The forest was eerily silent as we moved through it, the only sound being the soft crunch of leaves under our boots. The early morning light filtered through the thick canopy above, casting a mosaic of light and shadow on the forest floor. The tranquility of the morning seemed at odds with the tension that had been building since our discovery of the hidden tracks.
"These tracks are fresh," Lyra whispered, her fingers tracing the edges of a footprint half-obscured by fallen leaves. "Whoever made them can't be far ahead."
I nodded, my eyes scanning the surroundings. The tracks led us to an ancient, overgrown path, one that seemed to disappear into the dense underbrush. My heart pounded in my chest, the sense of unease growing stronger with each step we took.
"Stay alert," I murmured to the team, my voice barely louder than a breath. "We don't know what lies ahead."
