The forest swallowed them, offering shelter in its dense thicket, an impenetrable labyrinth of trees whose gnarled branches intertwined like skeletal fingers. Seth and Eldric ran until their lungs burned and their legs ached, each breath a struggle for air. Adrenaline pulsed through their veins, numbing the pain, suppressing the exhaustion. But the fear remained, a constant companion, nipping at their heels, a shadow creeping into every corner of their minds.
They dared not stop, dared not look back. The image of the burning village, the screams of the dying Niut, the cruel, distorted faces of the Kik – these images haunted them, chased them like wild beasts through the undergrowth, drove them ever onward.
The forest grew denser, the undergrowth more impenetrable. Thorny vines tore at their clothes, leaving fine, red welts on their skin. Branches whipped at their faces, blurring their vision with a veil of pain and panic. But they struggled forward, stumbling over roots and rocks, climbing over fallen tree trunks, driven by the unyielding will to survive.
Suddenly, Seth stopped, raised his hand, and listened intently. "Do you hear that?" he whispered, his voice barely audible in the dense undergrowth.
Eldric paused, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead, his eyes wide with fear. "What? I don't hear anything."
"There!" said Seth, his gaze darting nervously through the thicket. "A rustling in the undergrowth. Someone is following us."
Eldric listened again, his eyes darting nervously through the dense bushes. The fear he already felt in his limbs intensified, making his heart beat faster. "I think you're right. There's something there.
"Was it the Kik? Had they been tracked down? Had they come to finish what they started? The thought of falling into the hands of the cruel warriors made their blood run cold.
They ducked behind a thick tree trunk, pressed their bodies against the rough bark, held their breath. The rustling came closer, grew louder, approached inexorably. Seth felt his heart beating faster, a hammering rhythm in his chest. He clutched the small dagger his father had given him. It was his only weapon, a meager defense against the brutal Kik.
The bushes rustled, and a figure emerged. Seth and Eldric recoiled, ready to flee, ready to fight. But then they realized it wasn't a Kik.
A large wolf stood before them, its fur gray and shaggy, its eyes glowing an eerie yellow. It bared its teeth, a deep growl rumbling in its throat, a sound that chilled them to the bone.
Seth felt fear gripping him. He had heard stories about the wolves of these forests, stories of their ferocity, their unpredictability, and their insatiable hunger. He had always thought them to be old wives' tales, but now, faced with this creature, he knew the stories were true.
The wolf lowered its head, fixing them with its glowing eyes. It took a step towards them, then another. Seth felt cold sweat break out on his skin. He was trapped, caught between the wolf and the Kik, who could still be on their trail.
He had to do something. He couldn't just stand there and wait for his death. He looked at his hands. The bluish light was gone, but he could still feel the energy within him, the power that had caused the tree trunk to crumble.
Could he use this power against the wolf? He didn't know. But he had to try. It was his last hope.He concentrated, trying to gather the energy within him, to direct it, to control it. His hands began to tingle, to glow. He raised his hands, pointed them at the wolf, his fingers trembling with effort and fear.
The wolf paused, its growling ceased. It seemed to sense the energy emanating from Seth, an invisible force that made it stop. It took a step back, its gaze darting between Seth and his glowing hands, uncertainty and curiosity reflected in its eyes.
Seth felt the power growing within him, pulsing and vibrating in his veins. He raised his hands higher, focused his energy on the wolf, imagined the power flowing out of him and rushing towards the beast. A bluish beam of light shot from his hands, fast as lightning, striking the wolf in the chest.
The wolf yelped, staggered back, its body convulsing under the magical attack. It scrambled to its feet, looked at Seth with fear and respect in its eyes, as if it had recognized the boy's true nature. Then it turned and disappeared into the undergrowth with a leap, its gray fur blending with the shadows of the forest.
Seth and Eldric stared at each other in disbelief. Seth lowered his hands, his body trembling with exertion. He had done it. He had driven away the wolf with his power. A wave of relief washed over him, followed by a feeling of pride and wonder.
But what was this power? Where did it come from? And what did it mean for him?
These questions swirled in his mind as they continued their journey through the forest. The attack of the Kik, the escape, the encounter with the wolf – all of this had changed him. He was no longer the innocent boy he had been just a few hours ago. He was someone new, someone with a power he had yet to understand, a power that was leading him down an unknown path.