Leo stared at Lyra's house—roof caved, flames chewing the walls like a hungry dog.
*Not her too.*
A thump. Wood creaked.
He bolted, boots skidding in ash. A tiny hand poked from the rubble.
"Lyra?!"
He dug—hands bleeding, tossing beams like sticks. Pulled her out. Soot-streaked, shaking, but breathing.
She crashed into him, fists bunching his shirt. "They killed Dad… took Mom…"
Leo's chest caved. No more tears—just a cold, hard knot.
He cupped her face. "Revenge?"
She looked up. His eyes glowed violet, scary calm.
She swallowed. Nodded.
"We're weak," she whispered.
He offered his hand. "Got a plan. Starts with a witch."
She took it.
---
Moonlight barely reached the jungle floor. Lyra clung to his arm, shivering.
"You sure she's good?"
"Doesn't matter. I'll *make* her help."
Lyra leaned into him. "Then I'm with you. Always."
River ahead. Leo drank, nodded. "Safe."
*Snap.*
Growls. Red eyes blinking on like evil Christmas lights.
Leo stepped in front. "Wolves. Dozens."
Lyra's nails dug in. "Leo—"
"Time to hunt."
He raised a hand. Air went arctic. Ice spears punched up from the dirt—jagged, hungry.
*Snap.*
Spears launched. Shrinks, thuds, silence.
Blood dripped from the bushes.
Lyra stared. "You… just…"
"Keep moving."
They walked on—mist of wolf blood trailing, witch's lair waiting.
They walked until days smeared together. Jungle swallowed the sky. Leo yanked fruit from vines, checked water with a sniff, patched Lyra's scrapes with glowing hands. Nights, they curled under leaf piles like feral cats, her head on his shoulder, his arm around her like a seatbelt.
He lost track of time. Weeks? A month?
One night by a sputtering fire, he watched her sleep—cheek smudged with dirt, breathing slow.
*She's a kid. And I dragged her into this.*
"Lyra, you should—"
Air shifted. Heavy. Watching.
Leo shot up.
Black veil. Black dress. Witch, ten feet away, silent as smoke.
Lyra jolted awake. "Leo—?"
He shoved her behind him. "Got eyes on her."
The Witch didn't blink. Just… studied.
Leo swallowed. "Hey, uh—Witch? We need—"
*Poof.* She was nose-to-nose.
He yelped, stumbled through her—hit dirt. "What the—"
She crouched by Lyra, pinching cheeks. "Sooo cute~!"
"STOP THAT!" Lyra flailed.
Leo scrambled up. "Lady, focus!"
Witch spun, grinning. "Oh right. Help. Sure!"
"…That's it?"
"I read your brain, kid. Past life, dead parents, hero betrayal—rough stuff." She twirled. "Friends?"
Leo blinked. "Friends?"
"Been lonely. You two are hired."
Lyra giggled despite everything.
Leo pinched his nose. "Fine. Friends."
Witch clapped. "Training starts at dawn. Bring ibuprofen~!"
She skipped off humming.
Leo and Lyra swapped looks.
"Hell," he muttered.
"Yep," she agreed.
They chased the crazy lady into the dark.