Chapter 2: Out of the Shadows
Pain radiated through my ankle, sharp and unrelenting, but it wasn't enough to distract me from the towering figure before me. The Harrin beastkin—Nathan, he'd said his name was—stood a few feet away, his posture relaxed yet alert, as though he were ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
I stared at him, unsure whether to feel relief or terror. Beastkin were nothing more than a cautionary tale where I came from. My father had told me stories of their savagery, their unnatural strength. Yet, here was one kneeling in the dirt, his amber eyes steady as they flicked between me and the frozen remains of the creature that had been moments away from killing me.
"Your ankle," he said, his voice even and calm. "Let me see it."
I hesitated, clutching my leg tighter. A part of me wanted to trust him—after all, he had just saved my life—but another part whispered warnings. Beastkin were dangerous. Unpredictable. Yet, as his sharp gaze met mine, I couldn't sense malice. Only quiet patience.
Swallowing my fear, I nodded. "All right."
Nathan moved closer, his movements fluid and deliberate, as though trying not to startle me. He crouched beside me and gently lifted the hem of my tattered cloak. His hands were rough but careful as they brushed against my ankle, sending a jolt of pain up my leg. I winced, biting my lip to stifle a cry.
"It's swollen, but not broken," he said after a moment, his tone matter-of-fact. "You'll be able to walk on it soon, but you need to keep your weight off it for now."
"How do you know that?" I asked, my voice trembling despite myself.
He glanced up at me, one ear twitching slightly. "Experience," he replied simply, as if that answered everything.
I wasn't sure what to make of him. His presence was unsettling, yet there was something oddly reassuring about his calm demeanor. He seemed so at ease here, surrounded by the wild chaos of the forest, as though he were a part of it.
"What were you doing out here?" he asked, his tone still gentle but carrying an undercurrent of curiosity.
I looked away, ashamed. "I was... I was trying to get to the next town," I admitted. "Bandits attacked my caravan. I ran."
Nathan frowned, his sharp features hardening. "The forest isn't safe, especially for someone alone."
"I didn't have a choice," I snapped, though the words came out weaker than I intended. The truth was, I knew he was right. My foolish decision had nearly gotten me killed.
He stood abruptly, his dark silhouette framed against the bright clearing. "You can't stay here," he said, his voice carrying an edge of authority. "That thing wasn't the only danger in these woods."
"Wait!" I called as he turned away. "Where are you going?"
"To find something to help you walk."
I watched as he disappeared into the trees, his movements so silent that it was as if the forest swallowed him whole. I tried to calm my racing heart, but my thoughts churned. Who was he? What was a Harrin doing here, roaming free when his kind were supposed to be enslaved?
Minutes later, he returned, carrying a sturdy branch that had been stripped of smaller twigs and leaves. He handed it to me, and I realized he'd crafted a makeshift crutch.
"Lean on this," he said, helping me to my feet. I winced as pain flared in my ankle, but the crutch took most of the weight.
"Thank you," I murmured, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and unease.
Nathan nodded, his expression unreadable. "There's a path about a mile from here. Follow it east, and you'll reach the edge of the forest by nightfall. From there, the road will lead you to the nearest village."
"You're not coming with me?" I asked, surprised by the pang of fear in my voice.
He shook his head. "No. I have... business here."
"What kind of business?"
His amber eyes softened for a moment, but he didn't answer. Instead, he turned and began walking back toward the heart of the forest, his silhouette vanishing into the shadows once more.
I stood there for a moment, gripping the crutch tightly as I watched him go. The forest seemed to grow darker without him, its sounds sharper and more menacing.
"Wait!" I called again, my voice cracking. He paused, glancing back over his shoulder.
"Why did you save me?"
For a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer. Then, without turning, he said quietly, "Because I could."
And just like that, he was gone.
I adjusted the crutch under my arm and began hobbling toward the path he'd mentioned. Each step sent a jolt of pain through my ankle, but I forced myself to keep moving. I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just met someone—or something—far beyond my understanding.
As the forest thinned and the edge of the woods came into view, I felt a strange pang of loss. Though I barely knew him, the thought of Nathan wandering alone in the cursed forest filled me with an unshakable unease.
For now, though, survival was all I could manage. Whatever secrets Nathan carried, they would have to remain hidden in the shadows—for both our sakes.