. It wasn't just a den; it was a stronghold.
