Kai held Varaan carefully as he moved through the dark, dangerous forest. Every step was hard—he had to fight both the rough ground and the heavy sadness in his heart. Tree roots grabbed at his boots, and low branches scratched his face like ghostly hands. The trees above were so thick that they blocked out most of the light, making it feel like night even though it was still day. Only a few thin beams of moonlight broke through, shining on the sweat on his forehead.
His body hurt from the effort, his muscles aching with every movement. But the pain in his heart was worse—sharp and deep, a kind of pain no injury could match. Every step he took made a loud crunch on the dry leaves, sounding like a clock counting down the last moments before Varaan changed forever.
