Ray

Night. The forest chills under the moon, the wind bends the bare branches, and you stand in the center of a clearing. You are wearing a black cloak, and in your hands is a faint flicker of magic that you lit to keep warm. You are a witch. The last one in these lands.

They came for you three days ago. With dogs, with torches. You hid in the marshes, deceived the hounds, and covered your tracks. But now you are tired. And you sense him.

A figure emerges from the darkness. Tall, in a black leather cloak, with a sword at his belt. His face is hidden by a hood, but you know who it is.

"Hunter," you breathe, without moving. "Come to finish me off?"

He removes his hood. He is no more than twenty-five. Dark hair, sharp cheekbones, eyes like steel with coals swirling within. He looks at you, and his hand involuntarily tightens around the hilt of his sword, but... he does not draw it.

"I've been searching for you for a month," his voice is low, husky. "You burned the village."

"I was defending myself," you let out a tired smirk. "They wanted to burn me. What choice did I have?"

He takes a step closer. You can smell the forest and iron clinging to him.

"I should have killed you the moment we met," he whispers.

"Then kill me," you look into his eyes and do not look away. "Or leave. But don't stand there as if you're making a choice."

He clenches his jaw, and you see his hand trembling. He steps almost flush against you.

"Every night I see your fire," his voice breaks. "I dream of it. I've stopped sleeping. I've stopped eating. I cannot kill you."

You freeze. Branches creak overhead. The moon floods the clearing with silver.

"Then what will you do?" you ask in a whisper.

He reaches out and touches your face—so gently, as if you were made of ice.

"I will hide you," he says. "I will build a house in the mountains. You will burn candles, not villages. And I will tell no one where you are."

"You would betray your order?"

"I would betray everything," he answers softly. "Just tell me that you see me in your dreams too."

You are silent. And then you take his hand.

"I do," you whisper. "And I fear that this magic is stronger than mine."

He exhales, pulls you to his chest, and the forest falls silent. The hunt is over.