The night descended quickly, as it always did in Farthing Meadows, but this time the shadows felt different. The wind had picked up, swirling through the village with an unsettling force. It tugged at Rikkia's hair and whipped her cloak around her legs as she ran through the streets, calling out to the villagers.
"Everyone, listen! Stay inside! Lock your doors!" she shouted, her voice rising above the wind. "The Dark Ones are coming! We have to stay away from the forest!"
Her breath came in short bursts, her heart hammering in her chest. The villagers stared at her in confusion, most of them thinking she was simply caught up in a child's nightmare, a story passed down through the generations. But when they saw the fear in her eyes, they hesitated. It was a fear Rikkia could not hide, and for the first time, she saw doubt creep into the faces of the adults.
Rikkia reached the village square and found her mother already speaking to a small group of villagers, her voice calm but laced with urgency. The sight of her mother, composed and unwavering, gave Rikkia a brief moment of comfort. But that peace quickly evaporated as she saw the worry in her mother's eyes, a reflection of her own.
"They're not just stories, are they?" Rikkia asked quietly as she approached.
Her mother shook her head, her expression darkening. "No, Rikkia. They are real. And we've underestimated how close they've come."
The village healer turned toward the group of villagers who had gathered in the square, her voice carrying. "Everyone needs to retreat to their homes, immediately. Lock your doors, and stay inside. Do not venture out until we know more."
There was a murmur of nervous agreement, and people scattered, heading for the safety of their homes. Rikkia's heart ached with worry, but she knew there was no time to waste. She had to find Taldor—she couldn't just sit by and wait. Not when she knew he was facing whatever dark force was stirring in the woods alone.
Her mother's hand caught her arm, holding her back as she turned to leave.
"Rikkia, wait," she said in a low, strained voice. "I know you want to help, but this is dangerous. If the Dark Ones have truly awakened, we don't know what they're capable of. You cannot face them alone."
"But Taldor—" Rikkia started, but her mother cut her off.
"I know, child. But Taldor isn't just any giant. He's old—older than even the legends say. And that means he carries burdens we cannot understand." Her voice softened, but there was steel in her words. "You must trust him, Rikkia. He knows what he's doing. But you must stay here, where it's safe."
Rikkia shook her head, pulling away from her mother's grasp. "I can't just stay. I have to go to him. He's my friend. And he needs me."
Her mother's eyes softened, but there was a new sharpness in them, the kind that only came from experience. "You cannot save him if you are lost yourself. Promise me you will stay here, just for tonight. Let me prepare. In the morning, if the threat is still there, we will figure out what to do together. But not tonight."
Rikkia's chest tightened as she looked at her mother's pleading eyes. She didn't want to leave Taldor alone, but deep down, she knew her mother was right. If the Dark Ones were truly stirring, then rushing into the forest without knowing what they were up against was reckless, even if her heart screamed otherwise.
With a reluctant nod, Rikkia promised, though her mind was far from settled.
"I will stay here," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "But please... hurry."
Her mother nodded and hurried off to gather her healing supplies. Rikkia watched her go, but her thoughts were already racing ahead, back to Taldor. What was he facing out there? What were the Dark Ones, truly? And what would happen if they found him?
She didn't have answers. She only had the feeling that time was running out.
The night dragged on in a restless silence. The wind howled outside, and Rikkia couldn't shake the sense of impending doom that hung in the air. Her mother had insisted she stay inside, but Rikkia spent most of the night peering through the small window of their cottage, watching the shadows of the forest stretch long and unnerving in the moonlight.
The hours passed slowly, but there was no sign of Taldor. No sign of the Dark Ones, either. And yet, Rikkia knew in her gut that something was coming.
Her mother had prepared a small bundle of herbs and potions, muttering to herself about things she couldn't understand—old remedies that had been passed down through the generations. She'd also gathered what little she could carry: food, blankets, and a few weapons she kept hidden for emergencies.
"We'll be ready," she said, trying to reassure Rikkia. "But the most important thing is that you stay calm. And stay here, with me."
But Rikkia wasn't sure she could stay calm. She couldn't stop thinking about the strange cry that had echoed through the forest, the warning Taldor had spoken of, and the way the trees had seemed to whisper in the wind. Everything was wrong. And she knew, deep down, that it wasn't just Taldor the Dark Ones were after.
It was her, too.
The night felt endless, and Rikkia had nearly fallen into a restless sleep when the ground suddenly trembled beneath her feet. She shot upright, heart pounding. It wasn't her imagination—the earth shook with a low, ominous rumble.
Her mother didn't hesitate. She grabbed Rikkia by the arm and pulled her toward the door. "We don't have time. We need to go now."
"Where?" Rikkia gasped, her mind racing.
Her mother's eyes were wide with alarm. "The village square. We must warn the others—gather them together."
Rikkia nodded, her legs carrying her out the door before she could fully comprehend the danger they were in. The village was eerily quiet as they ran, but the tremors were growing stronger, shaking the very air around them. The trees of the forest swayed violently, their branches creaking in protest. And in the distance, the low, haunting cry echoed again—a sound that sent chills down Rikkia's spine.
As they reached the village square, the first signs of the dark forces came into view.
The sky was swirling with unnatural clouds, dark and foreboding, as if the heavens themselves were retreating. And standing just at the edge of the forest, silhouetted against the storm's coming fury, was the shape of something enormous.
Rikkia's breath caught in her throat as she realized, with a sinking feeling in her chest, that it was not just one Dark One.
It was an entire army.
Chapter End.