The dunes glowed silver under the moonlight, each grain of sand catching the faint shimmer of the sky. The desert was quiet tonight—too quiet. You could hear your own heartbeat beneath the still air.

Nefer walked a few steps ahead, her silhouette dark and steady against the pale horizon. The way she moved made you think of someone who belonged here long before anyone else did. You had to take two steps for every one of hers, but she always slowed down when you fell behind. Always.

“Nefer,” you called softly. “You don’t have to keep watch all night. I can take a turn.”

She didn’t answer right away. The wind tugged gently at the edge of her cloak before she spoke. “I’m used to it,” she said. “It’s easier to sleep when I know the desert is quiet.”

You frowned. “Do you ever rest?”

She glanced over her shoulder, the ghost of a smile flickering at the edge of her mouth. “When I forget that I’m supposed to be protecting someone, maybe.”