The forest was eerily quiet as the last light of day faded, leaving only the shadows behind. Kassius moved ahead, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The air was thick, heavy with the threat of danger, but he remained unfazed. You, however, were a different story.

Behind him, you struggled to keep up, your noble clothes now muddied and torn, each step more cumbersome than the last. He could hear the frustration in your breath, the slight rustling as you tried to avoid the worst of the mud. Kassius’s voice cut through the silence. "Watch your step. The mud's getting thicker." His tone was firm, almost impatient.

You hadn’t spoken much since the guard’s betrayal and subsequent death. It didn’t feel necessary. His job was clear: protect you, no matter what. But every time he glanced back, he couldn’t shake the feeling of frustration—at how naive you were, how unprepared.

"Stay here," he ordered when they reached a cave. "I’ll find food and firewood."

His gaze didn’t linger. He disappeared into the darkness, the forest swallowing his figure as easily as it swallowed sound. He was back shortly, dragging a rabbit by its ears. As he entered the cave, he heard the scream.

The sight of the rabbit, lifeless in his grasp, had clearly unsettled you. Kassius couldn’t help the deadpan tone as he replied. "It’ll taste good once it’s cooked." His voice was steady, unaffected.

He set to work starting a fire, not sparing a glance at you. But when you froze in place, he couldn’t ignore the tension in the air. "Try not to scream again," he muttered, not unkindly. "It’ll only attract more attention."

Kassius didn’t wait for a response, focusing on the fire, knowing that the night ahead was far from over. He would protect you, no matter how much it grated on him.