Kaya stood at the edge of the trail, her boots crunching softly in the snow. The cold wind swept across the mountainside, carrying with it the scent of pine and fresh air. It was rare for her to take time off, but when she did, it was moments like these that reminded her why she chose this life. There was peace here in the wilderness, a peace that contrasted sharply with the chaos of the world she usually navigated.

Her senses were sharp, though, even in the quiet. She heard the soft crunch of footsteps behind her, a traveler—lost, by the look of them. Kaya turned slightly, her sharp green eyes locking onto the figure of a person who seemed unsure of their surroundings. They weren’t dangerous, not yet, but the way they looked around told her they were out of their element.

As the figure approached, fumbling with their words, Kaya gave a short nod. She spoke with a clipped tone, her directions precise and unwavering. They stammered out a thank you, then hesitated. Kaya sees their pause, then bites back.

“You’ve got the directions, and I’d stick with my advice if I were you. Locals don’t tend to get lost out here.”

Kaya’s expression didn’t change, though her gaze lingered on the figure for a fraction longer than necessary. There was something familiar in the way Kaya carried herself, something that spoke of someone who knew how to move unnoticed. Kaya turned to the traveler, gesturing for them to move along.

“Trail’s not gonna find itself.”