Eska wakes as the first light of dawn breaks over the horizon. She dresses quickly, grabs her bow, quiver and belt and quietly leaves the house.
Outside, the air is cold and still, the sky blanketed with gray clouds. The only sounds are the chirping of winter birds and the soft rustle of the wind through the trees.
Her trek takes a few hours before she reaches the densest part of the forest.
The canopy above is so tightly woven that it blocks nearly all sunlight, leaving the area cloaked in deep shadow. Eska pauses and looks around, muttering to herself, "No wonder no one crosses here."
Taking a small torch, she whispers a chant, "In the blackened sky, let flames ascend, a pyre of retribution to light our path."
The torch glows red, igniting with a small, controlled flame. She knows better than to make it burn brighter, as the dense forest would catch fire easily.
Few dare venture beyond The Tree Line of the Fog's Forest, where fire and spells are the only reliable sources of light. But spells drain blood—a resource better saved for emergencies.
As Eska moves deeper, the forest's peculiar nature reveals itself.
Bioluminescent flowers of various colors bloom amidst the shadows, their soft glow breaking the monotony of darkness. Fungus clings to the trees and bushes grow in tangled clusters.
Though larger animals are absent, the forest teems with small creatures—lizards, bats-like creatures and rodents scurrying in the undergrowth.
Though unfamiliar with this part of the forest, she has a rough idea of where to go. Hours pass as she traverses the dense woodland, moving carefully through the maze-like terrain.
Eventually, she stops at a massive hollow tree and sits against its base to rest. Eska opens a pouch on her belt, pulling out a few berries, some deer jerky and a canteen of water.
"This really is hard to navigate," she mutters, taking a sip of water and a few bites of her rations. Recharged, she rises and begins to walk around the massive tree, her curiosity piqued by its size.
Inside the hollow tree, she spots enormous cobwebs stretching upward to its peak. At the base, familiar shapes lie scattered—eight-legged forms sprawled on the ground.
Eska instinctively ducks for cover but after a closer look, she realizes these are old argalia sheddings, long abandoned.
Approaching cautiously, Eska examines the sheddings.
Dust coats the brittle remains and inside, a colony of ants has made its home, using the tough exoskeletons as protection against predators. Satisfied there's no danger, she moves away from the tree and continues her search.
After another hour of exploring, Eska spots a light flickering through the trees. She approaches carefully, the glow growing brighter as she gets closer.
Breaking through the tree line, she finds an abandoned camp.
The site is eerily quiet, with torches still mounted and a few tents scattered about.
The area is blanketed in snow, its presence explained by the absence of tree cover—several trees have been cut down to clear space for the camp.
Nearby, a campfire sits cold and lifeless, reduced to ash and charred wood buried beneath the snow, as if no one has been here for a long time.
Eska lingers behind the tree line, her sharp eyes scanning the camp. The tents are still, empty of any signs of life and the entire area feels abandoned.
Taking a deep breath, she cautiously steps into the clearing, her movements slow and deliberate.
The camp is quiet, with no trace of anyone nearby.
As she looks around, her attention is drawn to something unusual—a raised hole in the ground, with a slant large enough for several adults to enter.
A chill runs through her as she realizes what it is: the cave Marina had warned her about.
The entrance is partially concealed by cut vegetation, with severed tree roots framing the opening.
It looks dark and foreboding, as if the surrounding forest itself was trying to keep it secret. Eska approaches, peering inside and notices footprints in the dirt—at least four sets leading into the cave.
None appear to come back out.
She steps back quickly, her thoughts racing. Turning to the camp, she begins rifling through its remnants, brushing snow off tables and supplies.
She uncovers tools, blood vials, first aid kits and strange metal devices with more blood vials attached. Her search finally reveals a snow-covered book, its title catching her eye: "Encampment 9087 - Possible Laboratory Finding."
Eska flips through the book, skimming its sparse entries. It details how the Hunters discovered the cave a week ago and reported their findings, prompting a team of experienced hunters to be sent for a full exploration.
The entries describe plans to locate the laboratory entrance and if found, deploy a secondary team to eliminate any threats.
The final entry is dated two days ago.
She closes the book slowly, her mind racing. She turns her gaze back toward the cave. A part of her wants to charge inside, to find the team and offer help, but another part of her knows better.
This is a job for trained hunters, not an eighteen-year-old.
Eska's mind flashes back to one of Marina's many lessons, her voice filled with warning.
