The forest stretched endlessly before me, its towering trees forming a green cathedral. Their dense, interlocking branches blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving the ground below cloaked in shifting shadows. Every step I took seemed to echo, the crunch of leaves beneath my boots unnervingly loud in the otherwise quiet woods. A damp, earthy scent hung in the air, mixed with the faint sweetness of wildflowers blooming in patches where sunlight managed to pierce through.
This was the first time I'd ventured this far into the forest, and the sheer vastness of it was overwhelming. Back in the village, it always seemed like a boundary—a line not to be crossed without purpose. But now, surrounded by the towering trees and the occasional rustling of unseen creatures, it felt like I'd stepped into another world entirely.
I stayed close to the rest of the hunting group, trying to match their careful steps. The group moved in silence, each of them skilled enough to blend with the forest, their movements silent and deliberate.
Leo, ahead of me, would occasionally glance back, offering a quick, reassuring smile. His presence here was like a lifeline, reminding me that maybe, just maybe, I wasn't as out of place as I felt.
"Stay close, Raze," Leo's voice cut through the air, low and calm. "Don't stray from the path."
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. Relaxing was easier said than done when every nerve in my body was screaming that I didn't belong here.
The deeper we moved into the woods, the more the atmosphere seemed to shift. The air grew cooler, the trees thicker, and the shadows deeper. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching us, that the forest itself was alive with unseen eyes.
I felt my stomach tighten at the seriousness in his voice. I had heard the stories—tales of the massive beasts that roamed these woods, their claws capable of rending trees in half. I'd never imagined I'd actually be walking into their territory.
I followed the others as they continued deeper into the woods. The trees seemed to close in around us, the underbrush thicker, and the sounds of the forest grew louder. A bird called somewhere above, but it was quickly answered by the low growl of something... much deeper in the forest.
I froze, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.
Leo, who had been leading the group, halted as well. His eyes narrowed, his senses sharper than mine.
"Something's off," he muttered under his breath, scanning the area around us.
Fey raised a hand, signaling for silence. The group stilled, the tension palpable. Every sound seemed to disappear, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
And then, a rustle.
A massive shape moved through the underbrush ahead, its form dark and bulky, but it was too fast, too stealthy for me to make out. My heart pounded in my chest as a low, guttural growl rumbled from the distance. The noise seemed to vibrate in the air, sending a chill down my spine.
"Stay close," Leo whispered, his hand on his sword hilt. "Don't move unless I tell you."
I nodded, but my mind raced. This was it—the moment I'd been waiting for. A real beast. My first encounter.
The growl grew louder, closer, and then—
A shadow darted across the forest floor, too fast for me to react. The brush parted violently as something enormous emerged from the trees, its yellow eyes gleaming like molten gold in the dim light.
I could hardly breathe. The creature was massive—its fur a deep, mottled brown, muscles rippling beneath the surface. Behind it smaller versions of the bigger beast following it as following its leader, all growling at us ready to attack at any moment. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen, not even in the stories.
Leo's voice was low, controlled. "Get ready," he muttered
I barely registered the warning. My eyes were fixed on the beast, the weight of the moment crashing down on me. This was the trigger, wasn't it? The moment I'd awaken?
But as the beast took a step forward, its claws gleaming in the muted light, I realized—this was more than just a trial. It was life or death. And I was still powerless.
Before I could even process the thought, the creature lunged, its jaws snapping shut inches from Leo.