The early morning was wrapped in stillness, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird. The air was damp and cool, carrying the scent of moss and bark. This forest had been my home for what felt like a lifetime. Every path, every tree, every shadow was familiar, but I couldn't deny the excitement stirring inside me as Pyre announced, "We're leaving today."
The wolf barked happily, weaving around me as if sensing my thoughts.
"Leaving?" I repeated, still half-asleep and groggy from the morning chill.
"That's what I said," Pyre replied, already packing up his minimal belongings. His crimson hair caught the sunlight filtering through the trees, making him seem almost otherworldly.
I scratched the back of my head, glancing around at the towering trees. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see," he said cryptically, a smirk playing on his lips.
My heart thudded with a mix of apprehension and anticipation. The forest, for all its dangers, had become a sanctuary for me—a world I could understand. What lay beyond its edges was a mystery.
As we walked, the forest began to change. The trees thinned, the canopy letting in more light. Sunlight dappled the ground in golden patterns, and the air smelled fresher, freer. The wolf darted ahead, chasing after the flickering shadows of birds.
The path grew steeper, and the sound of rushing water reached my ears. My legs burned as we climbed, but the promise of something new kept me moving. Pyre didn't slow or look back, his pace steady and purposeful.
"Are we almost there?" I asked, my breath coming in short gasps.
"Not yet," he replied.
"Not yet," I muttered under my breath, earning a chuckle from Pyre.
The incline grew steeper still, forcing me to use my hands to steady myself. The wolf leaped effortlessly from rock to rock, occasionally glancing back as if to mock my clumsiness.
When we finally emerged from the forest, I froze in my tracks.
Stretching out before me was a vast, breathtaking expanse—the **Valley of the Edge**. The cliffs framing the valley were colossal, their jagged surfaces carved with intricate patterns that shimmered faintly in the sunlight. Waterfalls cascaded from their heights, their streams catching the light like liquid silver.
The valley floor was a vibrant tapestry of colors. Fields of golden grass swayed gently in the wind, interspersed with patches of vivid blue flowers and clusters of trees with metallic leaves that glinted like polished bronze.
But it was the river that held my gaze. It wound its way through the valley, its surface shimmering as if stars had fallen into its depths. The sight was so mesmerizing that my legs carried me forward without thought, my breath catching in awe.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Pyre said, his tone unusually soft.
"It's… incredible," I murmured.
The wolf barked in agreement, bounding ahead to peer over the edge of the cliff.
As I stepped closer to the edge, trying to take it all in, the ground beneath my feet crumbled.
"Ash!" Pyre's voice rang out, but it was too late.
I plummeted over the edge, the wind roaring in my ears. The world spun, the valley's beauty turning into a dizzying blur. My claws shot out instinctively, scraping against the rock face as I fell. Sparks flew, and pain seared through my fingertips, but I managed to slow my descent.
The river loomed below me, shimmering invitingly.
When I hit the water, it was like slamming into a wall. The impact knocked the air from my lungs, and the icy cold enveloped me, shocking my system. The current dragged me down, and I thrashed, trying to find the surface.
Then, amid the swirling depths, I saw it—the **black orb**.
It hovered, suspended in the water, pulsing with an eerie, liquid-like glow. I couldn't look away. My hand reached out as if drawn by some invisible force, and the moment my fingers brushed its surface, the pain was instantaneous.
I was no longer in the water.
The world around me was a void, endless and black. Chains hung from above, their crimson surfaces glowing faintly.
In the center of the void writhed a massive larva, its grotesque body pulsating with a sickly light. It twisted and turned, its movements sending ripples through the darkness.
A deep, guttural voice echoed through the void: "####zz####…"
The chains above me rattled, their sound reverberating in my chest.
The larva turned toward me, its eyeless face somehow piercing into my soul. I wanted to move, to run, but my body was frozen.
And then, just as suddenly as it began, the vision ended.
I gasped for air, coughing violently as I was dragged onto the riverbank.
"You absolute idiot," Pyre growled, glaring down at me. His hair was drenched, water dripping from his sharp features.
The wolf barked frantically, circling us with anxious energy.
"What were you thinking?" Pyre demanded, flicking my forehead hard enough to sting.
I winced, rubbing the spot. "I didn't mean to—"
"'Didn't mean to,'" he mimicked, shaking his head. "You're lucky I was here to pull you out. Next time, try not to drown."
"Noted," I muttered, coughing up more water.
Pyre sighed, running a hand through his wet hair. "You're a walking disaster, you know that?"
The wolf nudged me, its warm nose pressing against my cheek. I reached out to pet it, grateful for its concern.
We rested by the riverbank, the sun beginning its slow descent toward the horizon. The valley's beauty was undeniable, but my thoughts kept drifting back to the orb—and the vision.
"What was that thing in the water?" I asked, breaking the silence.
Pyre didn't answer immediately. When he did, his tone was grave. "Something you shouldn't have touched."
"That's not an answer," I said, frowning.
"It's the only one you're getting," he replied, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
As the sky turned shades of orange and pink, I couldn't shake the feeling that my encounter with the orb was far from over.
The next morning, we resumed our journey. The Valley of the Edge stretched out before us, its beauty marred only by the weight of the unknown. Pyre led the way, his steps confident, while I followed, my mind a whirl of questions and uncertainties.
For the first time since escaping the lab, I felt like my path was leading somewhere—somewhere important.
And I was determined to see it through.