They had been walking through the forest for hours, refusing to give up despite already being attacked. Aria's legs ached with every step, but she pushed on, her determination outweighing her fatigue.
The deeper they ventured, the colder the air became, an unnatural chill settling over them.
Spyro stole a glance at Aria, noticing the way she shivered beneath her clothes. He frowned, wondering what he could do to help her. Her grip on her bow was tight, her resolve as strong as ever.
"Are you okay?" Spyro asked, his voice low.
"Yeah, just a little cold," Aria replied, her breath visible in the frigid air. "But… something feels off. Why is it so cold here?"
"This forest wasn't always like this," Spyro said, shrugging off his jacket. "Ever since the sightings, and since people stopped coming here, it's changed." He handed her the jacket, his golden eyes softening.
Aria hesitated, eyeing the jagged tears in the back of the jacket where Spyro's wings had ripped through. "It'll still keep you warm," he assured her.
"Thanks," she said, slipping it on.
Ahead of them, Simon leaned against a tree, lifting one leg as he cursed under his breath. "Damn blood magic. I can't keep walking like this."
Spyro scratched the back of his head. "That must be a pain."
"I need new boots," Simon grumbled, resting his hand against the tree. As his fingers brushed the bark, his eyes widened.
"Wait a moment," Simon said, stepping back suddenly. His abrupt movement startled Aria, who instinctively reached for an arrow from her quiver.
Spyro tilted his head, watching Simon closely.
Simon circled the tree, his brow furrowed. "Haven't we passed this tree before?"
Aria and Spyro exchanged puzzled glances.
"I… don't know," Aria admitted.
"Neither do I," Spyro added.
Simon held out his hand toward Aria. "Your knife. Let me borrow it for a second."
Without hesitation, Aria unsheathed her blade and handed it to him. Simon carved a deep mark into the tree, exposing the pale wood beneath. "If we pass this again, we'll know."
He returned the knife and sighed heavily before setting off again, walking faster than before.
Spyro followed, his voice laced with irritation. "I thought you said you couldn't keep going like that."
"I'm trying to figure something out," Simon snapped over his shoulder.
"What if we get attacked again? How do you plan to fight with no boots?"
"I'll manage."
"You can wear my boots," Spyro offered.
"I said I'm fine," Simon growled, quickening his pace.
Aria jogged to keep up, her frustration growing. "Guys, wait!"
"Why are you being so stubborn?" Spyro barked, his patience wearing thin.
Simon stopped abruptly, turning to glare at him. "I'm trying to solve this, Spyro. Maybe you could try being useful for once!"
Spyro froze, his temper flaring. Normally calm, he felt a rare anger rising in his chest. He inhaled deeply, steam hissing from his mouth as he exhaled.
"Enough!" Aria shouted, stepping between them. She placed a hand on Spyro's arm, her voice softer but firm. "Calm down, please."
Spyro looked at her, his golden eyes still blazing, but her presence eased the tension. "Right," he said, nodding reluctantly.
Simon muttered something under his breath and kept walking. The group fell into an uncomfortable silence as they continued down the trail.
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours before Simon suddenly stopped, pointing ahead.
"Aha!" he exclaimed.
Aria and Spyro looked up, only to see the same tree Simon had marked earlier.
"How's that possible?" Aria asked, stepping closer.
Simon ran a hand through his hair, panic creeping into his voice. "We're in a loop. We're stuck in a loop."
"Relax," Aria said, trying to steady him. "There has to be a way out."
"I don't know how!" Simon snapped, sinking to the ground in frustration.
"What do you mean, you don't know?" Spyro growled. "Aren't you supposed to be the expert on magic?"
Simon glared up at him. "Don't assume I know everything!"
"You act like you do," Spyro shot back, his fists clenching.
The argument escalated, voices rising until Aria noticed something—a flicker of movement behind a tree. Her eyes narrowed, and she instinctively reached for her bow.
"Wait," she said sharply, cutting through their shouting.
Spyro and Simon stopped, following her gaze as she pointed toward the tree.
"There's someone there," she whispered.
The figure darted away, disappearing into the shadows.
Aria lowered her bow, turning back to the two men. "Do you two realize how pointless this is? We're not just lost. This forest is enchanted. Something's affecting all of us."
Simon blinked, the weight of her words sinking in. "You're saying… we're under a spell?"
"Yes," Aria said firmly. "Think about it. The cold, the way we keep looping, your tempers. It's all connected."
Simon exhaled, the tension leaving his shoulders. "You're right. I'm sorry, Spyro. I wasn't thinking clearly."
Spyro nodded, though his jaw was still tight. "Apology accepted. Let's focus on getting out of here."
With a deep, rumbling breath, Spyro shifted. Scales rippled across his body, wings unfurled, and his form grew until a massive dragon stood before them.
"Climb on," he said, lowering himself.
Aria and Simon mounted quickly, and with a powerful leap, Spyro launched into the sky. The cold wind whipped around them, but Aria felt a strange relief as they soared above the endless canopy of trees.
"There!" Simon shouted, pointing toward a shimmering barrier on the forest's edge.
Spyro roared in acknowledgment, speeding toward it. As they approached, Simon unsheathed his sword.
"Hold tight!" he warned, plunging the blade into the barrier. Light rippled outward, shattering the magic and allowing Spyro to fly through.
They emerged into a clearing identical to the hiker's photo. The vibrant green grass was covered in strange, white powder arranged into intricate runes.
"What is this?" Simon muttered as they landed.
Aria dismounted, studying the symbols with unease. "These look like runes, but… for what?"
Spyro shifted back into his human form, his expression grim. "Only one way to find out."
The three exchanged wary glances before stepping closer to investigate.