As the group pressed forward into the thickening forest, the atmosphere around them grew heavier with each step. The clash with the mysterious attackers still weighed heavily on their minds, and the silence that followed was unsettling. Their breaths were labored, and even though they had won the battle, the sense of victory was fleeting. The memory of the leader's dark laugh and the eerie disappearance echoed in Luke's mind like a distant thundercloud looming on the horizon.
Raven, her side still bandaged from Ava's quick patch-up, limped slightly as she struggled to keep up with the group. Her face was pale, the loss of blood clearly taking a toll on her. Ava walked beside her, keeping a watchful eye on her friend. Darius had taken the lead, his eyes sharp as he scanned the area for any signs of further ambush.