The healer's hut was a small, cluttered space, filled with the scent of herbs and the flickering light of oil lamps. Ye Shengtao watched as the elderly healer worked on Fergio, her hands steady and practiced despite her age. She murmured softly to herself as she applied various ointments and bandages, her touch gentle but firm.
Fergio lay back on the cot, his face pale but his breathing steadier now. Ye Shengtao's mind, however, was far from settled. The creature they had encountered in the forest haunted his thoughts, its grotesque form and malicious eyes imprinted in his memory.
Finally, the healer straightened up, wiping her hands on a cloth. "There, he should be fine now. Just needs rest," she said, her voice warm but commanding. "You two look like you've been through a lot."
Ye Shengtao nodded, his eyes flicking to Fergio. "Thank you," he said quietly. "We... we saw something in the forest. Something that attacked us."
The healer's eyes narrowed slightly, her expression curious. "Something? What kind of something?"
Ye Shengtao hesitated, unsure how to describe the creature. "It was tall, thin, with long limbs and beady eyes. It smelled like death, like rotting flesh and blood. It almost killed Fergio."
The healer's brow furrowed in confusion. "A creature like that? In our forest?"
"Yes," Ye Shengtao insisted. "It was real. It was right there, watching us, hunting us."
The healer shook her head slowly. "I've lived here all my life, and I've never heard of such a creature in these woods. The forest can be dangerous, yes, but not because of monsters like the one you describe."
Fergio, who had been silent until now, looked up, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and disbelief. "But we saw it. It was real. It grabbed me, nearly choked the life out of me."
The healer placed a hand on Fergio's shoulder, her expression sympathetic but firm. "Sometimes the mind can play tricks on us, especially in the dark, when we're tired and afraid. You might have seen something else, something explainable."
Ye Shengtao felt a surge of frustration. "This wasn't a trick of the mind. This was real. We both saw it, felt it."
The healer sighed, looking between the two men. "I understand that you believe what you saw, but there's no record or rumor of such a creature around here. Perhaps it was a wild animal, distorted by the darkness and your fear."
Ye Shengtao opened his mouth to argue, but the healer held up a hand. "Rest now. We can discuss this more in the morning, when you've had some sleep. Exhaustion can make everything seem worse than it is."
Reluctantly, Ye Shengtao nodded. There was no point in arguing further tonight. He helped Fergio settle into the cot, then found a corner of the room where he could sit and try to rest. Despite his exhaustion, sleep was elusive, his mind replaying the night's events over and over.
The next morning, Ye Shengtao woke to the sound of voices outside the hut. He blinked blearily, his body aching from the previous night's ordeal. Fergio was still asleep, his face looking more peaceful than it had the night before.
Ye Shengtao stood and stretched, then stepped outside. The village was coming to life, the early morning light casting long shadows over the small houses and narrow streets. A group of villagers had gathered near the edge of the forest, their voices low and serious.
Ye Shengtao approached, catching snippets of their conversation. They were discussing the creature, or rather, the lack thereof. One of the villagers, a stout man with a bushy beard, was shaking his head vigorously.
"I tell you, there's no such thing in these woods. We've hunted and foraged here for generations. If there was a monster, we'd know about it."
Another villager, a woman with sharp eyes and a scar on her cheek, nodded in agreement. "We've seen wolves, bears, even the occasional wildcat, but nothing like what those two are describing."
Ye Shengtao felt a pang of frustration and doubt. Had they really imagined it? Had the fear and darkness twisted their perceptions that much? He needed answers.
He approached the group, clearing his throat to get their attention. "Excuse me," he said, his voice steady despite his uncertainty. "I'm Ye Shengtao. My friend Fergio and I were the ones who saw the creature last night."
The villagers turned to him, their expressions a mix of curiosity and skepticism. The bearded man crossed his arms over his chest. "You say you saw a monster, eh? Tell us about it."
Ye Shengtao took a deep breath, recounting the events of the previous night. He described the creature in detail, from its grotesque form to the putrid smell that had surrounded it. As he spoke, he could see the villagers exchanging glances, their skepticism deepening.
When he finished, the bearded man shook his head again. "I'm sorry, but I've lived here all my life, and I've never heard of such a thing. Our forest has its dangers, but not like this."
The woman with the scar spoke up. "Perhaps you saw something else, something explainable. Fear can do strange things to the mind."
Ye Shengtao clenched his fists, struggling to keep his frustration in check. "We both saw it. We both felt it. This wasn't just fear."
Before the conversation could continue, a new voice interrupted. "What's all this commotion about?"
Ye Shengtao turned to see an elderly man approaching, his back slightly hunched but his eyes sharp and inquisitive. He wore simple, well-worn clothes, and there was an air of quiet authority about him.
"This is Elder Qin," the bearded man explained. "He's the village elder. If anyone knows about strange happenings in these woods, it's him."
Elder Qin nodded in acknowledgment. "I've heard about your encounter," he said, his voice calm and measured. "I'd like to hear your story."
Ye Shengtao recounted the events once more, watching Elder Qin's expression carefully. The old man listened intently, his brow furrowing as Ye Shengtao described the creature in detail.
When Ye Shengtao finished, Elder Qin was silent for a long moment, his gaze distant. Finally, he spoke. "There are old stories, from long before my time, about creatures that lurk in the deep woods. Most dismiss them as myths, tales to scare children. But sometimes, there's a grain of truth in such stories."
The villagers exchanged uneasy glances. The bearded man's skepticism seemed to waver. "You mean there could be something out there?"
Elder Qin nodded slowly. "It's possible. There are many things in this world that we don't fully understand. But whether this creature is real or not, it's clear that something frightened these men deeply."
Ye Shengtao felt a small surge of relief. At least someone was taking them seriously. "So, what do we do?"
Elder Qin stroked his chin thoughtfully. "We need to be cautious. If there's something dangerous in the woods, we should take steps to protect ourselves. But we also need more information. I suggest we organize a search party, explore the area where you encountered this creature."
The villagers murmured in agreement. The bearded man nodded. "I'll gather some of the hunters. We'll go with you."
Ye Shengtao felt a mixture of relief and apprehension. Returning to the forest was the last thing he wanted to do, but they needed answers. And if there was a chance to find out what the creature was, he had to take it.
As the villagers began to organize the search party, Ye Shengtao returned to the healer's hut to check on Fergio. The knight was awake, looking slightly better but still shaken.
"We're going back into the forest," Ye Shengtao told him. "The villagers are organizing a search party. We need to find out what that creature was."
Fergio nodded, his expression resolute despite his lingering fear. "I'll come with you."
Ye Shengtao hesitated. "Are you sure? You need rest."
Fergio shook his head. "I'm not letting you face that thing alone. Besides, I need to know the truth too."
Together, they prepared to re-enter the forest, determined to uncover the mystery that had nearly cost them their lives. The creature was out there, lurking in the shadows, and they were going to find it.