The air was thick with tension, a palpable energy that crackled around us as the creature advanced from the darkened treeline.
It was unlike anything I had ever encountered a mass of sinewy muscle, its coat an abyss of shadow that seemed to ripple and writhe as if alive.
The deep-set eyes glinted with ferocity, and the growl that escaped its throat sent shivers down my spine.
"Seraphina," I hissed, fighting to keep my voice steady. "We can't use our magic here, remember? We need to rely on our training."
"I know," she replied, her thick brows furrowing in determination. "But this thing doesn't look like anything we've ever trained against. I don't think it's just going to let us walk away."
