The forest had quieted, but it was the type of silence that put all their senses on edge. The air hung heavy, as though waiting for something to snap. Julia, Rina, Hima, and Olive moved through the thick underbrush with cautious steps, every muscle tense, eyes scanning the shadowed surroundings. The once-overwhelming presence of the demon had faded, but Julia couldn't shake the dread creeping into her bones.
Something doesn't feel right, Olive thought, her hand gripping the hilt of her knives, her black eyes sharp and calculating. She stayed close to the group, her movements fluid, each step barely audible on the forest floor.
Julia, her fiery red hair slick with sweat, glanced at Rina. "We need to keep moving. Whatever that thing was, it's not gone. I can feel it."
Rina, towering and strong, nodded grimly. She shifted her grip on her massive sword, ready for any sudden attack. "Stay close," she said, her voice low. "We're not out of this yet."
