The group pressed onward, their progress hindered by the dense forest and the wary glances of the refugees. Kael could feel the tension hanging over them like a storm cloud, but he forced himself to focus. Every step they took deeper into the Wilds brought them closer to the next waystone—and closer to answers.
Eryndra walked beside him, her sharp gaze scanning their surroundings. "The Wilds are different tonight. I don't like it."
Kael frowned. He felt it too. The usual chaotic energy of the forest had shifted, coalescing into something darker. The air was thick with an unnatural stillness, as though the Wilds themselves were holding their breath.
Thane, as usual, broke the silence. "Let them come. Beasts, gods, or shadows—I'm ready for all of it."
"Quiet," Kael hissed. "The Wilds have ears. If you invite trouble, it will come."
The words were barely out of his mouth when a soft rustling reached their ears. It was faint at first, but it grew louder, closer, until the shadows around them seemed to take shape.
Eryndra's hand shot to her bow. "We're not alone."
Kael turned, his dagger drawn. The refugees huddled together, their fear palpable. Kaela's presence stirred within him, the wolf's instincts sharpening his senses. He could feel the danger closing in, though he couldn't see it.
The shadows moved again, this time forming into distinct shapes—humanoid figures with glowing, hollow eyes. They emerged from the trees, their forms flickering like smoke caught in a breeze.
"Wraiths," Eryndra whispered, her voice tight.
Kael's grip on his dagger tightened. Wraiths were rare even in the Wilds, and their presence here was no coincidence. They were drawn to powerful magic, to chaos—and to fear.
"Stay close," Kael said, his voice steady despite the pounding of his heart. "Don't let them surround you."
---
The Battle of Shadows
The first wraith lunged, its form shifting like liquid as it lashed out with claws of darkness. Kael ducked, driving his dagger upward into its torso. The blade glowed, and the wraith let out a keening wail as it dissolved into mist.
Eryndra loosed an arrow, the shaft striking true and pinning another wraith to a tree. Thane waded into the fray, his axe swinging in wide arcs that scattered the creatures like smoke in the wind.
But for every wraith they destroyed, two more seemed to take its place.
"They're endless!" Thane bellowed, his axe cleaving through another attacker.
Kael felt a chill crawl up his spine. The wraiths weren't just attacking—they were testing them, probing their defenses.
"They're trying to wear us down," Eryndra said, her voice grim. "We need to break through."
Kaela's energy surged within Kael, and he knew what he had to do. He reached out to the bond, letting the wolf's power flow into him. His vision sharpened, the world slowing as his senses heightened.
"Focus on the leader!" Kael shouted.
The wraiths' movements became clearer, their coordination pointing to a single figure—a larger wraith that hovered at the edge of the clearing, its form more solid than the others.
Kael charged, his dagger glowing brighter with each step. The wraith leader turned toward him, its hollow eyes flaring with light. It raised a hand, and a wave of dark energy rippled outward, knocking Kael to the ground.
"Kael!" Eryndra yelled, firing another arrow. The shot struck the leader, but it barely flinched.
Thane roared, throwing his axe with all his strength. The weapon spun through the air, embedding itself in the wraith's chest. The leader let out a guttural screech, its form flickering violently.
Kael seized the moment, pushing himself to his feet and lunging forward. He drove his dagger into the wraith's core, channeling Kaela's power into the strike. Light exploded from the blade, consuming the wraith in a burst of radiant energy.
As the leader dissolved, the remaining wraiths let out anguished cries before dissipating into the night.
---
The Aftermath
The forest fell silent once more, the oppressive stillness lifting as the last of the wraiths vanished. Kael stood in the center of the clearing, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
Eryndra approached, her bow still in hand. "That was too close."
Thane retrieved his axe, his expression grim. "They'll keep coming. The gods aren't going to stop until we're dead."
Kael nodded, his mind racing. The wraiths were a warning, a sign that the gods were tightening their grip. They had to reach the waystone—and soon.
He turned to the refugees, who were still cowering behind a cluster of rocks. "Are any of you hurt?"
The woman shook her head, though her eyes were wide with fear. "What... what were those things?"
"Shadows of the Wilds," Kael said. "They feed on fear and chaos. But they're gone now."
The boy stepped forward, clutching his wooden stick like a sword. "Will they come back?"
Kael hesitated before answering. "Not tonight. But we have to keep moving."
Eryndra placed a hand on Kael's shoulder. "We can't keep dragging them with us. It's not safe—for them or for us."
Kael met her gaze, his jaw tightening. "I know. But we can't abandon them either. Not yet."
---
The Path Ahead
As they resumed their journey, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that the Wilds were watching. The shadows seemed deeper, the air heavier.
Kaela's voice echoed faintly in his mind, a mixture of caution and determination. The gods won't stop until they've broken you. But they underestimate us.
Kael clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. The gods might have endless power, but they didn't understand what it meant to fight for something greater than themselves.
"Let's move," he said, his voice firm. "The waystone is close. We're not stopping until we reach it."
As the group pressed on, Kael couldn't help but glance back at the refugees. Their fear was a reminder of what was at stake—a world caught between the gods' tyranny and the Wilds' chaos.
But Kael refused to let that world fall. Not while he still had the strength to fight.