Lyra

The weight of the journey is wearing on me. I can feel the tension in my bones as we push through the dense woods, the trees almost closing in around us. Finn walks beside me, but the space between us feels wide, filled with things we can't yet say. We've been apart for so long, and I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it.

I can still hear it, that faint hum. It's a whisper in the back of my mind, calling me forward. It's strange, how it's always there, but it's only for me. I glance at Finn, who seems to sense it too, but he doesn't say anything. His eyes are sharp, constantly scanning the surroundings, his hand always near his weapon. It's hard not to feel like we're being hunted, like we're on borrowed time.

We push on, but each step feels like a mile. I just want to see them again. I just want to see Alex. To know he's okay, to know we haven't lost them.

And then I hear it. A rustle in the trees. A figure moving. I freeze, holding my breath, but Finn is already moving before I can stop him.

"Lyra?"

His voice is tight with urgency. I can see it in his eyes—the same thing I feel. They're here. They've got to be here.

"I hear it too," I say, stepping closer to him, my heart racing. "They're close."

Finn's face softens for a second, and I see the emotion in his eyes. His hand squeezes mine briefly, and I know we're both thinking the same thing. We've come this far. We can't lose them now.

And then—just ahead—I see them. Kai and Alex. Standing, waiting, barely visible through the trees, like they're waiting for us.

My heart leaps, and before I know what I'm doing, I'm running. I can't help it. I don't want to hold back anymore. Not after everything.

Finn is right behind me, his footsteps heavy against the ground, but it's not fast enough. I reach Alex first, throwing myself into his arms, my chest tight with relief.

"Alex," I breathe, squeezing him. He's real. He's here. He's alive. And I can't believe it. "You're okay."

He pulls back just enough to look at me, his eyes wide, his expression unreadable for a moment. But then it cracks, a small, quiet laugh escaping him, and I feel the tension melt from his shoulders.

"I'm okay. We're okay."

Behind him, Kai steps forward, his eyes softer than I've ever seen them, and I can feel the relief emanating from him too. It's strange to see him this way, unguarded, like the walls around him are finally coming down.

I step back, my heart still pounding, and take a deep breath. "You have no idea how much I missed you," I admit. The words spill out before I can stop them.

Finn is there beside me, his hand finding mine again. I look at him, meeting his gaze, and for the first time in a long while, I feel something like peace settle over me.

But then Alex pulls away, and Kai follows suit. The reunion is real, but it's not the end of the road. There's still more to do.

"I didn't think we were going to make it," Alex says quietly, his voice hoarse. I know exactly what he means. "It was too much. I couldn't—"

"I know," I interrupt gently. "I know."

We all stand there for a moment, the forest around us still, the world holding its breath. Everything is heavier, and yet it feels like the weight has lifted. Like we've made it.

But there's more to say, more to feel. I can see it in Kai's eyes—he's holding something back, the same way Finn is, the same way I am. We've all been through too much to just pretend it's over.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there," Finn says quietly, his voice almost breaking as he steps closer to Lyra. I can feel the way he's been holding this in, the guilt that's been eating him up.

"I'm just glad we're together," I say, stepping in to stand beside him. "That's all that matters now."

We exchange looks. The silence is almost unbearable, but we all know that this is a beginning, not an end.

For a long moment, no one speaks. Then Kai's voice breaks through, low and steady.

"We're not done yet. We still have to keep moving." His gaze flickers to the dense forest around us, the dark trees blocking out the sky. "But for now, we've made it. We've found each other."

I nod, the words heavy in my throat. He's right, of course. We can't stop. Not yet. There's still too much to do.

But as I look at them—at Finn, at Alex, at Kai—I know we can do this. We'll do whatever it takes. We're together again, and that's everything.

Finn

Seeing them again feels surreal. For so long, I wasn't sure I'd ever see them again. Lyra was all I had, and even that felt like it could slip away at any moment.

But now... now, I have them both back. I can finally breathe again.

I catch Kai's gaze and see the relief there too. He's been just as terrified, just as lost, but seeing him here, seeing the four of us standing together, it feels like something has shifted. I don't know what, but it's like the world is holding its breath.

"I can't believe we're together again," I mutter, almost to myself. The words feel too simple, but they're all I can say.

"We're together," Lyra says, and I can hear the tears in her voice. She's always been strong, always the one to keep going, but now I see the toll it's taken.

I step closer to her, resting my hand on her shoulder, pulling her back into me for just a second. I don't want to let go. I don't want this moment to end.

"We're okay," she says, her voice steadier now. "And we'll keep going."

But even as she says the words, I know the truth. This is just one battle. There's still more ahead.

Still, I hold on a little longer. I let myself feel the warmth of her, the steady rhythm of her breathing, and for just a moment, I let myself believe that maybe we can make it through whatever comes next.