Veil's breath rose in white clouds, escaping his chapped lips only to vanish into the freezing air. The relentless cold seeped through his damp clothes, clinging to his skin like a frozen second layer. Every movement was an ordeal, his numb muscles protesting, and his feet, trapped in soaked shoes, sank deep into the snow with each step. Each stride was a challenge. The thick layer of snow weighed him down like an invisible barrier, dragging at his legs. The biting cold clung to him hungrily, devouring what little body heat remained. Around him, towering trees stood like the pillars of a silent cathedral. Their snow-laden branches formed an uneven ceiling, allowing only a faint, diffused light to filter through, bathing the forest in a somber, oppressive atmosphere. Veil (rapid breath): "It's... so cold..." His hoarse, weak voice was swallowed by the vast silence. The wind, like an unforgiving messenger, carried his words away before he could even hear them himself. His teeth chattered, a light but constant sound—a testament to the battle he was waging against the cold. As he pressed forward, exhaustion marking his every step, a strange sound pierced the silence. CRACK. A sharp crack from behind him echoed like a gunshot in the muffled atmosphere. His heart skipped a beat. He froze, his muscles tense, ready to react. Slowly, very slowly, he turned his head, his wide eyes scanning the shadows between the massive trunks. The outlines of the trees seemed to twist and shift, as if hiding unseen presences. Every trunk, every branch seemed to conceal something watching him. Veil (internal thought, trying to reassure himself): It's nothing... Just a branch. Yeah, just a branch. Stay calm. But the silence didn't last. Another sound broke it—quieter this time, more insidious: light footsteps in the snow, steady, drawing closer. Veil (internal thought, alert): Someone's following me? No... not someone... something. A cold sweat trickled down the back of his neck, a stark contrast to the frost biting at his skin. Fear, icy and relentless, rose within him, squeezing the air from his lungs. He started walking again, first slowly, then faster, his feet sinking hastily into the thick snow. Each step sounded like an alarm, breaking the forest's stillness, and he knew the noise was betraying him. The cracks behind him grew more frequent, more deliberate, like a response to his increasing pace. Then, a distinct, visceral sound filled the air. A growl. Deep. Menacing. Time seemed to freeze. Veil's heart pounded wildly, his breath becoming short and erratic. Veil (internal thought, panicked): Animals? No... that's not normal. This isn't good, not good at all! He turned his head in every direction, his eyes frantically searching the darkness for the source of the sound. And then he saw them. Three pairs of eyes glowed in the shadows, piercing the darkness like shards of icy light. Their intensity, almost supernatural, seemed to cut through him, freezing the breath in his chest. The slit, narrow pupils reflected a predatory, relentless intelligence. Slowly, their silhouettes emerged from the underbrush. Massive wolves, their silvery-blue fur shimmering in the diffuse light, stood before him. Their imposing stature and icy calm made the scene all the more oppressive. Their chests rose and fell slowly, marking a steady, deliberate rhythm, as if savoring the moment before the attack. They crept forward with silent steps, their low growls resonating in the frozen air like a tacit warning. Veil (cold sweat): "Wolves... No way! They think I'm prey!" He instinctively stepped back, but his foot struck a frozen branch, which snapped with a sharp crack. CRACK. The wolves' ears immediately perked up. Their attention, already fixed on him, grew even more intense. Their growls deepened, turning guttural, and their lips curled back to reveal long, razor-sharp fangs made for tearing flesh. A fourth wolf emerged from the underbrush, its movements so silent it seemed to glide across the snow, its gaze glowing with an almost malevolent light. Veil (internal thought, panicked but searching for a solution): Four... There are four of them. What am I supposed to do? I can't take them all on... But if I run, they'll catch me. Do I even have a chance, no matter how small? He frantically scanned the area, desperately searching for something to defend himself with. Beneath a thin layer of snow, he spotted a broken branch. Thick and covered in frost, it looked sturdy enough to serve as an improvised weapon. Veil (internal thought, hesitant but resolute): A branch... That's all I've got? Will it be enough? I'm really going to have to fight... against them. He quickly bent down to grab it, his fingers trembling from the cold and adrenaline. The branch was icy, and pain shot through his wrists the moment he touched it, but he gripped it tightly. Veil (stubborn): "Alright... alright... This will have to do." A fierce growl yanked him brutally out of his thoughts. The first wolf leaped, its paws outstretched and its fangs ready to bite. Veil (internal thought, panicked): Move! Do something! His body reacted before his mind. He threw himself to the side, rolling through the snow as the biting cold seeped into every fiber of his being. The wolf landed just beside him, sending up a spray of snow on impact. Veil rolled and quickly pushed himself up, panting, the branch