A Month Before the Manhunt -
They had been tracking the herd of wapiti for hours, their hooves leaving a chaotic trail of churned mud and crushed leaves. Vlad moved ahead of the group, his senses sharp. Every crackle of a twig, every shift in the wind carried meaning. The forest was alive around him, but his focus remained on the trail. The wapiti was close—he could smell their musky scent on the damp air.
Unbeknownst to him, his steps had carried him far from the others. The deeper he ventured, the more the forest transformed. The air grew cooler and heavier, the towering trees thick with moss and age. This was a part of the forest that few dared enter—a place whispered about in fireside stories. Here, time seemed slower, the usual forest sounds muffled, as if the ancient trees guarded secrets too sacred to share.
When he finally came upon the herd, they were gathered around a waterhole nestled between gnarled roots and jagged stones. The wapiti were larger than he remembered, their antlers branching out like trees of their own. Crouching low, Vlad notched an arrow, his muscles taut as he aimed. Every movement was calculated; a single mistake would alert the herd, and their aggression was as legendary as their speed.
His breath stilled as he focused, his thoughts narrowing to the kill. But just as he released the arrow, a chilling sensation froze him in place. From the shadows, a pair of glowing red eyes burned through the darkness, locking onto his. The intensity of their gaze rooted him to the spot, his strength ebbing as an inexplicable fear crept over him. The arrow veered off course, striking harmlessly into the underbrush.
The wapiti scattered, their panicked cries echoing through the trees. Vlad's paralysis broke just in time for him to react, diving behind a tree as the stampede began. Heart pounding, he scrambled upward, clawing his way into the branches as hooves thundered below. His body moved on instinct, muscles honed from years of combat, propelling him higher and faster than he thought possible.
Safe for the moment, Vlad clung to the tree, his chest heaving. His mind raced, not with the threat of the wapiti, but with the memory of those eyes. Never had he felt so powerless, so utterly vulnerable. Whatever creature lurked in the ancient forest, it had allowed him to escape. But why?
The wapiti milled below, their sharp snorts and stomping hooves keeping him pinned in the tree. Vlad's thoughts shifted to survival. Escape would require more than brute strength. He recalled a lesson his father had once taught him, a peculiar series of steps meant to confuse pursuers. At the time, he'd dismissed it as an old man's superstition. Now, desperate and trapped, he had no choice but to try.
When the herd finally settled for the night, Vlad began his plan. He smeared himself with tree sap to mask his scent and cooled his body to suppress sweat. Hours passed as he remained still, blending into the tree like a shadow. Even when a snake slithered over him, its cold body brushing against his neck, he did not move.
It was the snake's bite, however, that provided his opportunity. A young wapiti calf screamed in pain, and the herd surged toward it in a frenzy. Vlad used the distraction to climb higher into the canopy. The thick foliage offered better cover, and with painstaking slowness, he navigated the branches until he was out of the wapiti's sight.
By dawn, the herd had moved on, leaving Vlad alone in the tree. For the first time, he allowed himself to relax. As sunlight poured through the forest canopy, he took in his surroundings. The view was breath-taking. Endless green stretched in all directions, broken only by a glimmering stream that carved its way through the wilderness. In the distance, he saw a waterfall tumbling over a cliff, its roar faint but steady.
This place was unlike anything Vlad had seen before. It was untouched, untamed, and yet alive with an energy that seemed to hum through his very bones. For the first time since the hunt began, he felt something unexpected—hope.
The creature with the red eyes was still out there, watching, waiting. But as Vlad began his descent, his fear of it began to shift. Whatever it was, he felt certain it was more than a predator. It had spared him for a reason, and he intended to discover why.
The ancient forest held secrets, and Vlad was determined to uncover them. Perhaps, he thought, this place might hold the answer to the struggle ahead.