Sophia walked into the village, her eyes quickly scanning the room of bodies for a place to sit. A knot tightened in her stomach, the familiar feeling of nervousness settling deep within her. It had been two days since she'd last seen Tsu'tey, since the kiss that had caught her completely off guard. The memory of him pinning her against the wall, kissing her with such intensity and without warning, still lingered in her mind, making her cheeks burn with awkwardness.

She grabbed a leaf of larva and squatted near the far side of the room, hoping to avoid any uncomfortable encounters. There, she could eat her breakfast in peace, away from the inevitable confrontation that loomed on the horizon—or so she thought.

As she moved, her gaze met Tsu'tey's across the room. His posture was rigid, as though his entire being was in a state of alert. The air between them felt electric, charged with the unspoken tension. She hesitated, her feet momentarily frozen in place.

Tsu'tey didn't acknowledge her directly, but she could feel his presence. His steady breathing, even amidst the noise of the room, seemed to fill the space. Every movement he made, every glance, only added to the heavy atmosphere between them.

Jake, ever perceptive, caught the awkward tension right away. His eyes flicked between Sophia and Tsu'tey, a mischievous glint forming in his expression as he casually strolled over to her spot, tossing a few larva in his mouth.

"You okay, kid?" Jake's tone was light and teasing, but his eyes were sharp with understanding.

Sophia's throat tightened, and she forced a tight smile. "Yeah. Just… hungry."

Jake wasn't convinced. "Uh-huh." He studied her with a raised brow. "You sure you're okay? You seem a little distracted the last few days."

Sophia's eyes darted toward Tsu'tey, but he was still facing away, pretending to focus on his meal. She didn't want to make a scene, but the weight of his presence made it hard to breathe.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she muttered, trying to appear casual as she picked at her food.

Jake crossed his arms, still watching her intently. "You sure? Because when a girl starts avoiding someone at breakfast, it usually means something happened. Something... interesting."

Sophia's cheeks flamed. "Jake, stop. Seriously."

But Jake only grinned wider, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "What? What's wrong, didn't get your morning kiss?" He winked, making the comment loud enough for a few nearby villagers to glance over.

Sophia buried her face in her hands, mortified. "Oh my God."

Tsu'tey, who had been pretending to focus on his food, stiffened at Jake's words. The mention of a kiss seemed to jolt him. He couldn't help but look up, his gaze briefly meeting Sophia's. That fleeting connection, the intensity of it, hit him like a punch to the chest. He quickly looked away, refocusing on his plate, but the awkwardness between them only deepened.

Across the room, Mo'at observed the exchange with mild interest, her sharp eyes narrowing as she noticed Tsu'tey's discomfort. She saw the way his shoulders tensed, the way he avoided meeting anyone's gaze.

Without a word, she stood and walked toward him, her footsteps quiet but purposeful. When she reached his side, she slid onto the spot next to him, offering no pleasantries.

"Tsu'tey," she said softly, her voice laced with concern. "What is wrong? You have been distant. More so than usual."

Tsu'tey didn't answer immediately, his jaw clenched as he pushed a piece of fruit around his plate. The kiss haunted him, had shifted everything, but now, with Sophia avoiding him, it felt like there was an invisible wall between them.

"I... I don't know," he muttered, the words coming out more awkwardly than he intended.

Mo'at tilted her head, studying him with knowing eyes. "You don't know?" Her voice softened. "Tsu'tey, you are not one to shy away from your emotions. What happened?"

Tsu'tey ran a hand through his hair, frustration and confusion building within him. He had no answers, only questions. What was he supposed to say? That he couldn't stop thinking about the kiss? That everything had changed but neither of them had the courage to address it?

He sighed, his shoulders sagging. "I don't know how to speak of it. I... don't know what it means."

Mo'at raised an eyebrow but didn't press him further. Instead, she gave him a knowing look. "Sometimes, it's okay not to have all the answers. But you must speak of it, eventually."

