Ren trudged onward, his every step muffled by the forest floor. His senses strained, catching every snap of a twig and rustle of leaves. The dark woods pressed in closer now, their ancient trees towering like silent sentinels. Though the creature's cry had faded into the distance, the oppressive atmosphere kept his nerves taut. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, and it wasn't just the creature he'd seen earlier. This forest felt alive, its very air humming with an unspoken menace.
He needed shelter—somewhere defensible, where he could last until dawn. Ren scanned his surroundings, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. The forest offered little comfort: twisted roots rose from the earth like gnarled claws, and the sparse moonlight filtered through the canopy in faint, patchy beams. After what felt like an eternity of creeping forward, he spotted a cluster of rocks rising out of the undergrowth. Between them, a narrow crevice offered a potential hiding spot.
Ren approached cautiously, testing the ground with his stick before each step. The rocks formed a shallow hollow, just wide enough for him to crawl into. It wasn't much, but it was better than sleeping exposed. He crouched down, brushing away leaves and debris, and slid inside. The space was tight, forcing him to curl up with his back against the cool stone. He adjusted his stick so it rested within easy reach.
The forest's sounds continued around him, a cacophony of chirps, hoots, and rustling. He tried to focus on his breathing, to slow his racing heart. Yet the image of the monstrous creature lingered in his mind—its hunched frame, the way its eyes had glimmered with intelligence. What was it? And why did this world feel so hostile, so alien? The elder's cryptic warnings hadn't prepared him for this.
Ren fumbled with his flask, taking a sip of water to soothe his parched throat. He gnawed on a strip of dried meat, chewing slowly to make it last. Hunger gnawed at him, but he resisted the urge to finish all his provisions. He didn't know how long it would be before he reached Arendale, or if he'd find help when he got there. For now, he had to conserve what little he had.
The hours dragged on. Despite his exhaustion, sleep eluded him. Every creak of a branch, every rustle in the undergrowth set his pulse racing. His thoughts drifted to the elder, to the village he'd left behind. They'd given him little—just enough to survive a few days, if he was careful. He couldn't blame them. They'd been wary of him, a stranger with strange questions about a city most had only heard of in passing. Yet he had no choice but to press on. Somewhere in Arendale lay the answers he sought.
A sudden noise jolted him from his thoughts—a low, guttural growl, too close for comfort. Ren froze, his hand instinctively tightening around the stick. He peered out from the crevice, his breath catching. The shadows seemed to shift, and for a moment, he thought he saw movement. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the stick harder, his mind racing through possibilities. Could it be the creature again? Or something worse?
The growl came again, followed by a faint rustling. Ren held his breath, straining to see through the gloom. A pair of eyes glinted in the darkness, reflecting the faint moonlight. They were lower to the ground than the creature he'd seen earlier, but the shape was indistinct. It crept closer, sniffing the air. Ren bit back a curse—whatever it was, it had caught his scent.
The animal—a large, wolf-like beast with bristling fur—emerged into the faint light. Its lips curled back in a snarl, revealing sharp teeth. Ren's mind raced. He couldn't outrun it, not in the dense forest. Fighting was a last resort. Maybe he could scare it off.
Gripping his stick tightly, he stepped out of the crevice and shouted, his voice echoing through the trees. "Back! Get back!"
The wolf flinched, its ears flattening. But it didn't retreat. Instead, it growled louder, advancing a step. Ren's pulse thundered in his ears. He swung the stick in an arc, hoping the movement would intimidate it. The wolf hesitated, its glowing eyes narrowing.
Before Ren could act further, a high-pitched whistle pierced the air. The wolf froze, then turned its head sharply toward the sound. A moment later, it darted off into the underbrush, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.
Ren stared after it, his chest heaving. Relief flooded through him, but it was short-lived. Who—or what—had made that whistle? His grip on the stick tightened as he scanned the forest.
"Not bad," a voice called out, low and gravelly. Ren whirled, his stick raised defensively. A figure stepped into view, emerging from the shadows. It was a man, though his appearance was anything but ordinary. He was tall and lean, clad in patchwork armor that looked cobbled together from scavenged pieces. A shortbow was slung across his back, and a curved knife glinted at his hip. His face was obscured by a hood and a scarf pulled up to his nose, but his eyes gleamed with sharp cunning.
Ren held his ground. "Who are you?"
The stranger raised his hands, palms out. "Easy there, friend. I just saved your life."
Ren didn't lower his stick. "Why?"
The man shrugged. "Seemed like the thing to do. You're lucky I came along. That wolf was sizing you up for dinner."
"And the creature before that? Did you see it?" Ren demanded, his voice tight.
The man tilted his head. "Big, ugly thing with claws? Yeah, I've seen it. You're lucky it didn't find you first." He paused, studying Ren. "What's someone like you doing out here alone? You don't exactly look like a hunter."
Ren hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I'm traveling to Arendale."
The stranger let out a low whistle. "Long way from here. Dangerous, too. Especially for someone with nothing but a stick." He gestured to the makeshift weapon. "You'll need better than that if you want to survive."
Ren frowned. "You're headed there too?"
The man chuckled. "Not exactly. But I know the way." He glanced around, his expression growing serious. "Listen, we can talk more, but not here. The forest isn't safe at night, and you're making enough noise to wake the dead. Follow me if you want to live."
Ren hesitated. He didn't trust this stranger, but he had little choice. The man was armed, and he clearly knew the forest better than Ren did. If he wanted to harm him, he'd already had the chance. Finally, Ren gave a small nod. "Lead the way."
The stranger grinned. "Good choice. Name's Kael, by the way."
Ren didn't respond. He simply followed Kael into the shadows, his stick still clutched tightly in his hand. The night was far from over, and he had a feeling his challenges were just beginning.