The faint sound of rustling leaves followed James and his group as they made their way back toward the town of Fieldview. The eerie silence that had settled over the town after their battle with the corrupted forest spirit lingered like a thick fog, making even the smallest sounds feel like thunderclaps in the night.
They arrived at the Crooked Stag Inn, weary from the fight but knowing they couldn't rest for long. The innkeeper, a tall, broad-shouldered woman in her late forties, stood waiting for them at the entrance. Her expression was one of grim determination, her arms crossed over her chest as she watched them approach.
