The group had just finished their meal, but the tension from their earlier conversation lingered like a storm cloud. The quiet was heavy, pressing down on them as they prepared to move.
"Alright," Vell said, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, but his eyes scanned the forest with caution. "We'll head out soon. Stay sharp—I don't want to get blindsided by whatever's lurking out there."
The others nodded, but the mood shifted abruptly as a low, guttural growl echoed through the trees. It wasn't the ordinary cry of a beast—it was something deeper, primal, and unrelenting. The sound wrapped around their spines like ice, freezing them in place.
Vell's hand instinctively went to his weapon. "Get ready," he said in a low, urgent tone. His posture shifted, sharp and focused. "Something's coming."
