Aiden let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
He stepped forward slowly, every movement sending sharp reminders of the wounds scattered across his body. Blood had dried stiff against his torn clothes. Some cuts had closed slightly, but others were still fresh. He couldn't afford to waste strength.
With a flick of his fingers, he summoned another basic-grade undead.
"Gather wood," Aiden muttered.
The skeleton obeyed instantly, disappearing into the trees. Aiden knelt beside the deer, wincing as his knees hit the forest floor. He pressed a hand against the animal's side. Still warm.
Good.
The undead returned quickly, arms filled with dry branches and fallen twigs. It piled them together under Aiden's silent instructions. He arranged the wood carefully, building a small fire pit between a few stones.
He struck a spark.
