Thoughts spun in chaos inside my head. I didn't know if Will was still alive, but the only thing I could do now was get back. Back to safety. Back to the clan.

  When I finally saw the first huts at the edge of the village, I stumbled forward, gasping for air, kicking up clumps of snow behind me.

  "Help! Something attacked us!" I screamed, my voice cracked with fear.

  People turned; several of the men rushed toward me immediately. Sac was the first to reach me.

  "What happened?" he asked, his hands steady on my shoulders.

  "We were at the pond, Will and I... there was something in the woods. He stayed behind. I don't know what it was, but... it didn't sound like a wolf."

  Sac cursed under his breath, his gaze flickering toward the forest's edge. "Gus! Sate! Wics! Come with me, NOW!"

  They disappeared before I could stop them. I stood there, trembling. Everything felt unreal.

  Time passed slowly. Too slowly.

  I didn't know how long it had been—minutes? An hour?—when I heard voices and movement outside. I ran out, heart pounding in my throat.

  And there they were.

  They were carrying someone.

  "SAC!" I screamed.

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  His body hung between Gus and Wics. Blood had soaked his jacket dark. He was trying to stay conscious, but his eyes were drifting.

  "What happened?!" I gasped.

  "A trap. They set traps," Gus said through gritted teeth. "He stepped right into one while we were trying to rescue Will."

  "Where is he?" I looked around, but Will's face wasn't among them.

  "He's still in the woods," Wics answered. "He... he told us to take Sac and run. Said he'd handle himself."

  "But he's alone!"

  "Will knows what he's doing," Gus said, but his voice didn't sound convinced.

  They brought Sac into his hut. I followed, unable to leave him. His face was pale, almost blue. I grabbed his hand.

  "You can't leave me too," I whispered. "Please, Sac..."

  He tried to smile, but it turned into a grimace. "You... look like a ghost," he mumbled.

  "And you look like a corpse," I replied, trying to sound light even though I was shaking inside.

  Amelia came rushing in with herbs and bandages. More women gathered to help. I stepped back to give them space but couldn't tear my gaze away from him.

  Will was still out there.

  And Sac... Sac was lying there because of me.

  I stood frozen in the doorway of the hut. The warmth of the fire inside didn't reach me. Not where it mattered. Not where it hurt.

  Sac lay pale on the bed, his eyes half-open as Amelia and the others worked quickly and silently. The air was thick with the smell of blood, herbs, and smoke. I wanted to do something—say something—but the words were stuck somewhere deep in my chest.

  It was my fault.

  No one had said it outright, but it didn't matter. Will had called me to the pond. I had followed. And now Sac lay there, wounded, because of me.

  "He'll survive," Amelia said suddenly, almost as if she had heard my thoughts. "But he'll need a long time to recover."

  I nodded silently, but something inside me wanted to scream. Hit something. Cry. Turn back time.

  I walked out of the hut, needing air, needing to get away from the crushing weight. The villagers watched me as I passed—some with worry, others with something I couldn't quite read. Distrust? Or just fear?

  I didn't want to think.