Kael drifted silently through the crimson forest, his presence barely noticeable among the red trees...
Of course the red forest was also covered by a special dome to shield people and hunters from the celestial bodies.
His search today was different—he was seeking flight-type creatures.
Birds, to be precise. They had the freedom to escape, which made them both intriguing and practical.
Of course, he wasn't alone; the rat he had sent to track the boy was still trailing him, a loyal but expendable companion.
After floating aimlessly for nearly an hour, Kael's attention was drawn to an owl perched on a branch.
Instead of approaching it directly, he sent the rat ahead, watching as it scurried toward the bird.
The owl seemed unbothered, and Kael's suspicion grew. This was his chance.
He guided the rat to attack, and the battle that followed was swift and brutal.
The owl's sharp claws tore into the rat's flesh, but the rat retaliated by infecting the bird with the virus it carried.
The air around them was filled with the sound of rustling red leaves, which, propelled by the owl's wings, began to turn into sharp projectiles, stabbing into the rat's skin and causing its green blood to spurt.
"This mouse is quite tough," a voice spoke from nearby. "Shame it has to die... It shouldn't have attacked my tamed animal."
The voice belonged to a young girl, watching the chaos unfold. She frowned, observing the rat's resilience.
"Strange…" she murmured after a few moments. The rat wasn't dead, and a strange disturbance began to form between her and the owl. It wasn't the usual bond; something was wrong. Panic began to set in.
Her owl, a precious gift from her father, had always been an extension of herself. Losing it wasn't an option.
"Come back!" she shouted, commanding the bird to retreat. But the owl didn't respond. Instead, it froze in midair, its body dropping to the ground with a sickening thud.
It twitched, jerking in a manner that seemed unnatural, and then, with a horrifying shift, its head turned backward.
The bird, once graceful and proud, now moved erratically, stumbling and trying to walk forward in a strange, contorted manner. It seemed to have forgotten its instincts to fly and walk properly.
Ruby's heart raced. This was not just an injury—it was something far worse. Something was corrupting the forest, distorting the natural order.
She hadn't seen anything like this before, but she knew enough to trust her instincts. She was losing control over her owl, and her connection with it had shattered entirely. She didn't have time to mourn the loss of her companion; she had to leave.
Turning quickly, Ruby sprinted through the forest, desperate to escape whatever force had taken hold of her beloved creature.
"Hmmm." Kael watched her retreating form with an unreadable expression. "So someone else is here? She's the owl's owner... no wonder it took so long to control."
He lingered for a moment, his eyes narrowing. This girl, this Ruby—she was more than just an observer. Kael's curiosity was piqued.
He had to learn more about her.
...
A week passed, and Kael spent it carefully studying the owl's erratic movements, patiently waiting for it to become more accustomed to his influence.
Half a day later, the owl, though still unsteady, managed to take flight. It moved stealthily, following a group of mundane hunters through the thick forest.
The group of ten hunters trekked through the crimson forest, their footsteps crunching on the fallen leaves beneath them.
The moonlight barely pierced through the thick canopy above, casting eerie shadows that danced with every movement.
"Man, I swear, every time we stop, it feels like something's watching us," Jace grumbled, adjusting his bow as he glanced over his shoulder.
"Maybe you're just hungry," Rian teased, slapping Jace on the back. "Your stomach's growling louder than a rift-born."
"Ha, very funny," Jace shot back, rolling his eyes. "Maybe you'll hear it in the dark when I start chewing on your shoes next."
"That's a good way to get yourself eaten, mate," laughed Aric, the older hunter at the front. "I'd bet a week's rations you'd last about five minutes out here before something else decides you're the main course."
"Yeah, if the wildlife doesn't get us first, it'll be the dark," added Lira with a smirk. "It's like this place has a mind of its own."
The hunters chuckled, the banter lightening their mood as they pressed on through the dense forest. But the humor faded when they noticed something—an owl perched on a nearby tree, its head tilted in a strange way as it observed them.
"That's odd," Rian muttered, squinting at the bird. "It's not every day we see an owl around here, especially one that isn't freaked out by us."
Jace raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, that bird's got guts. I thought they'd be long gone with all the rift-born prowling around."
"Looks like it's been here for a while," Aric said, approaching cautiously. "Must be used to the forest."
"Used to us too, apparently," Lira said with a grin. "That's one brave bird."
"Or just a stupid one," Jace muttered. He reached for an arrow, but Aric stopped him with a hand.
"Don't shoot it. Let's catch it. We can sell it when we get back. Might fetch a decent price," Aric said, his eyes glinting. "Could use the coin for a night at the tavern, eh?"
Lira's eyes lit up at the thought. "Now you're talking. People love exotic animals. Bet we could get a good few gold for this one."
"Maybe more," Rian chimed in, rubbing his chin. "Depends on the buyer. If it's a noble or a rich merchant, we might get a small fortune."
Jace shot a glance at the owl, still perched calmly, almost like it was waiting. "I don't know… it's just an owl. Not like it's some magical creature or anything."
"Don't underestimate it," Aric said, tapping his head. "The city's full of collectors who'll pay top coin for just about anything, especially something rare, like this.
We find the right buyer, and this owl will pay for a nice feast, a warm bed, and maybe even a new set of gear."
The rest of the group nodded in agreement.
"You think someone would really pay that much for it?" Jace asked skeptically.
"Trust me," Aric said, a sly grin spreading across his face. "When we get back, we'll be feasting and laughing about how easy this was."
They spent the rest of the walk discussing their plans for selling the owl, with the mood light and their spirits high, not realizing the strange force at play in the forest.
They joked about their new "prize" and how much it would fetch, their laughter echoing through the trees as they moved deeper into the night.