Chapter 3 — First Impressions
Kaia
Kaia adjusted the strap of her pack as the group emerged from the sheltering canopy of the trail into a small, sun-dappled clearing. The air hung crisp and cool, carrying the faint tang of pine resin and damp earth. She paused, taking a deep breath and letting her senses settle into the rhythm of the forest—the subtle changes in sound, the way the light filtered differently through the trees, the faintest shift in the wind. Jonah had taught her this attunement when she was barely old enough to lace up her boots. As her fingers brushed the leather bracelet around her wrist, the texture grounded her, a quiet acknowledgment of her father’s ever-present wisdom.
Behind her, the others stumbled into the clearing with varying levels of grace—or lack thereof. Marcus stomped ahead, his designer hiking boots crunching over the soft blanket of pine needles, his steps unnecessarily loud as though he were determined to assert his presence. Lila followed more lightly, her colorful scarf fluttering behind her as she craned her neck to take in the towering trees. Her eyes lit up when she spotted a small cluster of purple wildflowers peeking out from the mossy undergrowth. Kneeling, she pulled a pencil from her pocket and began sketching, her notebook balanced on her knee.
Kaia’s gaze shifted to Reid, who lingered at the rear. His movements were deliberate, cautious, as if each step required calculation. He wasn’t floundering—he was observing. There was an analytical sharpness in his expression, a quiet cataloging of the environment that reminded her of a predator sizing up unfamiliar territory. Still, his polished shoes and slightly rumpled button-up shirt stood out in stark contrast to the wilderness around him. When a gust of wind tousled his neatly combed hair, he brushed at it instinctively, as if trying to restore order to the chaos. A smirk tugged at Kaia’s lips, but she quickly hid it beneath a veneer of practicality.
“Take five,” she instructed, her voice calm but firm. She unclipped her canteen from her belt and took a long swig of water before setting it down beside her pack.
Marcus dropped his gear with theatrical exhaustion, wiping his brow with exaggerated effort. “Man,” he said, his grin wide and self-assured, “if this is the warm-up, I can’t wait to see the real challenge.”
Kaia didn’t bother responding. Instead, she crouched near the edge of the clearing, letting her fingertips skim the ground. The soil was firm but damp, the sunlight dappled across the moss in golden patches. Something about this spot felt faintly familiar, resonant. Her father had always said certain places carried energy—echoes of history etched into the land itself. She wondered if the others felt it, even faintly, or if their focus was too clouded by distractions.
“Need a hand?” Reid’s voice broke her thoughts, low and edged with wry amusement.
She glanced over her shoulder to see him standing a few feet away, awkwardly holding the bent remains of a tent pole. Frustration flickered across his face, but it was softened by an undercurrent of self-deprecating humor, as though he was already resigned to the absurdity of his predicament.
Kaia straightened, brushing dirt off her hands. “What happened?”
Reid exhaled, his tone dry. “Apparently, ‘snap together’ is more of a suggestion than a guarantee.”
Kaia allowed herself the faintest smile as she took the pole from him. Her fingers worked with practiced efficiency, straightening and reassembling the pieces. She could feel his eyes on her, watching intently. “These things are made for quick assembly,” she said, a hint of humor in her voice. “Unless you’re overthinking it.”
“Overthinking is my specialty,” Reid replied, his mouth quirking into a half-smile.
“I noticed.” She handed the repaired pole back to him, her gaze briefly meeting his before she turned back to her pack. There was something in his tone—dry, slightly guarded—that reminded her of her father’s gentle teasing on long hikes. The thought brushed against her unexpectedly, and she pushed it aside.
Nearby, Marcus was entertaining himself by spinning his trekking pole like a baton, nearly whacking himself in the knee with it. Lila continued sketching, tilting her head as she captured the wildflowers’ delicate petals. “I could get used to this,” she remarked aloud, her tone light and reflective. She glanced over at Reid, her grin playful. “Even awkward moments have their charm.”
Reid raised an eyebrow but said nothing, the corners of his mouth twitching just slightly.
Kaia let the moment settle before shouldering her pack again. “Think you can handle the rest of the tent?” she asked Reid.
“I’ll manage,” he replied, his tone carrying a quiet determination.
“Good.” Her gaze shifted to Marcus, who had now taken to tossing pinecones into the air and catching them with the hollow end of his trekking pole. “Because we’re moving again in ten minutes, and I’d rather not have to come back to find you tangled in guy lines.”
Reid’s expression softened into a reluctant grin. “Noted.”
*
The group fell into a looser formation as they returned to the trail, the forest closing in around them with its ever-present symphony of rustling leaves, bird calls, and whispering wind. Kaia led as usual, her pace steady and deliberate. She kept her steps slow enough for the others to follow comfortably, though she could feel Marcus edging closer behind her, his presence loud and insistent.
“You always play it this safe on the trail?” Marcus asked after a while, his voice cutting through the serenity.
Kaia didn’t look back. “I play it smart,” she replied evenly.
“Smart, huh?” Marcus’s tone was teasing, but there was a faint edge of challenge. “Doesn’t seem like there’s much fun in sticking to the beaten path.”
“The beaten path is what gets everyone back in one piece,” Kaia said, her voice calm but firm. “Fun isn’t the same as recklessness.”
Marcus snorted but said nothing. From a few paces back, Lila let out a laugh, her tone cheerful. “Kaia, I think he’s just trying to say he wants to prove himself.”
Kaia glanced over her shoulder, her sharp, steady gaze meeting Marcus’s. “Is that right?”
Marcus shrugged, his grin wide. “Something like that.”
Kaia didn’t respond. Instead, she turned her attention back to the trail, letting the rhythm of her steps quiet the faint irritation that Marcus’s bravado stirred. She could feel Reid’s gaze on her from somewhere near the back of the group, but she didn’t look. Not yet.
The trees began to thin as they approached a small rise, and Kaia motioned for the group to stop. Ahead, the land dipped into a shallow valley where a narrow stream wound its way through the rocks. She crouched near the edge of the slope, studying the terrain as sunlight caught on the water’s surface, turning it to molten gold.
“Careful footing here,” she said, her tone steady. “The rocks are loose, and the stream is shallower than it looks. Take it slow.”
Marcus, predictably, went first. His descent was confident to the point of being exaggerated, his movements almost theatrical. Kaia watched him closely, her expression unreadable. Next was Lila, who moved with surprising grace, her scarf catching on a breeze as she descended.
Reid lingered at the top, his gaze fixed on the uneven terrain. Kaia didn’t need to see the hesitation in his posture—it was written in the way his weight shifted from one foot to the other, his jaw tightening slightly.
“Need a hand?” she asked, her voice light but steady.
He glanced up at her, his expression thoughtful. For a moment, she thought he might wave her off, but then he nodded, his wry smile returning. “That might be wise.”
Kaia extended her hand, her grip firm as she guided him down the slope. His hand was warm, his grip steady despite the slight tremor of unease in his movements. There was a flicker of something—pride, resignation, perhaps even gratitude—in his expression before he released her hand quickly, as though embarrassed.
“Thanks,” he said quietly.
Kaia didn’t reply. She simply nodded and turned back to the trail ahead, her focus already shifting to the next challenge. The wilderness, after all, had a way of testing everyone eventually.
