23. She’s a day and a half from home

When she realizes she’s only a day and a half away, Malene could jump for joy. She’s exhausted, drained, and missing a finger, but she’s only a day and a half from her final destination. When she gets home, maybe the healers can regrow the digit. They’ve done miracles before, perhaps she'll be lucky enough to receive one.

She looks around, trying to decide whether she rests or presses on. She knows she’s deeply injured and needs the trance, but the last place she wants to be is this horrible forest.