The eastern forests loomed like a shadowy fortress, its dense canopy blocking out the morning light and shrouding the path ahead in gloom. Damien led his team along the winding trail, his steel-gray eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement. Every rustle of leaves and snap of a twig put him on edge. The stakes were too high for mistakes.
Behind him, Amara moved with the silent grace of a predator, her sharp blue eyes darting between the trees. She had traded her usual light banter for a tense focus, her hands never straying far from the hilts of her daggers.
Carys brought up the rear, her crossbow at the ready. Her green eyes remained steady, though she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The forest had an eerie stillness, as if holding its breath.
"We're close," Damien said quietly, his voice cutting through the silence.
Amara smirked faintly. "How can you tell? Everything here looks the same."
