The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long, foreboding shadows through the trees as Elara and her companions continued their trek. The forest, which had already felt ominous, now seemed to close in around them, the darkness growing thicker with every step. There was no moon to light their way, and the stars were obscured by a blanket of clouds. It felt as if they were walking into the very heart of the night itself.
Elara led the way, her senses honed, every fiber of her being alert to the slightest sound or movement. The encounter with the wraith in the ravine had left them all on edge. The air was charged with tension, each of them acutely aware that they were being watched, hunted by forces they could not see but could feel with every breath.
