---
The night deepened around them, the forest growing darker, its twisted trees stretching high above like ancient sentinels. Kael glanced up at the canopy, where the stars barely shone through the thick layers of branches. The air felt heavy—thick with the scent of moss, earth, and something else… something far more dangerous lingering beyond the shadows.
Kael tightened his grip on his spear, its wooden shaft cool against his palm. He wasn't sure why he felt so exposed here. Normally, the forest was just a place to avoid—dangerous, yes, but predictable. Now, it seemed alive, every shadow stretching and shifting as though watching them. Waiting.
Beside him, the beast moved silently. Its silver fur gleamed faintly under what little light bled through the trees, and its steps were as quiet as the night itself. Its glowing eyes caught every flicker of movement in the darkness. Kael had begun to understand—this creature wasn't simply a beast. It was something more. Its presence seemed to both command respect and instill unease.
"Do you feel it?" Kael whispered, more to himself than the beast. "The air—something isn't right here."
The beast stopped, its head turning slowly to face him. Its gaze was steady, thoughtful, and unblinking. It didn't respond with words, but Kael could feel the tension in its posture—something dangerous was nearby.
"Let's keep moving," Kael said after a moment. "We shouldn't linger."
He pressed forward, though his steps were cautious. The beast followed without hesitation, its massive form gliding silently through the undergrowth. They moved deeper into the heart of the Wilds, the sounds of the night growing louder—whispers in the trees, the distant calls of unseen creatures, and the faint rustling that seemed unnervingly close.
Kael's pulse quickened as they reached a narrow clearing. The ground here was littered with broken stones, worn by time and weather. He glanced around, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement, but saw nothing—only the eerie silence that hung like a heavy fog.
Suddenly, the beast stopped.
Kael turned, frowning. "What is it?"
The creature's ears twitched, its body tense. Then, without warning, it let out a low growl—low and ominous. The sound reverberated through the trees, low enough to send shivers down Kael's spine. His hand instinctively gripped the spear tighter, his fingers trembling slightly.
"Something's coming," Kael muttered, his voice tight with urgency.
And then, from the edge of the clearing, figures began to emerge from the shadows—shadowed figures, humanoid, yet cloaked in darkness. They moved silently, their forms blending into the darkness as though they were part of the very forest itself. Eyes like smoldering coals glowed faintly, and their footsteps made no sound against the soft earth.
Kael gripped his spear tighter, his heart racing. "Who are they?"
The beast shifted in front of him, its body low to the ground, teeth bared in a silent warning. Its eyes glowed faintly, brighter than before, reflecting the danger looming ahead.
"They're not normal," Kael murmured, his voice barely audible. "They're—"
But before he could finish, one of the figures stepped forward. Taller than the others, with long, flowing robes of dark fabric that shimmered faintly under the moonlight. Its face was shrouded in shadow, but Kael could feel its gaze—cold, calculating, and utterly focused.
The figure raised a hand, and immediately, the other figures stopped moving. The air grew colder, heavier. Magic rippled beneath the surface—Kael could feel it, prickling along his skin like static.
The beast growled louder this time, its body tense, ready to lunge.
"Stay back," Kael whispered, stepping in front of it instinctively.
The figure in front raised its hand once more, and the darkness around them seemed to thicken, shadows twisting unnaturally. "You are not welcome here," the figure spoke—its voice smooth yet tinged with something ancient. "Leave this place before you bring ruin upon yourself."
Kael clenched his jaw, his fingers tightening around the spear. "I came here to find something—something that belongs to me now."
The figure tilted its head slightly, the darkness around it flickering. "You don't understand. The bond you've made… it ties you to forces far beyond your control. The beast is not yours to command—it belongs to the Wilds. It's a creature of power, yes, but not one meant to be tamed."
Kael narrowed his eyes. "You're mistaken. This bond isn't something I chose—it chose me."
The figure's eyes glowed brighter, and a wave of dark energy rippled outward, pushing back against Kael. He staggered, the ground trembling beneath his feet, and the spear trembled in his hand. The beast, too, seemed affected—its growl turning into a low snarl, its body visibly shaking.
"You are bound to something far greater than you know," the figure continued, its voice cold and calculating. "And soon, those powers will awaken. You will not escape what has been set into motion."
Kael gritted his teeth, resisting the wave of fear washing over him. "I'll face whatever comes. I'll protect what's mine."
The figure's lips curved into a cruel smile, but before it could speak again, something else stirred in the shadows—another presence, different from the first. This one was fierce, unmistakably wild, and filled with an energy far older than the first.
From the trees emerged another figure—one unlike the others. Its form was far more primal, more beast-like, with sharp claws and eyes that burned like molten silver. It moved fluidly, almost inhuman, yet regal, as though it were born of magic itself. This wasn't just a shadow—it was something ancient, something tied to the Wilds in ways that far surpassed even the beast beside Kael.
The two figures exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them. Kael could feel the intensity in the air—like the world itself was shifting beneath his feet. The air grew colder, and the tension grew unbearable.
"I don't know what you are," Kael hissed, gripping his spear tighter, "but I won't back down."
The primal figure let out a low growl—deep, guttural, yet filled with power. It was a challenge, clear and undeniable. The other figures, shadows and dark magic, seemed to retreat slightly, unwilling to confront something far older, far more dangerous.
Kael stood firm, his eyes locked on the beast before him—this new, ancient creature that had stepped into the fray. There was something familiar about it—something… bound to the same magic as the beast at his side.
"What is this place?" Kael demanded, his voice filled with urgency. "Why are they here?"
The beast beside him growled low in response, its body trembling slightly. Kael could feel its agitation—its unease at the presence of this new enemy. And he realized, as the primal beast's gaze bore into him, that this wasn't just a battle for survival. This was something far greater—a struggle for control over magic older than anyone could imagine.
And Kael had been dragged right into the middle of it.
---
This chapter introduces the threat lurking in the Wilds and gives more depth to the bond forming between Kael and the primal beast.