The four of them walked in silence through the ruined streets until the fog began to settle and the danger faded. They stopped near the remains of an old fountain, its stones cracked and covered in moss.
Jake set down his pack and turned to Luna. "Anyway… who taught you to fight like that?" he asked, still amazed by her skill.
Luna crossed her arms, looking away. "It doesn't matter," she said quietly.
Mia frowned but didn't press further. Instead, she turned to the boys. "What about you two? Where are you from?"
As Alex and Jake gathered broken wood for a fire, Alex replied, "I'm from the Water Haven, and Jake's from the Weapons Haven. Our havens are close, so we grew up together."
Jake nodded. "That's why I'm decent with a sword," he said with a small smile.
Mia sat beside them, tracing a finger over her bow. "I'm from the Clothes Haven. I don't know much about fighting, but I try to remember what my father taught me before he…" Her voice trailed off.
The group fell silent for a moment.
Jake broke the stillness, his expression suddenly serious. "We should keep our voices down. There are more monsters out tonight than usual. It's too dangerous to travel any farther—we'll have to camp here."
No one argued. They quickly built a small fire and took turns setting up a watch.
Mia volunteered to go first. She sat by the flames, bow in hand, her eyes scanning the shadows. The night air was cold, and every rustle in the distance made her heart race. But as time passed, her eyelids grew heavy.
She gently nudged Alex awake. "Your turn," she whispered.
He nodded sleepily, rubbing his eyes and taking her place by the fire.
Mia lay down beside the others, pulling her cloak tight. But before sleep claimed her, a thought whispered through her mind:
Why does Luna always hide her face?
And why won't she tell us where she's from?
The questions lingered in her heart as she drifted into uneasy dreams—dreams filled with crowns, shadows, and a girl behind a mask.