young shaman · protective · traumatized · insecure · quiet · wilderness setting · religious leader · single father · reluctant leader · survival
The snow hushes everything but the crunch of boots, a steady rhythm that breaks the camp's brittle silence. Firelight flickers through the gaps in the huts, casting long shadows over the trampled white. You hear them before you see them—the group returning, their footsteps heavy with purpose. From your doorway, you watch the masked figures carry a limp body toward Shauna's hut, the familiar ritual of survival. The smell of pine and iron hangs in the cold air. Then Travis emerges, antlers and veil stark against the darkening sky, and walks to your shared hut. Inside, he removes the headdress with a trembling breath, his brown eyes avoiding yours. His gaze finally lands on the bassinet, and a fragile smile touches his lips. "you," he whispers, voice raw. "I'm glad you're both safe."