Page 211 of The Moonborn's Curse

"Before I left to follow you," he continued. "I dropped everything. Literally. I didn't have much but I left everything behind. I never went back to my cave."

Seren just looked up at him waiting for him to continue.

"I left something."

Sensing it was something important, Seren raised a brow, "What was it?"

There was a long pause before he answered. His voice was quieter than usual.

"A talisman. It belonged to my mother. She wore it every day until she passed. I'd been carrying it since. Kept it with me always, until..."

"Until you followed me."

Threk nodded.

Seren's brow furrowed. "You want to go get it now?"

He hesitated again. "Yeah. I think I need it back. But the caves... they're far. I have never been here to the township before. I don't think I can find my way back."

"I'll go with you," she said, without hesitating.

"No." The word came sharp. "You're not going anywhere. You know how dangerous it is. You're the reason she's coming."

Seren crossed her arms. "Then I'll find someone to go with you. Just wait. I just need to check something first."

He didn't look convinced, but he nodded.

Seren reached up and squeezed his shoulder. "You followed me two and a half years ago. Let me have your back this time, alright?"

He didn't argue, just nodded.

When she reached the healer's quarters, Hagan was already inside, sitting at Renna's bedside with arms crossed tightly. Two healers hovered nearby, whispering. Renna slept, colour returned to her cheeks, her breath soft and even.

"...not sure what is wrong," one of them murmured. "Strange. Shifters don't get sick like this. Not this fast."

"But she's recovering?" Seren interjected.

"Aye," the other healer replied. "She is resting."

Seren stayed a moment longer, watching the furrow in Hagan's brow, the way he looked down at Renna with worry. They exchanged a short nod of understanding and Seren went to find Dain to go with Threk to find his talisman.

But by the time they got there, Threk was gone.

Veyr was there, not far from the eastern path.

"He left," he said “Said something about a talisman. I told him to wait, but..."

"I'm going after him," said Seren.

Dain didn't question it. Just walked beside her, quiet, steady.

The forest was in bloom, spring draped across the branches like a painter had gone mad with colour. Sunlight filtered through leaves. Insects buzzed lazily through golden shafts of light. And yet, there was tension in the air like the forest was waiting...for what?

They passed the clearing where Seren first met Threk and then made their way up to the river bank. Then, they crossed the shallow part of the river, the water cool around their ankles.

"Where are we going?" Dain finally asked.

"The caves. Beyond the river. Over there..." Seren pointed.

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