The forest grew darker with each step. The trees towered above Elara, their twisted, gnarled branches blocking out the sun, casting the path ahead in deep shadow. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and something faintly metallic. Elara's every instinct screamed at her to turn back, but she knew she couldn't. Not now.
Beside her, Kaelen's presence was a constant whisper, though he remained unseen. His words reverberated in her mind, reminding her of the danger that lurked ahead. "The Darkwood is not a place for the faint-hearted," he had warned her earlier, "but it is our only chance to find Seraphine. Stay alert."
Elara gripped the strap of her bag tighter, trying to ignore the creeping unease that had settled in her chest. She had heard stories about the Darkwood—of travelers who entered and never returned, of creatures that stalked the shadows, waiting to prey on the unwary. But nothing could have prepared her for the eerie silence that enveloped them. No birds, no insects, just an oppressive quiet that pressed in on her from all sides.
"So, how far is this place?" she asked, her voice breaking the stillness. "This Seraphine woman. Where does she even live in this forest?"
Kaelen's voice came through her mind, calm and steady. "Seraphine's home is deep within the Darkwood. She resides in a place known as the Hollow Grove. It's a secluded part of the forest, hidden from most. Few have ever found it—and fewer still have left."
Elara shivered at the last part. The idea of getting lost in a place where even the bravest of souls could vanish sent a chill through her. Still, there was no turning back.
As they walked, the woods seemed to close in around them. The trees were dense, their trunks thick and dark, their leaves a deep shade of green that almost looked black in the gloom. The path they walked on was narrow and overgrown with brambles and moss, twisting and turning as though it had a mind of its own.
"Do you feel that?" Elara whispered, glancing over her shoulder.
There was a heaviness in the air, a presence that seemed to pulse through the forest itself. She wasn't sure if it was the forest playing tricks on her or if something—or someone—was truly out there, watching them.
Kaelen's voice was low, almost a murmur. "I feel it too. The Darkwood is alive with ancient magic, and it has a way of feeding off fear. Stay calm, Elara. If you let the fear take hold, it will only grow stronger."
She swallowed hard, trying to steady her breath. It was easier said than done.
Suddenly, a rustling noise echoed from the underbrush to their left. Elara froze, her heart leaping in her chest. She turned her head toward the sound, but all she could see were the dark shapes of trees and the tangled undergrowth.
"What was that?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Kaelen's response was immediate. "Stay quiet. There's something in the woods with us."
The hairs on the back of Elara's neck stood on end as she strained to listen. The rustling continued, growing louder, followed by a faint, rhythmic thudding sound—like something large moving through the forest.
"What is it?" Elara breathed, her eyes wide.
Kaelen's voice was strained. "I can't see it, but I can feel it. It's something ancient—something the Darkwood has claimed as its own. Don't engage with it. Keep walking."
Elara took a hesitant step forward, but the sound didn't go away. Instead, it seemed to be getting closer.
Out of the corner of her eye, Elara caught a glimpse of something large and dark moving between the trees. She couldn't make out its shape, but its presence was undeniable—something shadowy and immense, its form just out of her reach.
"Kaelen," she whispered urgently, "it's getting closer. What should I do?"
"Don't look at it directly," Kaelen's voice instructed. "Focus on the path ahead. Don't acknowledge it."
Elara fought to steady her breath, forcing herself to look forward. Her eyes locked onto the narrow trail ahead, ignoring the way the shadows seemed to shift and twitch out of the corners of her vision. Every instinct screamed at her to turn and run, but she forced herself to take another step.
Then, without warning, the thudding stopped. The rustling faded into the background, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.
For a moment, Elara dared to hope that whatever it was had passed. She turned to glance behind her, but before she could fully look, a low growl rumbled from the darkness, a sound so deep it seemed to vibrate through the ground.
A massive shape leaped out from the trees, its silhouette barely visible in the shifting shadows. Elara froze, her blood turning cold. It was like a wolf, but not quite. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent yellow light, and its teeth gleamed like daggers in the dim light.
She stepped back instinctively, but the creature was faster. With a snarl, it lunged toward her, its massive claws swiping through the air.
Elara screamed, but Kaelen's voice rang in her mind like a command: Run, Elara! Run now!
Without thinking, Elara turned and bolted down the path, her heart pounding in her chest. Behind her, she could hear the creature's growls growing louder, its footsteps crashing through the underbrush as it gave chase.
The forest seemed to shift around her as she ran, the path twisting and turning, narrowing with each step. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and her feet slipped on the slick ground as she tried to push herself faster.
The creature was gaining on her.
"Kaelen!" she cried out, fear surging through her. "I can't outrun it!"
"You don't need to outrun it," Kaelen's voice said urgently. "I'll help you. When I give the word, stop and turn to face it."
Elara didn't understand what he meant, but there was no time to question it. She focused on the path ahead, trying to keep her balance as the creature's growls became louder, more desperate.
"Now!" Kaelen commanded.
At his word, Elara pivoted on her heel, turning to face the approaching creature. It was mere seconds away from reaching her, its eyes burning with hunger.
Kaelen's voice filled her mind again, this time filled with power. "Retiro!"
In an instant, the air around Elara crackled, and the creature faltered, its body jerking backward as if struck by an invisible force. It let out an angry howl and stumbled back into the trees, retreating into the darkness.
Elara stood frozen, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her heart pounded so loudly she could barely hear the fading growl of the creature. She felt lightheaded, drained from the adrenaline that had coursed through her, but she was alive.
"What…what was that?" she whispered, her voice shaking.
"That," Kaelen said, "was a darkling—one of the many creatures that inhabit the Darkwood. They are drawn to fear, and the magic of the forest feeds on that fear. But you've done well. You didn't panic."
Elara nodded, still reeling from the encounter. "But it could have killed me."
"It nearly did," Kaelen replied, his tone serious. "But you've taken the first step, Elara. You're stronger than you think."
Elara stood there for a long moment, her legs trembling beneath her. The path ahead felt even more uncertain than it had before, but one thing was clear now: she wasn't going to let the Darkwood claim her.
She wasn't done yet.