The forest was quiet now, but the silence was anything but peaceful. It was the kind of stillness that pressed against Kael's chest, as though the trees themselves were holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. The wilds had a way of doing that—watching, judging, and testing. Kael had learned that over the years, but something about this moment felt different. It was like a storm was gathering on the horizon, just beyond the trees.
The wanderer moved ahead, their pace steady and deliberate, their eyes scanning every shadow, every rustle in the leaves. They had seen too much of the wilds to be fooled by its false calm. Kael couldn't help but admire the wanderer's ability to stay grounded, their resolve unwavering. It was something he had once possessed—before the wilds had changed him.
His fingers twitched, and he glanced down at his hands. The claws that had begun to sprout on his fingertips were sharper now, longer. The skin around them was darker, almost black, like the markings of the beasts that roamed these lands. He could feel the pull of the wilds, the craving that had taken root deep inside him. It was stronger than ever, and it frightened him.
He wasn't sure if it was the power itself that scared him or the fact that it had become a part of him. Every day, he felt more and more like the beasts he hunted, more like the creatures that had stalked him in the dark. He was no longer certain where the wilds ended and he began. And that thought terrified him more than anything.
"Kael," the wanderer's voice broke through his thoughts, sharp and commanding. "We're not alone."
Kael's eyes snapped to the wanderer, who had already unsheathed their dagger, their body coiled and ready. Kael's hand instinctively gripped his spear, his muscles tensing in preparation. They had both become accustomed to the constant threat of attack in the wilds, but this—this felt different.
The air around them seemed to pulse, alive with an energy Kael couldn't explain. It wasn't just the power of the wilds—it was something more, something darker. The trees above them shuddered, and a low growl echoed from somewhere deep in the forest. Kael's heart raced.
"Get ready," the wanderer whispered.
Without warning, the ground beneath them cracked open, splitting with a sudden, violent force. From the depths of the earth, a massive creature emerged, its body covered in matted fur and scales, its eyes glowing a deep, unnatural red. It was a nightmare made flesh—a creature born of both the wilds and something far darker.
Kael's breath caught in his throat as he recognized the creature. It was a Warden, a monstrous guardian of the wilds, a being that existed to protect the deepest, most sacred places of the forest. These creatures were not just beasts—they were intelligent, ancient, and powerful. They were the guardians of the wilds' most dangerous secrets, and they did not take kindly to intruders.
The Warden bellowed, its voice echoing through the trees like a thunderclap. The sound sent a wave of terror crashing over Kael, but he refused to let it overwhelm him. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus. He had faced dangers before, but nothing like this. Nothing had prepared him for a creature like the Warden.
The beast took a step forward, its massive paws cracking the earth beneath it. Its eyes locked onto Kael, and for a moment, the world seemed to slow. The pull of the wilds surged within him, the craving growing louder, but this time, it was different. It wasn't just the desire for power—it was a recognition, an acknowledgement of something deep inside him.
The Warden's growl deepened, its voice vibrating in Kael's chest. "You do not belong here," it said, its words like a warning and a curse all at once. "You are a thing of the wilds, but not one of us. You have walked the line for too long, Kael. Now you must choose."
Kael's breath caught in his throat. The Warden knew his name. The realization hit him like a blow to the gut. How could it know him? Was it because of the mutation? The power that had slowly been taking root inside him?
He didn't have time to think. The Warden lunged, its claws tearing through the air with deadly speed. Kael barely had time to react, leaping out of the way just as the creature's claws slashed through the space where he had been standing moments before. The ground beneath him splintered, and the force of the impact sent a shockwave through the forest.
Kael rolled to his feet, his spear ready. But the Warden wasn't done. It came at him again, faster this time, its massive jaws snapping. Kael's heart pounded in his chest as he parried the beast's strike with his spear, but the sheer force of the blow sent him sprawling backward. He barely managed to catch himself, his fingers digging into the earth as he pushed himself back up.
"Kael, don't let it control you!" the wanderer shouted from behind him. "Stay focused!"
But Kael wasn't sure how much longer he could. The pull of the wilds was overwhelming now, a deep, insistent force that threatened to take over every part of him. His breath quickened, and his vision blurred at the edges. He felt himself slipping, the craving clawing at him like a wild animal.
The Warden took another step forward, its massive form casting a shadow over Kael. It growled low, its eyes narrowed in a mixture of disdain and amusement.
"You are nothing but a puppet," the Warden said, its voice deep and resonant. "You are bound to the wilds, bound to me. You cannot escape it. You cannot escape yourself."
Kael's chest tightened. The Warden was right. It was no longer just a fight for survival. It was a battle for his soul.
The voice inside him—the voice of the wilds—spoke again, louder this time.
Embrace it. Let the wilds take you. Become one with them. Become something greater.
Kael's hand trembled on the spear's shaft. The craving surged again, stronger than ever before. He could feel the wilds inside him, coiling and pulsing like a living thing. It would be so easy to give in, to let the power take control. To become something more than human, something more than what he was.
But something held him back. The wanderer's words echoed in his mind—Don't let it control you.
Kael's grip on his spear tightened, and for a moment, he fought the urge to surrender. He was not a beast. He was Kael. The boy who had once stood before the walls of the bastion, uncertain but determined. The boy who had walked into the wilds and fought to survive.
He wasn't done yet.
With a defiant roar, Kael surged forward, his spear aimed directly for the Warden's chest. The creature swiped at him, but Kael was too fast. He twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly claws, and thrust his spear into the Warden's side. The creature howled in pain, its massive body buckling as Kael twisted the spear, forcing it deeper.
The Warden staggered back, its eyes wide with rage and disbelief. It growled, its voice low and guttural. "You are nothing but a fool, Kael. You cannot escape what you are."
Kael didn't respond. He pulled the spear free, his chest heaving with the effort. The wilds were calling to him, but he refused to answer. Not yet. Not until he was ready.
The Warden roared, its body convulsing as it tried to strike again. But it was too late. The creature faltered, its movements slowing. With one last, desperate howl, it collapsed, its massive form crumpling to the ground.
Kael stood over it, his body trembling, sweat pouring down his face. The battle was over, but the war inside him was far from won. The craving was still there, gnawing at the edges of his mind, but Kael knew one thing for certain.
He had chosen.
And he would keep choosing, every day, for as long as it took.