Tsu'tey sighed again, his gaze drifting back to Sophia across the room. She was still focused on her plate, trying to act as though she hadn't heard Jake's teasing, but he could tell she was just as nervous as he was. His chest tightened at the thought.

Meanwhile, Jake's voice cut through his thoughts. "So? Anything to share, Sophia?" Jake's voice was playful, but there was a hint of challenge as he glanced briefly at Tsu'tey. "Is there something going on between you two or not?"

Sophia bit her lip, desperately trying to hold it together. "No," she muttered. "Nothing's going on. It's just… nothing."

Jake didn't seem convinced, but for the moment, he let it slide. Mo'at's sharp gaze flicked between the two of them, and though she didn't say anything more, the weight of her knowing silence lingered in the air.

..

..

Sophia was sitting at the counter in the healing hut, carefully organizing the herbs and medicine jars. The quiet of the room should have been comforting, but a sudden chill crept up her spine. At first, she brushed it off, attributing it to the cool morning air. But then, she felt it again—a soft, almost imperceptible breeze, brushing against the back of her neck, as though someone was standing just behind her.

She spun around, her heart racing, but the room was empty. The silence hung heavy around her, the air thick with an unsettling stillness. Sophia frowned, brushing off the sensation, and reached for the next jar. The cold glass sent a shiver through her fingertips, but she tried to shake off the discomfort. Something was watching her, she could feel it.

Shaking her head, she muttered under her breath, "It's probably just the wind..."

But the feeling lingered.

..
..

Later Sophia wandered through the village, gathering fallen leaves and twigs for kindling with a few children. The forest around her was peaceful, the air crisp and fresh, but there was something different about the atmosphere today. Something was off.

A rustling sound caught her attention—a soft, almost imperceptible movement in the underbrush. She glanced around quickly, but the children were off to the east, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they collected twigs. The rustling stopped, replaced by an oppressive silence, almost as if the forest itself had held its breath.

Then, a cold breeze swept past her, sending a shiver down her spine. Her senses heightened, she scanned the trees, searching for any sign of movement. Nothing. The forest remained still.

"Children, come! Let's go show Mo'at what we found!" she called, eager to move away from the strange sensation. She grabbed a handful of twigs and gently took one of the smaller hands in hers, hoping the feeling would fade once they were back in the heart of the village.

..
..

By the mid-afternoon Sophia sat by the stone fire pit, stirring the cooking pot with a wooden spoon. The crackling flames offered a sense of comfort, but it didn't ease the discomfort that had been gnawing at her all day. She added some herbs to the stew, her thoughts drifting. But as she moved the spoon through the bubbling liquid, she felt it again—an invisible weight pressing against her skin, as if something—or someone—was nearby.

Her fingers tingled, like someone had brushed against her hand. She pulled back quickly, but when she glanced around, no one was near. Her heart quickened, and she looked over her shoulder. Nothing. Just the distant sound of children laughing, their joy at odds with the strange feeling that continued to creep up her spine.

"Sophia? Are you alright?" Norm's voice broke through her thoughts, his tone gentle but concerned.

She offered him a small, reassuring smile. "Uh… yeah. Just fine."

But the sensation wouldn't go away. Every time her fingers brushed against the pot or the spoon, the eerie feeling returned, like an electric charge in the air. She wanted to call out to Mo'at, but something deep inside her warned against it—an instinct, one she couldn't quite explain, urging her not to disturb whatever presence lingered nearby.

She shook her body out "Norm, I'm going to grab some water, watch the children."

"… Okay?" Norm responds, his face clearly questioning her earlier answer.

"Just… Stay with the children. Please..."

Norms face twists in concern and she turns, walking towards the entrance of home tree.

"Something's clearly bothering her."

..
..

Sophia dunked her bucket into the river as the cool water lapped at her feet. She let out a slow breathe, the familiar rhythm of the task grounding her. But then, she heard it—a faint whisper, carried on the wind. It was too quiet to make out any words, but it was unmistakable.

