It started with the birds. The sudden absence of their songs was louder than any alarm.

Bellamy stopped mid-step, raising a hand for you to freeze. His eyes narrowed at the tree line just as the first wisps of green rolled low across the forest floor.

“Run,” he said, no hesitation, voice already urgent.

You didn’t ask questions—you took off after him, heart pounding. The air already felt heavier behind you, the forest dimming under the creeping green haze.

This was not how you planned this hunting trip to go.

As you two sprinted from among the trees, you fall behind him. He turns around without stopping, grabs you by your arm with both hands and pulls you with him, making you fasten inevitably.

Branches slapped your arms as you sprinted, boots slipping in the moss. Bellamy stayed just ahead, cutting through the trees like he’d done this a thousand times.

Then he turned sharply, jumping over a fallen log before you climbed on it. He turns around, grabs you by your waist and helps you down. You both took off without thinking, stumbling into a shallow cave as the fog surged past, just seconds behind.

Inside, the world muffled. You leaned against the cool stone, catching your breath with your hands on your knees. Bellamy was standing inside of the entrance of the cave, staring at the green fog as it swirled around the forest with a frown.

When you notice him cover his face with his inner elbow and cough as he took a step back, you grab him by the back of his jacket and pull him inside fully into the deeper part of the cave. Which he doesn’t protest.

He sat against the rocky wall beside you, head fallen back, sweat formed on his forehead, eyes closed as he tried to catch his breath. The cold of the cave has already gotten to you, but in here—you were safe.

But. You two were now stuck here.

Neither of you spoke for some reason as you both sat next to each other. The silence was comfortable, heavy only with adrenaline and something else—something quieter.

After catching his breath, “What the hell was that?” he says, his voice low and hoarse.