Kael woke abruptly to the sound of rustling leaves. For a moment, he wasn't sure if he had truly heard it or if his mind, still foggy with sleep, was playing tricks on him. The forest around their camp was unnervingly quiet, save for the faint crackling of the dying fire. Beside him, Mareth lay sprawled out in his bedroll, snoring softly.
Kael's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, resting beside him. His muscles tensed as he scanned the darkness beyond the fire's dim glow. The rustling came again, louder this time, like dry leaves stirred by unseen footsteps.
"Mareth," Kael whispered sharply, nudging his companion with his boot.
Mareth grumbled, swatting at the air. "Five more minutes. I was dreaming about a feast…"
"Wake up," Kael insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Mareth sat up groggily, rubbing his eyes. "What is it now?"
Kael motioned toward the darkness. "Something's out there."
Mareth's demeanor shifted instantly. He grabbed his sword, his eyes darting around the clearing. "You sure?"
Kael nodded. "Positive. It's been circling us for a while."
As if on cue, a low growl echoed from the trees. The sound was guttural and primal, sending a chill down their spines. The fire flickered, casting eerie shadows that seemed to twist and writhe like living things.
A pair of eyes appeared in the darkness, glowing faintly with an unnatural yellow hue. Then another pair, and another, until six sets of eyes were visible, each one locked onto the two adventurers.
"Beasts," Kael muttered, his grip tightening on his sword.
"Rank 1, Tier 1, if we're lucky," Mareth said, his voice laced with tension. "But knowing our luck, they'll probably punch above their weight."
The lead creature stepped into the firelight, revealing its sinewy frame. It resembled a wolf, but its fur was matted and patchy, and its limbs were unnaturally long. Bone-like spikes jutted from its shoulders, and its claws gleamed like polished obsidian.
"Yup," Mareth said, his tone dry. "Definitely punching above their weight."
The lead beast snarled, baring jagged teeth, and the rest of the pack surged forward, their movements unnervingly coordinated.
Kael and Mareth sprang into action. Kael met the first beast head-on, sidestepping its lunge and driving his blade into its side. The creature let out a shrill cry before collapsing, but there was no time to celebrate. Two more beasts were already closing in on him.
Mareth swung his sword in a wide arc, forcing a pair of beasts to back off. "So," he grunted, "think they're just here to welcome us to the neighborhood?"
Kael blocked a swipe from a beast's claws and countered with a quick thrust. "If this is their idea of hospitality, I'm not impressed."
The battle raged on, chaotic and brutal. The beasts fought with savage ferocity, their attacks relentless. Kael and Mareth moved in sync, covering each other's blind spots and using the firelight to their advantage.
Kael felt the familiar tug of the Abyss within him, its power stirring like a coiled serpent. It whispered promises of strength, urging him to unleash it and end the fight quickly. For a moment, he considered it just a moment.
But he shook the thought away. No. He didn't need the Abyss, not for this.
One of the beasts lunged at Kael, its claws aimed for his throat. He ducked, narrowly avoiding the attack, and slashed upward. His blade caught the creature under the chin, and it crumpled to the ground.
"Kael!" Mareth shouted.
Kael turned to see a beast charging at Mareth from behind. Without hesitation, Kael threw his dagger, the blade striking the creature in the shoulder. It stumbled, giving Mareth enough time to spin around and finish it off.
"Thanks for that," Mareth said, panting.
"Just watch your back," Kael replied, retrieving his dagger from the fallen beast.
The last two creatures circled them warily, their glowing eyes full of malice. They were smarter than Kael had anticipated, and it was clear they were waiting for an opening.
"Think they're scared?" Mareth asked, his grip on his sword steady despite his exhaustion.
"They should be," Kael said, though he wasn't entirely sure if he believed it.
The beasts made their move simultaneously, lunging from opposite sides. Kael and Mareth reacted in unison, meeting the attacks head-on. Kael's sword clashed against the creature's claws, the impact sending a jolt up his arm. He pushed back with all his strength, driving the beast into the ground and plunging his blade into its chest.
Mareth's fight was less clean. The beast had managed to knock him off balance, and they grappled on the ground, the creature snapping its jaws mere inches from Mareth's face.
Kael didn't hesitate. He ran to Mareth's aid, kicking the beast off him and finishing it with a swift strike to the neck.
The clearing fell silent once more, save for the sound of their heavy breathing. Kael scanned the darkness, his sword at the ready, but no more eyes appeared in the shadows.
"Are we done?" Mareth asked, sitting up and brushing dirt off his armor.
Kael nodded, though his body remained tense. "For now."
Mareth let out a weak laugh. "Great. Just another relaxing morning in the Scared Realm."
Kael sheathed his sword and reached for his water flask. "Let's pack up and move. We don't want to stick around in case more show up."
"Agreed," Mareth said, groaning as he got to his feet. "But next time, let's camp somewhere less murder-y, yeah?"
Kael didn't respond. As they packed their belongings, his thoughts lingered on the Abyss's tempting whispers. He had resisted this time, but he knew the battle within him wasn't over.
The Wailing Forest had tested their strength, but it was clear that the Scared Realm still held far greater dangers