The forest was quiet under the pale light of the crescent moon. Elara Drayton moved cautiously, clutching her spear. Her father, Jonas, walked a few paces ahead, his every step deliberate as he scanned the dense woods.

"Stay close," he whispered over his shoulder.

Elara nodded, tightening her grip. Though only fourteen, she had joined her father on countless hunts. He had taught her to track deer, fend off wolves, and face danger without fear. But tonight felt different.

For weeks, villagers had spoken of a creature in the woods—something larger than a wolf and more cunning than any beast. Livestock had been found slaughtered, and strange howls echoed at night. Some believed it was just a predator; others whispered of darker things. Jonas dismissed the rumors as superstition.

"Whatever it is," he had said earlier, "we'll handle it."

---

The stillness of the forest shattered with a low, rumbling growl. Elara froze, her pulse quickening.

"Do you hear that?" Jonas whispered, gripping his spear.

Before she could respond, a shadow lunged from the trees. It was enormous, its fur dark and eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. The creature moved with unnatural speed, knocking Jonas to the ground.

"Elara, run!" he shouted, wrestling against the beast.

But fear rooted her to the spot. Jonas drove his spear into its side, and the creature snarled in pain. Its glowing eyes shifted to Elara, locking onto hers. For a moment, it paused, as though studying her. Then it released Jonas and vanished into the trees, its shadow swallowed by the night.

---

Elara dropped to her knees beside her father, her hands trembling. His breathing was faint, his face pale.

"You must be brave," he whispered. "Don't… stop." His hand rested briefly on her arm before falling still.

"Father!" Elara cried, but his eyes were already closed.

The woods fell silent once more.

When dawn broke, the villagers found her kneeling beside Jonas. Though she told them about the attack, most dismissed her story.

"It was just a wolf," one elder said. "A large one, perhaps. But it's gone now."

Elara said nothing, though she knew the truth. Whatever had attacked them was no ordinary animal. Its eyes, its movements—there was something unnatural about it. And deep down, she felt it wasn't finished with her yet.