The valley breathed-a low, shuddering thrum-thrum-its silver grass quivering as if it knew what lay buried beneath. Ella stood at the ridge's edge, her scarred hands gripping the hilt of her blade, hazel eyes scanning the horizon where the ash swirled like a living shroud-rustle-rustle-its shimmer hiding secrets too dangerous to unearth. The crew flanked her, their silhouettes etched against the dawn's pale glow: Riley's warmth a steady pulse, Sophia and Tara's hunter glares locked on the haze, Daniel's calm a quiet anchor, Max's lenses glinting with a restless spark, and Vera's frail form unyielding as steel, her bloodshot eyes fixed on the lake below-a mirror of silver and shadow, churning with a menace that quickened their shared scars-glow-glow-a radiant map of their past flaring to life."We're together... that's enough," Ella whispered, her voice a fierce vow, Jessa's phantom shimmering at her side-"They're yours, Ella-keep 'em close!"-the crew's bond a lifeline woven through their silvered threads, stronger than the ash that sought to break them. But the valley's pulse quickened-THRUM-THRUM-a jagged sliver of silver glinting in the ash below, its faint hum whispering promises of power and ruin, a shard that could either save them... or end them. And as Max's fingers twitched, his gaze darting to the shard with a hunger Ella couldn't yet see, the wind howled a warning-whistle-scream-the ashes stirring with a shadow that knew their names, ready to test the unity they'd fought so hard to reclaim