"What is it?" Ash whispered, eyes darting around for signs of danger.
"Something's watching us," Rowan replied, his voice tense. "In the bushes... big... definitely not just an animal."
Before they could react further, the creature made a sudden move, dashing away into the forest with incredible speed, disappearing into the rain-soaked night.
Ash and Rowan stood frozen for a moment, hearts pounding in their chests.
"That thing was fast," Ash breathed, lowering his sword slightly. "Too fast to be anything normal."
Rowan nodded grimly. "Whatever it was, it didn't want to attack us. Not yet, anyway."
The two male exchanged a silent understanding—they needed to stay vigilant. With a final glance into the dark forest, they returned to their post by the cave's entrance, determined to keep watch through the storm. The wind continued to howl, and the rain showed no signs of letting up.
