The closer they got to the Red Hills, the hotter the air became. The wind carried dust, and the sky turned a deep orange. The sun above was bright and harsh.
Celestia pulled her hood forward to block the heat. Her horse moved slower now, tired from the long ride. Kieran rode beside her, quiet and alert. The others didn’t speak much. They were watching the rocky land around them closely.
The Red Hills looked like a place full of old pain—sharp rocks, dry ground, and broken stones that went on and on. Every step felt heavy.
“Almost there,” Leon said. “Our camp is behind that ridge,” he pointed ahead.
They kept going.
By the time they reached the camp, the sky was growing dark. The sun was gone, and shadows stretched across the hills. The camp was hidden between tall rocks. It was small,
