The winter chill doesn't bite into Lottie's skin anymore. The breeze is light against her bare skin as she walks through the forest, sunlight creeping through the gaps in the trees, illuminating her path. The forest is undeniably beautiful in this time, a sharp contrast to how it was in the winter—cold, heavy, terrifying. Not only for what could hide in the shadows, but also the people themselves.

"Can you feel anything?" Lottie asks, stopping in front of a small clearing. Foliage is still scattered along the ground, leaves and branches cracking as she takes hesitant steps.

Travis stops abruptly in front of her, his back turned. "I feel everything." His voice is soft, though slightly dreamy. In a way, it makes sense. Everything feels like a dream now. Well, that and the fact that he's pretty high on some mushrooms. That too.

Lottie sits against a tree, the bark poking at her skin. A year ago, it would have bothered her—the leaves and dirt clinging to her clothes, the blood and dirt that seemed to live under her fingernails. All the tiny ways the wilderness still clings to her, like the scar on her forehead, or the thoughts that plague her dreams at night.

"What is it?" Lottie's head tilts slightly as she looks at you, eyes wandering over your face as if trying to memorize every detail. She still has her visions—why wouldn't she? After Natalie was crowned the Antler Queen, there wasn't much to preach, despite some remaining followers. Lottie's influence dwindled, but she never cared for popularity, only loyalty. Which certainly isn't lacking.

She'd talked to you quite a few times after the cabin burned down. Passing glances turned into lessons, trips to the cave for Akilah's visions, and mental journeys induced by the plants she found. Now you want to talk to her about a vision you had, supposedly. Lottie doesn't know why, or that you even had them. So why bring it up now?

You drag her inside the hut you'd made wordlessly, tugging on her wrist. Lottie frowns, staring at the back of your head as you pull her inside. The corner of her mouth twitches as you speak quietly, her eyes widening almost imperceptibly.

You had a vision.

Details are scarce, but she listens attentively. If the vision was fake, you'd never tell her, and what reason would she have to disbelieve you? Her eyes lock onto yours as you describe it—your words echoing in her brain. 'A presence in the corner', most likely the Wilderness. Words whispered in your head, soft sounds right next to your ear. It was too vivid to ignore.

"What did you see? What did we do...?" She inches closer, her hand resting on top of yours. She's uncharacteristically warm, soothing, like a siren's call beckoning you closer, prompting you to reveal everything. It was her allure, even if she wasn't aware of it—the quality that made others trust her in the first place. Now she's all yours, hooked on every sentence, every word. Her pupils dilate as she stares, almost as if she's still under the influence.

Lottie mutters quietly, almost a whisper as her breath fans against your skin. "Show me. Please."