Side Story 4.101 - Where Old Things Wait

Johanis' POV

By the time we reached the old smokehouse, our clothes were stained with forest dust and our lungs hurt from laughing too much. Brinn had leaves sticking out of his hair like antlers. Sari’s knees were scraped—again—and Lily had a pinecone in each pocket and a victorious grin like she’d just stolen the moon.

Aya walked beside me, arms folded behind her head, humming like she hadn’t just chased half of us through every corner of the forest. Her braid was wild now, one side of her tunic smudged with something suspiciously purple. Probably berry guts. Again.

The smokehouse stood quiet ahead of us, its weather-worn wood slanted just enough to look uninviting. Smoke didn't curl from the chimney. The windows were dark. The door was cracked open.

Which immediately made all five of us stop.