Chapter 37 037

Chapter 37 037
Chapter 37

Thalia's POV

The second day was harder than the first.

My body wasn't used to walking this much without stopping. My feet hurt in ways I hadn't expected. The straps of the pack dug into my shoulders, and I kept having to adjust them.

I stopped near a stream in the early afternoon.

The water was cold and clear. I knelt down and drank from my cupped hands, then refilled the water container from the pack. My reflection looked back at me from the surface. I looked tired. My hair was tangled. There was dirt on my face.

I sat down on a flat rock and pulled off my boots.

My feet were red and swollen. There was a blister forming on my left heel. I should have noticed it earlier, but I'd been too focused on keeping moving.

I didn't have anything to treat it with.

I put my boots back on carefully and stood up. The pain was sharper now that I'd acknowledged it. I tried to ignore it as I kept walking.

The forest around me was different from the paprairiesThe trees grew closer together here. The underbrush was thicker. I had to push through branches more often, and they left scratches on my arms.

I didn't see anyone. No wolves. No other travelers. Nothing.

The isolation should have felt peaceful. Instead, it felt heavy.

I kept thinking about the pack bond. About what it felt like to have that constant background hum of connection. I'd never realized how much I relied on it until it was gone.

Now there was just silence in my head.

By the time the sun started to set, I was exhausted.

I found a spot under a large oak tree with thick roots that formed natural barriers on three sides. It wasn't much shelter, but it was better than being completely exposed.

I ate some of the dried meat from the pack and drank more water. The food didn't taste like anything. I chewed mechanically and swallowed.

When I finished, I wrapped the cloak around myself and leaned back against the tree trunk.

The night sounds started as the light faded. Insects chirping. Something rustling in the underbrush. An owl is calling in the distance.

I closed my eyes but didn't sleep right away.

I thought about my mother standing near the gate. The way she looked like she wanted to say more but didn't. I wondered if she was thinking about me now. If she felt guilty or relieved or nothing at all.

I thought about Varian's face when he told me to leave. The way his expression stayed neutral. Like he was discussing something that didn't matter to him personally.

Maybe it didn't.

I shifted against the tree, trying to find a more comfortable position. My body ached everywhere. The blister on my heel throbbed with each heartbeat.

Eventually, I fell asleep.

I dreamed about the cell. About standing there while Varian and Shelly watched me. But in the dream, I couldn't speak. My mouth moved, but no sound came out. They turned and walked away while I tried to call after them.

I woke up with a start.

It was still dark. The moon was higher in the sky now, casting pale light through the branches above me.

I pulled the cloak tighter and closed my eyes again.

The next time I woke, it was morning.

My body felt stiff and cold. I stood up slowly, wincing as my muscles protested. The blister on my heel had gotten worse overnight. I could feel it even before I started walking.

I ate a small piece of bread and drank some water, then packed everything up.

The third day felt longer than the first two combined.

I walked slmore slowlyEach step hurt. I had to stop more often to rest. The pack felt heavier, even though I'd eaten some of the food.

By midday, I reached a road.

It wasn't much of a road. More like a dirt path worn down by travel. But it was clearly used by people, and that meant civilization somewhere nearby.

I stood at the edge of it for a moment, trying to decide.

Following the road would make me more visible. Anyone traveling this way would see me. But staying in the forest meant continuing to struggle through thick underbrush with feet that were already damaged.

I turned left and followed the road.

The walking was easier here. The ground was more even, and I didn't have to push through branches. But I stayed alert, watching for any sign of other travelers.

I walked for about an hour before I saw anyone.

A wagon appeared in the distance, heading toward me. It was pulled by two horses and driven by an older man wearing a wide-brimmed hat.

I moved to the side of the road and kept my head down as it approached.

The wagon slowed as it reached me.

"You alright?" the man called out.

I looked up. He had a weathered face and kind eyes. He didn't look threatening, but I'd learned not to trust appearances.

"I'm fine," I said.

He studied me for a moment. "You don't look fine. You look like you've been walking for days."

"I have been," I admitted.

"Where are you headed?"

"Away from where I was," I said.

He nodded slowly, like that answer made sense to him.

"There's a town about five miles up this road," he said. "Greystone. Small place, but they've got an inn and a general store. Might be able to rest there."

"Thank you," I said.

He looked like he wanted to say more, but he just nodded and clicked his tongue at the horses. The wagon started moving again.

I watched it disappear down the road, then turned and kept walking.

Five miles didn't sound far, but with my feet in the condition they were in, it felt impossible. I kept going anyway. One step at a time. Focusing on the ground in front of me instead of how far I still had to go.

The sun moved across the sky. My shadow shifted from one side of the road to the other.

My water was running low. I'd need to find more soon.

By late afternoon, I saw buildings in the distance.

Greystone.

The town was small, just like the man had said. Maybe twenty or thirty buildings clustered together where two roads intersected. Most of them looked old but well-maintained. There was a church with a white steeple, a general store with a painted sign, and what looked like an inn with a wooden porch.

I walked slowly into town.

A few people were out. An older woman is sweeping the steps of the general store. Two men loare ading supplies onto a cart. A child running down the street with a dog chasing after him.

They looked at me as I passed. Not hostile, but curious. I probably looked like exactly what I was—someone who'd been traveling rough for days.

I headed toward the inn.

The building was two stories with faded blue paint. A sign hanging above the door read "Greystone Rest."

I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The interior was dim after the bright sunlight. It took my eyes a moment to adjust. There was a small front room with a counter along one wall and a few chairs scattered around. A hallway led to what I assumed were the guest rooms.

A woman stood behind the counter. She was middle-aged with gray streaks in her dark hair and a no-nonsense expression.

"Help you?" she asked.

"I need a room," I said.

She looked me over. "For how long?"

"One night," I said. "Maybe two."

"Three silver a night," she said. "Includes breakfast."

I reached into the small pouch tied at my waist. My mother had put a few coins in the pack—not much, but enough for basic needs. I counted out six silver pieces and placed them on the counter.

"Two nights," I said.

She took the coins and nodded. "Room's at the end of the hall. Second door on the right. There's a washroom down the hall if you need it."

"Thank you," I said.

She handed me a key. "You need anything else, you let me know."

I took the key and walked down the hallway.

The room was small. Just a bed, a chair, and a small table with a basin and pitcher. But it was clean, and the bed had actual blankets.

I closed the door behind me and set the pack down.

For a moment, I just stood there.

Then I sat down on the edge of the bed.

My feet were screaming. I pulled off my boots carefully and looked at the damage. The blister on my heel had broken at some point. The new ones were forming in my toes.

I needed to clean them and find something to wrap them with.

But first, I just needed to sit.

I leaned back against the wall and closed my eyes.

For the first time in three days, I was inside. Safe. Warm.

I didn't know what came next.

But for tonight, I had a bed and a locked door.

That was enough.