The group moved through the forest in silence, their steps muffled by the dense underbrush. The air was thick with tension, the weight of their mission bearing down on them like an oppressive force. Every sound seemed amplified, every shadow a potential threat.
Adira glanced at Kael, who led the way with his usual stoic determination. Kane walked close to her, his presence a comforting anchor amid the storm of doubts swirling in her mind. Finn trailed behind, uncharacteristically quiet, his usual wit replaced by a brooding intensity.
The glow of the stabilized ward had faded into the distance, its light swallowed by the forest's oppressive darkness. Adira couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them, an unseen predator stalking its prey.
"We need to pick up the pace," Kael said, his voice low but firm. "The Rift won't wait for us to catch our breath."
Finn let out a soft groan. "Do you ever stop being so dramatic?"
