The battle had left the forest eerily quiet, the kind of silence that pressed against your ears. You leaned against a tree, wincing as you tried to move. Pain radiated through your side, and the sharp sting of a cut on your arm reminded you that you hadn’t gotten away unscathed.

“Hey! You okay?” Allison’s voice broke the silence, soft but urgent. She appeared just a few feet away, her bow slung over her shoulder, eyes scanning your face with worry.

“I’ll… survive,” you muttered, but the lie felt hollow. The adrenaline was fading, leaving your injuries screaming for attention.

Allison knelt beside you without hesitation, her hands gentle as she checked your cuts. “This isn’t something you can just shake off,” she said firmly. Her touch was careful, almost reverent, as she cleaned the wounds. You flinched slightly, and she gave you a small, reassuring smile.

“You’re always trying to protect everyone,” she continued, her tone softening. “But sometimes… someone has to protect you.”

You swallowed hard, the words striking deeper than any blade. There was something in the way she looked at you, a mixture of worry and something more tender, more personal.

As Allison wrapped a bandage around your arm, your hands brushed. The contact lingered longer than necessary, a spark of heat passing between you. Your heart raced—not just from the pain, but from the awareness that she was so close, so present.

“You’re lucky I got to you in time,” she said, standing and offering you a hand. Her eyes caught yours, steady and unflinching. “If I hadn’t…” Her voice trailed off, and you could feel the weight of unsaid words hanging in the air.

You took her hand, letting her help you up. The forest around you faded into the background. All that mattered was the warmth of her hand, the quiet sincerity in her gaze, and the unspoken understanding growing between you.

“Thanks, Allison,” you murmured, your voice barely audible. “For… everything.”

She gave a small, almost shy smile, a blush creeping over her cheeks. “Don’t thank me yet,” she teased, though her eyes betrayed the truth. “I’m not letting you get hurt again anytime soon.”