"Wendigos," Marina had said, "with your combat expertise you should always avoid encounters with them. They are humans who were experimented on with the first traces of healing magic. Undead people who turned entirely feral. They are extremely dangerous, almost as fast as a werewolf with some of the leftover intelligence of what they used to be."
Marina's words echoed in Eska's mind, each detail vivid. "They are undead, but don't mistake them for mindless. They hunt with purpose, their movements sharp and calculated. Their twisted forms are deceptive—they may look frail, but their speed and strength will overwhelm even the most prepared hunter."
Standing at the cave's edge, she feels torn, unsure of her next move. Then, her ears catch a faint sound—someone speaking.
"Fifth entry," the voice says, low and strained. "My watch tells me it's 11:00 a.m. We've found temporary hiding from the wendigos. I can hear them scratching at the entrance to the room. We're trapped behind a mechanical door that doesn't need power to function. We're safe from the creatures, but we can't get out."
Eska's breath catches as she listens, her heart pounding. The voice is coming from one of the tables.
Eska rushes toward the table, her eyes drawn to the faint light emanating from a metal device. A glowing magic circle hovers just above it, shifting gently as it pulses.
She picks it up, holding it close to her face, her brow furrowed as she tries to figure out what it is.
The light dims briefly and a voice crackles through.
"Our team is in bad shape. Our lookout has gone to get help, but I fear they won't be here in time. Our group has lost hope, but we will record all information we find to help future expeditions. We have spotted five wendigos. They are smart enough to set traps and guide prey into them. This is Relon. Over and out."
Heart racing, Eska tries speaking into the device.
"Hello? Can you hear me?"
There's no response. She shakes the device, her frustration growing as she repeats her attempts. Eventually, she presses on the magic circle, sliding her finger across it in desperation.
"Hello, is anybody there?!" The voice suddenly shouts from the device, startling her.
Eska responds quickly, "Hello! I can hear you!" but the other side doesn't seem to hear her.
"Hello?!" the voice repeats, sounding increasingly desperate.
Annoyed, Eska slides the magic circle again, hoping to make it work.
"Hello?! I ca—" The voice cuts off abruptly, replaced by faint murmurs in the background. A moment later, the voice returns, sounding exasperated. "If you don't know how to use the device, press the circle down toward the base and speak into it."
Eska presses her index finger onto the circle, her voice quiet and uncertain.
"Hello?"
"I can hear you! I can hear you! Who am I speaking with?" The relief in the voice is palpable, radiating through the device.
"I-I'm Eska. I-I found this camp," she stammers, her nervousness evident.
"Eska! Am I glad to hear another friendly voice," the voice responds warmly.
"Are you alright? I heard what you said, but I don't know how to help," Eska asks, with a worried tone..
The voice hesitates before answering, the hope fading slightly. "I'm not going to lie, Eska, we're not alright. We need immediate help—the wendigos will break through eventually. Are you with the rescue team?"
Eska's eyes dart around the abandoned camp, the dark forest pressing in from all sides. The eerie silence surrounds her, heavy and oppressive.
"E-Eska?" the voice calls again, this time tinged with sadness, as though grasping the reality of the situation.
"I'm... I was just scouting the forest. I'm not—" Eska's voice falters, unable to finish.
"It's... it's alright, Eska," the voice replies softly, their energy drained. Silence descends once more, pressing against Eska like a weight.
She lowers her arms slowly, realizing what the person on the other end has already accepted.
Her gaze drifts to the abandoned tents and a paper on one of the tables she has already cleared off snow. It's a photo—people smiling as they cook outside, children running and women chasing after them.
A snapshot of a life now distant, hanging by a thread in the darkness of the forest.
Eska's heart pounds in her chest, each beat growing heavier. Tears pool in her eyes, her lips trembling despite her best efforts to stay composed.
Fear begins to grip her, the weight of the situation pressing down relentlessly. She takes a deep, shaky breath, tilting her head toward the sky before pressing the circle once more.
"What's your name?" she asks softly.
Nearly a minute of silence passes before the voice responds, strained and distant. "Relon."
Eska's lips quiver more and her heartbeat thunders in her ears. Steadying herself with another breath, she replies firmly, "Stand by, Relon. Help is coming."
Immediately, the device erupts with urgency. "What?! Are you crazy? There are several wendigos down here! Do not—repeat, DO NOT—come down here! There is no need to add another death to ours!" The voice crackles with desperation, but Eska places the device down with quiet determination.
Standing at the mouth of the cave she steels herself. She adjusts her bow across her back, checks the rope on her shoulder and the knife at her waist and takes a final breath. Without hesitation, she steps into the cave, swallowed by its darkness.