Elena scurried past the forest's ferns and wildflowers, no wiser than when she had entered. Her frail, petite frame was ill-suited for the strain, and her sedentary lifestyle only compounded the issue. Her legs burned with fatigue, a dull ache spreading through her muscles as they began to go numb. She knew pressing on in this state would be foolish.
Panting, she slowed to a halt, scanning her surroundings for respite. After a few moments of surveying the area, her eyes landed on a towering oak. Its thick roots jutted out of the earth like natural steps, while its dense canopy of leaves offered a promising cover from the elements. As she approached, she noticed the wild shrubs growing unevenly around the tree's base, their thorny branches stretching up to her waist.
Elena attempted to leap over them, but her effort ended in a clumsy stumble. A sharp branch snagged her cheek, leaving behind a stinging slash. Groaning, she pushed herself up, only to sit back down moments later, crossing her legs and folding her arms in irritation. A single drop of crimson fell onto the soil beside her, mocking her failure.
With a resigned sigh, she unfolded her arms and lifted a hand to her cheek. A faint, luminous green glow emanated from her fingertips, bathing the side of her face in soft light. The warmth of her healing magic was brief but effective; within seconds, the cut sealed itself as if it had never been.
Elena crossed her arms again and closed her eyes, seeking a moment of peace. But before her thoughts could settle, a rustling sound shattered the stillness. Her eyes snapped open, heart pounding. It was close—too close—and moving fast.
Her head whipped around, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise. Was it behind her? To her side? Panic bloomed in her chest as the sound grew louder. There was no time to think. She shot to her feet, instinct screaming at her to run, but her options were limited.
The shrubbery.
It wouldn't be pleasant, but it was her best chance. Without hesitation, she dove into the tangled thicket, wincing as thin branches scraped against her skin. Her slender frame allowed her to slip into a narrow gap, where she remained perfectly still. Hidden in the foliage, she held her breath, her eyes darting through the gaps in the leaves, watching for whatever had been charging toward her.
A green figure loomed behind a tree, its hunched form blending into the shadows of the dense forest. For over an hour, it had been stalking a silver-haired girl, watching her every move with a predatory intensity. Hunger gnawed at its patience, each passing minute making its desire to strike grow stronger. When the girl suddenly stopped and disappeared from view, the creature froze.
Its pointed ears twitched, and its bulbous yellow eyes darted around, searching for her. Ducking behind a jagged rock, it waited, breath shallow and uneven. Minutes ticked by. Then it heard a faint thud, distant but distinct.
Curiosity stirred, and the green creature leaned cautiously around the edge of the rock. Its slit-like pupils widened when it spotted her. The girl was sitting on the ground, seemingly relaxed, her silver hair catching the faint glow of the filtered sunlight. A wide, predatory grin stretched across its pale green face, splitting its grotesque features and revealing jagged, gold-stained teeth.
Caution melted away, replaced by a single overpowering instinct: to kill. To feast. To take. Human women were not only a delicacy but the most desirable for mating, and this girl—frail, beautiful, and seemingly defenseless—was the perfect prey.
It began to move. At first, it crept silently, its clawed feet barely making a sound as they pressed against the forest floor. But as the girl remained still, its restraint dissolved. The creature broke into a stride, then a full sprint, its wiry arms flailing wildly as it hurtled toward her.
Its vision blurred with red, and the sounds of the forest faded into a dull hum. All that existed now was the girl, the moment of triumph drawing closer with every step. It lunged, sharp claws outstretched, ready to tear into her flesh.
But as it landed, its claws met nothing but empty air.
The goblin stumbled, its momentum carrying it forward before it stopped abruptly, blinking in confusion. The girl was gone.
The red haze lifted, and the forest returned to focus. Rage boiled within its chest, burning hotter with every second. It clenched its fists, gnashing its teeth in frustration. Had it been deceived by some trickery? An illusion?
Fury clouded its mind as questions stormed through its thoughts. Was it too rash? Should it have waited longer? Or was it the prey that had outsmarted the predator?
The goblin's breathing grew ragged, and its pale green skin flushed darker with rage. But as it stood there, trembling with anger, one thing became clear—it wasn't done hunting yet.
Through a small gap in the leaves, Elena caught sight of a strange green figure. At first glance, it appeared to be a small, hunched man, barely three or four feet tall. But as she focused, the details became unmistakable. Its wiry, sinewy frame was covered in rough, mottled green skin that seemed to glisten faintly in the dim light. Sharp, uneven teeth jutted out from its crooked mouth, and its long, pointed ears twitched as if attuned to every sound in the forest.
A goblin.
The realization hit her like a slap, and her breath hitched. Goblins were creatures of cruelty, known for their brutality against anything weaker than themselves. Tales of their violent conquests and twisted dominance over others had haunted her since childhood. She had always dismissed such stories as exaggerations, but now, staring at the real thing, the truth was undeniable.
The goblin's eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger, scanning the area with a restless, almost jittery energy. It clutched a crude, jagged blade in one clawed hand, the metal tarnished and stained with something dark. The sight of it sent icy dread spiraling through her chest, her body breaking into a cold sweat.
Elena fought the urge to move, to shrink further back into the foliage, but fear was already taking control. Without thinking, she began to inch away. The dry twigs and branches surrounding her betrayed her every shift, and then—
Snap.
A sharp crack echoed in the stillness as one of the branches beneath her broke.
Her heart stopped.
The goblin's head snapped toward the sound, its yellowed eyes narrowing with wicked delight. A twisted grin spread across its face, warping its already grotesque features. Its lips peeled back, revealing rows of jagged teeth, and a low, guttural growl rumbled from its throat.
Elena froze, paralyzed by terror as the goblin took a step forward, then another, its movements deliberate, almost savoring the moment. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but her legs refused to obey. She was trapped, caught in the goblin's gaze, as it stalked closer through the underbrush, the rustling of leaves amplifying the pounding of her heart.