The forest floor crunched under Ethan's feet as he stumbled upon a scene that chilled him to the bone. A pale figure, unmistakably Darius, crouched beside a fallen wild pig, its lifeblood staining the leaves crimson. Disgust warred with the urgency in Ethan's voice. "Celeste needs you, right now. She's… hungry."
Darius froze mid-feed, his crimson-stained mouth twisting in annoyance. He mumbled a hurried apology to the lifeless pig before wiping his face with the back of his hand. Then, with a blur of motion that left Ethan breathless, Darius was gone.
Ethan watched in awe as Darius reappeared inside Gabriel's cottage moments later. Moments later, he emerged again, carrying an unconscious Celeste in his arms. Without a word to the stunned figures in the living room, he vanished back into the forest, leaving Ethan speechless.
