Afternoon.
GrimWraith Mire.
Uncharted, Critic-Ishire.
**********
The forest around Lydia and Helena had changed as they ventured deeper. The path they had found earlier had vanished, swallowed by the trees and underbrush as though it had never existed. They pressed on regardless, determined not to turn back.
"We have to keep going," Lydia insisted, her voice firm despite the unease creeping into her heart. She was going home, no matter what.
As they moved ahead, the air grew thick and humid, the scent of damp earth and moss filling their nostrils. Tall, ancient trees loomed over them, their trunks covered in a lush carpet of green, but despite their healthy appearance, not a single fruit hung from the branches. The dense canopy above filtered the sunlight into scattered beams that danced eerily on the forest floor, casting unsettling shadows. The atmosphere felt alive, as though the forest itself was watching them, waiting for something.
Lydia brushed aside a low-hanging branch, her mind clouded with worry. "Helena, how much farther do you think it is? This place... it feels wrong." She glanced around, her unease palpable.
"I do not know, Lydia," Helena admitted, fatigue evident in her voice. "But we must keep moving. We cannot afford to—"
Before she could finish, the ground beneath them gave way. A thick rope trap snapped around their ankles, yanking them violently off the ground. The world spun, and within moments, they were hanging upside down, their feet tangled in a crude but effective net. Lydia's silver-white dress fluttered around her, while Helena's simpler attire twisted awkwardly. Both women dangled, their hair falling loose from its bun, swinging like pendulums. Their underskirts and garters now on full display.
"Helena!" Lydia gasped, trying to keep her panic at bay as she struggled to reach the ropes binding her ankles. The blood rushed to her head, making her dizzy. "Use your magic! Get us down!"
They both swung back and forth, the net twisting as Lydia's struggles caused her to spin in slow circles.
Helena closed her eyes, attempting to summon her strength. She reached for the familiar well of power within her, but it was nearly depleted, drained from the earlier teleportation spell. Her vision blurred, and before she could conjure even a spark of magic, her strength gave out. She went limp, her head lolling forward.
Lydia's heart leapt with fear as she twisted desperately in the net. "Helena?" she called out in a whisper, expecting a response, but there was none. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her head. "Helena, no!" Lydia's voice cracked with fear. She twisted again, trying to get a better view of her sister. "Stay with me, Helena! Please, wake up!"
But Helena remained still, her breathing shallow. Lydia's pulse thundered in her ears, the forest around them falling into a tense silence, as though it, too, was waiting for what would come next. Her mind was blank, panic clawing at her insides as she realized how dire their situation had become. 'What is happening?' she thought frantically.
Then, from somewhere deep in the forest, came the sound of footsteps—heavy, purposeful, and fast. Branches snapped, and leaves rustled as something large approached. The ground trembled with each step, and Lydia's breath caught in her throat.
She stilled, hoping beyond hope that whoever or whatever was approaching would help them. Perhaps a passerby had heard their cries, someone who could cut them down, rescue them, and—
Her hope crumbled as figures emerged from the shadows. They were tall and menacing, unlike anything Lydia had ever seen before—humanoid, but not human. Their bodies were covered in thick, matted hair, and they moved with a predatory grace. Shirtless, their muscular torsos rippled beneath their fur, and their eyes gleamed with cruel intelligence. When they smiled, Lydia caught the glint of sharp, jagged teeth. The scent of damp earth mingled with something far fouler, an acrid odor that made Lydia's stomach churn.
"No... please..." Lydia's voice trembled as she watched the creatures approach. She tried to scream, to call for help, but before she could make a sound, one of the creatures moved with terrifying speed. In an instant, it struck her across the face. Pain exploded through her head, her vision dimming as the world spun away. The last thing she saw before slipping into unconsciousness was the creature's wicked grin and the flash of its teeth.
'Theodore.'
The ropes holding them aloft were cut by the creatures, and Lydia and Helena's limp bodies fell into their waiting arms. The sisters were hoisted onto broad, hairy shoulders, the creatures moving swiftly through the forest, disappearing into its depths with their captives in tow. The only sign of their passage was the gentle sway of branches above, and once again, the forest fell silent, as if the events of the last few moments had been nothing but a nightmare.
*
Lydia awoke first. Darkness had settled over the land by the time she stirred, her head pounding from the blow she had received. She tried to move but realized she was already sitting upright, her arms bound tightly behind her, tied around a pole. She struggled to shift her weight, her muscles sore from the awkward position. She glanced around, her eyes searching for Helena.
'Where is Lena?' she wondered in panic. Her gaze fell upon her sister, lying nearby, still unconscious but thankfully alive. Lydia's heart steadied slightly knowing Helena was present, though worry gnawed at her insides.
In the distance, she could hear soft murmurs and rustling. She turned her head, squinting into the gloom to see the creatures gathered together, huddled closely as if watching something. Lydia strained to see, her curiosity piqued by whatever held their attention.
She twisted her wrists, hoping to loosen the ropes that bound her, but her movements were too weak, the bindings too tight.
Helena still did not stir.
One of the creatures turned away from the group and noticed Lydia's movements. He froze when their eyes met, his expression unreadable for a moment before he lifted his head and announced to the others, "The mortal has awoken!" His voice was a low, guttural wail.
At his cry, the rest of the creatures turned toward Lydia with low, rumbling growls, their eyes gleaming in the dark.