The Whispers of Millhaven
Morning came too early, as it always did.
Luis woke to find Deera's side of the bed empty, which wasn't unusual. Pregnancy had given her insomnia—she'd wake at odd hours, unable to get comfortable, and wander the cottage or sit in their small garden.
What was unusual was the sound of retching coming from outside.
He was out of bed in seconds, pulling on his trousers as he stumbled toward the back door. Dawn light filtered through the trees, painting everything in shades of gold and amber.
Deera knelt in the garden, one hand braced against the fence, the other clutching her stomach. Her dark hair fell around her face like a curtain.
"Hey, hey," Luis said softly, kneeling beside her. He gathered her hair back, holding it away from her face. "I've got you."
She dry-heaved once more, then slumped against him, breathing hard.
"This is horrible," she gasped. "How do people do this? How did your mother do this?"
"Ma always said I was worth it." Luis rubbed circles on her back. "And she was lying to make me feel better."
That startled a weak laugh out of her. "At least you're honest about it."
They sat there in the dewy grass until her breathing steadied. The sun climbed higher, birds beginning their morning chorus. It should have been peaceful.
*"Her energy levels are fluctuating,"* the System observed. *"Up and down like a wave. Is that normal for pregnancy?"*
"I don't know," Luis murmured.
"Don't know what?" Deera asked.
"Nothing. Just talking to the voice."
She pulled back to look at him, concerned. "It's still there? The System thing?"
"Yeah. It's… persistent."
*"I prefer 'dedicated,'"* the System huffed.
Deera studied his face, then sighed. "We should probably figure out what it is. What it wants."
"It says it doesn't know what it wants. Just woke up yesterday, apparently."
"Things don't just wake up, Luis." She struggled to her feet, and he helped her up. "Everything has a reason. A purpose. Even if it doesn't know it yet."
There was something in her tone—a weight, like she was speaking from experience. Before Luis could ask, a voice called from the front of the cottage.
"Luis! You home?"
Marco. Luis exchanged a glance with Deera, who waved him on.
"Go. I need to wash up anyway." She touched his cheek, a gesture of affection that still made his heart skip. "I'll be fine."
Luis found Marco at the front gate, along with two other men Luis recognized from the village—Thomas the blacksmith and old Henrik who ran the general store.
"Morning," Luis said, instantly wary. Three men showing up at dawn wasn't a social call. "What's going on?"
Thomas shifted uncomfortably. He was a bear of a man, all muscle and soot-stained hands, but right now he looked nervous.
"We need to talk," Marco said. "About the forest."
"What about it?"
Henrik cleared his throat. "Something's been watching the woodcutters. Past three days, every crew reports the same thing—feeling like they're being observed. Yesterday, young Peter swears he saw something moving between the trees. Something big."
*"Ooh, a quest!"* the System perked up. *"This is exciting!"*
"Did Peter say what it looked like?" Luis asked, ignoring the voice.
"He ran before getting a good look," Thomas admitted. "But he's a steady lad. Not prone to flights of fancy."
"We're organizing a group to investigate," Marco continued. "Make sure it's not bandits or worse. Thought you might want to join us."
Luis hesitated. The forest was his livelihood, yes, but he also had Deera to think about. And whatever was happening with the System…
"When?"
"This afternoon. We'll have about eight men, all armed. Henrik's lending out weapons from his stock."
"I'm a woodcutter, not a fighter."
"Your axe works just as well on flesh as it does on wood," Thomas said grimly. "Though hopefully it won't come to that. Probably just a bear or wolves that've wandered too close."
**[Quest Available: Investigate the Forest Watchers]**
**[Reward: Unknown]**
**[Danger Level: Moderate]**
**[Accept?]**
Luis blinked at the floating text only he could see. The System was really leaning into this "game logic" thing.
"I'll think about it," he told the men.
"Don't think too long," Henrik warned. "If something's out there, we need to deal with it before someone gets hurt."
They left, and Luis stood at his gate, staring at the tree line. The forest had always been safe, familiar. Now it felt like it was hiding something.
"You're not actually considering this, are you?"
He turned. Deera stood in the doorway, arms crossed, still pale from her morning sickness but with steel in her eyes.
"Someone needs to check it out."
"Someone who isn't about to become a father." She walked over, taking his hands in hers. "Luis, I appreciate that you want to help, but—"
"But what? I just hide while other men take the risk?"
"Yes!" She squeezed his hands. "That's exactly what you do! You're a woodcutter, not a warrior. You have no training, no—"
She stopped abruptly, something flickering across her face. An emotion Luis couldn't quite read.
"No what?" he prompted gently.
"No reason to put yourself in danger," she finished, but he could tell that wasn't what she'd been about to say.
*"She's hiding something again,"* the System noted. *"Her heart rate spiked. And that energy fluctuation…"*
Luis cupped Deera's face, tilting it up so she had to meet his eyes. "What aren't you telling me?"
For a moment, he thought she might actually answer. Her eyes—definitely amber now, with flecks of something that might have been purple—searched his face like she was looking for something.
"I'm scared," she said finally, which was true but not complete. "I'm scared of losing you. Is that so strange?"
"No," he admitted. "I'm scared of losing you too. Every day."
They held each other in the morning light, the forest looming behind them, secrets piling up between them like cordwood.
Luis made his decision.
"I won't go," he said. "Marco and the others can handle it. You and the baby are more important."
Deera sagged with relief against him. "Thank you."
But as he held her, Luis couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something. Some piece of a puzzle he didn't even know he was solving.
*"For what it's worth,"* the System said quietly, *"I think you made the right choice."*
"First sensible thing you've said since you showed up."
*"Hey! I'm very sensible! I just… don't always know what I'm talking about."*
Despite everything, Luis smiled.