Her breath hitched, and she froze. She glanced around, but the riverbank was empty. No one was near her. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, but there was no one else around.

Still, the whisper seemed to linger, curling around her ears, a soft voice she couldn't understand. The chill that had crept over her earlier intensified, and she quickly pulled the bucket out of the water, her pulse quickening. She turned to leave, but then she caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye—a shadow in the trees. But when she looked again, it was gone.

Her heart pounded in her chest, the eerie feeling creeping up her back. She couldn't shake the sense that something was watching her, waiting. She hurried toward the village, her thoughts swirling with unease as the whispering lingered in her mind.

..
..

Back at the village, the night had fallen, and the sky above was a blanket of stars. Tsu'tey sat alone near the edge of the campfire, his gaze distant as he stared into the flames. His mind was heavy with thoughts of Sophia, and the weight of the kiss that still haunted him. He hadn't meant for it to happen, but now, with everything hanging between them, he wasn't sure how to move forward. The tension was unbearable, but neither of them seemed ready to address it.

Across the fire, Mo'at watched him with a knowing expression. She could sense his turmoil, the way he avoided looking anyone in the eye. The air around him was thick with something unspoken. She waited patiently, knowing he would speak when he was ready.

Tsu'tey finally sighed, his shoulders slumping as he ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know what to do anymore," he muttered, almost to himself. "I've been trying to ignore it, but I can't."

Mo'at's sharp eyes softened. She tilted her head, her voice gentle yet firm. "Tsu'tey, you cannot hide from your emotions. They will only grow stronger. You must speak to her, before it is too late."

He shook his head, the frustration evident in the way his fists clenched at his sides. "I don't know how. What if she doesn't feel the same?"

Mo'at's gaze never wavered, and she spoke with the quiet wisdom that came with age and experience. "You will never know unless you try. But you must speak, Tsu'tey. The longer you wait, the harder it will become."

He glanced toward Sophia, who was sitting near the fire with the others, her face partially illuminated by the flickering light. The way she avoided his gaze only added to the weight he felt pressing on his chest. He knew Mo'at was right, but the fear of rejection, of making things worse, kept him frozen.

..
..

Later that night, Sophia walked into the mess hall, her thoughts restless. The strange sensations from earlier in the day hadn't left her, and the whispers she'd heard by the river still echoed in her mind. The eerie presence, the sensation of being watched, had grown stronger and she knew this had nothing to do with her distant family. This was something calling from her soul. She didn't understand it, but it felt wrong—like something was lingering, just out of sight, waiting.

Her hand rested on the dog-tags around her neck, a comforting gesture that didn't ease the unease growing inside her. It was like every noise in the room was magnified. every chew. Every clinking on utensils in bowls, or cups hitting the table. Sophia jumps as a cup's accidentally smacked off the table, the plastic hitting the floor was like a gun shot in her head.

"Sophia?" a voice says to her left, but its distant and distorted.

Jake and norm walk to the table and the small squeak of Jake's wheelchair breaks is another shot. Her hand tightens around her fork, her other hand lifting to her ear as a loud ringing echoes.

"Sophia!"

A hand grabs hers, snapping her back to reality and her head aches from the whip-lash. She gasps and blinks, looking at the table of concerned faces.

"What?" She asks, swallowed roughly.

"I asked if your okay?" Grace asks again, her face a mix of concerned annoyance.

"Yeah, you've been off all day." Norm adds "Honestly your starting to scare me."

"I… I think I'm just a little over stimulated." she says, trying to force another mouthful of food.

And then, as though in answer to her thoughts, the faintest whisper brushed against her ear once again.

"Over stimulated?" grace says, putting a hand to Sophia's forehead.

"Yeah. I uh," Sophia stands from the table, "… I'm gonna go lay down."

Grace watches her leave, concern now winning the battle and they all watch Sophia open the door, shaking her hands around her head like there's a mosquito in her ear.

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