A Court of Lost Stars

"It's her. I know it's her." Feyre said, climbing the incline toward their camping spot. Though the boys' memory had been hazy, Feyre knew. She felt in her soul that the girl he'd stumbled upon was Nova.

Rhys took her by the elbow and pulled her back, his expression almost unreadable. "I'm not saying she isn't," he murmured, "but we must remember that this happened nearly five years ago. There is always a chance she's moved on from the area."

"That could be why we haven't sensed her nearby," Azriel added gently.

Mor chimed in. "The important thing is she was alive those five years ago and apparently kicking ass."

Everyone glanced at her as she continued, "She's been able to protect herself, which is just as important as her surviving the fire."

Az spoke again with a hopeful smile. "We'll be able to track her." 

Momentary relief seemed to collectively fill them all, like seeing a light at the end of a dark tunnel. All that time spent locked in the dark under Hybern had taken a toll, but this…this one shred of hope was enough to let Feyre feel that iridescent glow in her skin again. Rhys grazed his lips lightly along her temple, smiling as she squeezed his hand.

By the time they arrived at the campsite, the hunger had returned. The muffin hadn't been nearly enough to fill them, and they'd eaten everything from the packs they'd brought from Velaris- which had been a slim choice to begin with. Most kitchen items had been so long rotten that they were practically fossilized.

"There's a river just that way," Cassian nodded through the forest, "probably the same one Zaylor talked about. There's bound to be fish."

"I'll come with." Feyre offered quickly with a nod, hoping for the off chance they might find a sign of Nova having been nearby recently.

"I can set some traps," Azriel added, already set out with his pack.

Rhys glanced at Feyre and nodded. "I'll go with Az; we'll look for signs of her while we're out there, too," he turned to Mor, "Mor, if you want to get the fire going and see if you notice anything nearby, this might even be near the spot that Zaylor was staying that night."

All in agreement, everyone set off in different directions, and soon Feyre sat on a flat stone just by the water's edge, watching her line in the water. Both her eyes and Cassians wandered the bank, searching for tracks or signs someone had been there before them, but aside from a few deer hooves and snake belly trails, it proved fruitless.

"Maybe the others found something." Cassian offered with a small smile.

Feyre nodded as she pulled her legs to her chest and rested her chin on her knees. "And maybe she left a long time ago," she sighed, "I've been thinking…" She caught his eye, and he nodded for her to continue.

"About?"

"Maybe it would be best if you three go back to Velaris. Rhys and I can keep searching and-"

Cas frowned, interrupting her. "Hey, we want to find her too; the more eyes searching, the better our odds."

"I know," Feyre pursed her lips, "but you haven't seen Nesta in so long…"

"Nesta would kick my ass and yours if she knew you were suggesting lowering the search party for her niece. You didn't see her face when I told her you lost her." Cassian swallowed. "Don't tell her I said that either."

Feyre knew her sister had very few soft spots, and it seemed Cassian just revealed one. She didn't bring it up again as they pulled in the fish.

By the time they approached the campsite with their haul of seven trout, the sky was already bruised pink and purple, and the others were gathered around the fire. They'd taken more time catching their fish than Feyre had realized. Hearty rabbit stew was already simmering in the pot. 

"Smells amazing." Cas breathed in as he handed the fish off to Azriel, who already had his blade to cut and clean their catch. They'd all eat their fill tonight.

Plopping onto her sleeping bag, Feyre sighed and snuggled against Rhys' side, breathing in the scent of citrus. She looked up at him.

"Anything?"

Rhys shook his head. "You?"

Feyre imitated his response and frowned. "How long should we look in this area before moving on?"

What direction would they even go?

"We could split up if need be," Rhys offered, "check in with different towns and see if anyone has seen anything. Maybe they have stories about a girl in the woods too."

Nodding, Feyre wiggled her toes inside her boots. She felt the unmistakable squish of river water between her toes and cringed. While keeping half her body against Rhys, his arm wrapped around her waist, she pulled her bag toward her and dug inside. Frowning, she peered inside and searched for the wool socks she'd packed.

"Something wrong?" Mor asked, all eyes turning to Feyre.

"My socks are gone…" She said, glancing between them. "I remember putting them in here, specifically because…" She stopped immediately, cheeks reddening as she met Rhys' knowing gaze. "I know I put them in here, and they're gone."

"Like my shoelaces!" Cassian chimed in.

"Nobody would have taken your shoelaces." Mor groaned.

Cassian glared at her. "Well, I wouldn't have taken them myself."

"Is anyone else missing anything?" Rhys asked.

Each exchanged a look before they all meticulously searched their packs. 

Azriel glanced up from his opened bag. "My water container is gone."

"Mine too…" Mor frowned.

"Same." Rhys and Cassian said at the same time.

Feyre looked through her bag and nodded as hers was missing too, "Okay, so we're either all very forgetful, or we have a thief on our hands."

"Hm," Azriel murmured thoughtfully, "a thief that's watched us since we arrived."

Glancing up, Feyre found Az staring at something to his right. She followed his gaze, as did the others, and deep in the shadows of inside a tree trunk loomed a pale face and watchful, violet eyes. 

Her features gradually reverted to the inner darkness of the trunk as if she were made of smoke and shadow.