Kaelen's chest heaved as he perched on a thick tree branch, finally allowing himself a moment to rest. His arms ached from swinging through the forest, and his muscles were tense from the exertion. With a heavy breath, he unmaterialized the chained blades that were connected to his palms, causing the metal to dissipate into dark wisps of energy. He glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers. Nothing seemed to change—no marks, no scars—just the black dot on his palm staring back at him, as if the weapons had never been there at all.
He scanned the skies once more—there was no sign of the beast. Kali had settled on a nearby branch, preening her feathers after their harrowing escape.
The forest itself remained to its usual silent, the oppressive atmosphere was punctuated only by the writhing mass of roots below, still covering the forest floor like a living carpet. Kaelen sighed, realizing that descending was not an option.
