Nina, with Ronan and Rex trailing close behind, begin the trek back through the Whispering Woods. The path, though barely visible, is relatively easy to follow, the undergrowth less dense than the deeper parts of the forest's heart. The initial relief of escaping the oppressive aura of the ruined temple slowly fades, replaced by a growing sense of unease. The silence of the woods, once a welcome respite, now feels heavy, almost expectant.
Rex, usually boisterous and playful, remains subdued, his head occasionally lifting to sniff the air, his ears pricked. Ronan strides silently beside Nina, his massive form a reassuring presence despite his quiet demeanor. As they near the edge of the woods, the trees begin to this, giving way to a sun-drenched meadow stretching towards a distant village. A small, ramshackle building sits at the edge of the woods, smoke curling lazily from its chimney.
It appears to be an abandoned ranger's outpost, its weathered wood hinting at long neglect. As they approach the meadow's edge, a figure emerges from the ranger's outpost, their form initially obscured by the late afternoon sun. As the figure steps fully into the light, Nina recognizes the bright, almost iridescent, green robes of a member of the Emerald Order, a group known for their healing abilities and their close ties to nature. The woman approaches cautiously, her eyes, a startling shade of violet, fixed on Nina and her companions.
You are the ones who disturbed the Whispering Woods," she says, her voice calm but laced with an undercurrent of authority. "I sensed the shift in the energy. Tell me, what happened within?"