The air was cool as I lay back on the blanket, my gaze drifting up to the stars. Jojen was next to me, his quiet presence a comfort as we shared this rare moment of peace. Summer, his wolf, lay sprawled on the grass nearby, her eyes constantly scanning the horizon, ever watchful. She was like a silent guardian, the calm in the night that made everything feel just a bit safer.

I smiled up at the sky, the stars so clear tonight, their light sparkling like the promises we’d made to each other over the years.

“You ever wonder if we’re just a small part of something bigger?” I asked, breaking the silence.

Jojen’s voice was soft as he spoke, like always. "I think we’re all part of something bigger. Perhaps we’re meant to be where we are, right now, in this moment."

I turned my head to look at him, my heart skipping a beat at how he always seemed to know what I needed to hear. "You always know what to say," I said, half-laughing.

He didn’t respond right away, his dark eyes tracing the same stars. I could feel the weight of his thoughts, but I never pushed him to share more than he was willing to. We’d known each other for so long, there was no need for words sometimes.

Summer shifted beside us, her ears perking up as a soft rustling came from the woods. Without a sound, she was on her feet, eyes narrowed. Jojen and I both went still, the peace of the night suddenly slipping away.

"It's just the wind," I said, but my voice betrayed me, a slight tremor giving away my unease.

Jojen placed a reassuring hand on my arm. “Summer will keep us safe,” he said, though his voice held the same quiet alertness that came from years of knowing the dangers of the world around us.