clutched in both hands like a final barrier between him and the beasts. Veil (panting): "Too close! Way too close!" The wolf, its growls brimming with raw fury, locked its gaze on him. Its muscles coiled, and before Veil could think any further, it lunged again. Veil (internal thought, determined): Now! It's now or never! He raised the branch and swung it down with all the strength he could muster. CRACK. The sharp sound echoed through the icy air. The branch struck the wolf's head, sending it crashing heavily into the snow with a yelp of pain. Flurries of snow scattered into the air, forming a fleeting cloud. Veil (internal thought, incredulous): I... hit it? I actually did it? The wolf rolled onto its side, growling weakly, its ragged breaths forming quick puffs of vapor in the frozen air. Its body trembled, caught between pain and survival instinct, but it was still moving. Veil hadn't won. Not yet. His eyes remained locked on the injured predator, but he had no time to relish this small victory. A deep, oppressive growl rose behind him. The other three wolves were advancing slowly, their light steps leaving faint prints in the pristine snow. Their growls, deeper and more menacing, seemed to vibrate directly in Veil's chest. Their glistening fangs, exposed beneath curled lips, shone like blades under the diffuse light. Veil (internal thought, desperate): They won't back down. There are more of them... they're faster... I'm done for. His already labored breathing grew erratic. His hands, clenched tightly around the improvised branch, trembled under the combined effects of the cold, adrenaline, and a visceral fear. Veil (internal thought, trying to compose himself): Focus! Four opponents... How can I... No, stop thinking. Just act! A sudden movement in front of him forced him to react. Two wolves leaped simultaneously, their blurred silhouettes breaking away from the white backdrop in a flash of motion. Veil stumbled backward, his feet slipping on the treacherous snow. His back slammed against a massive tree trunk, the impact knocking the air out of his lungs and sending a dull pain radiating through his ribs. He winced, but there was no time to dwell on the pain. One of the wolves lunged at him from the right, its gleaming fangs ready to bite. Veil dropped to the ground, rolling to the side. His cheek struck the rough snow, scraping his already frozen skin. The wolf's jaws snapped dangerously close to his arm, the sharp sound ringing out like a cruel warning. Veil (internal thought, frantic): No... no, no, no! I refuse to die here! His panicked gaze darted to the ground in a final, desperate hope. His numb fingers frantically dug through the snow, searching for anything to help him escape. That's when he saw it: a stone, half-buried, faintly glistening beneath a thin layer of frost. He reached out, his trembling hand grasping for the stone despite the biting cold coursing through his body. His grip was weak, his fingers stiff, but it would have to be enough. In a desperate move, he rolled to the side and pushed himself up onto one knee, clutching the stone as tightly as his failing strength would allow. Veil (shouting): "TAKE THIS!" He hurled the stone with all the force he could muster. The object sliced through the air, its sharp whistle cutting through the silence of the forest. The stone struck the wolf mid-leap, hitting its snout with a sharp crack. A yelp pierced the air, followed by a furious growl. The wolf staggered back a few steps, shaking its head in an attempt to shake off the pain. Fresh blood dripped onto the pristine snow, tracing a vivid red line that seemed to shimmer in the diffuse light. Veil (internal thought, desperately determined): It's now or never! If I don't act, they'll kill me! Driven by a mix of rage and despair, Veil let out a guttural scream. Forgetting his fear, forgetting even the cold that numbed his body, he lunged toward the injured wolf. His mind faded into the background, letting instinct take over. His fingers found the broken branch he had dropped earlier. He gripped it so tightly his knuckles turned white, and with all the strength he could muster, he brought the improvised weapon crashing down on the animal's skull. CRACK. The sharp sound echoed through the wintry air, brutal and final. The wolf collapsed into the snow, its body wracked by a final spasm before going still. A muffled whine escaped its throat, and its blue eyes lost their brilliance, now staring into an eternal void. Veil (panting): "I... I did that...?" He stepped back, his hands trembling violently. The branch nearly slipped from his fingers. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the animal. The snow around it was stained red, a brutal contrast that seemed to consume his entire focus. Veil (internal thought, shocked and incredulous): I killed it... Me... I didn't even know I was capable of that. But his brief respite was short-lived. A deep growl echoed, this time even more oppressive. He lifted his head and saw the other three wolves. They didn't retreat. On the contrary, their steps were steadier, their determination more palpable. Slowly, they began to move in a circle, their movements precise and calculated, as if to corner their prey. Veil (internal thought, terrified and lost): There are still three... And they're not afraid. Why am I here? Why is this happening to me? His breathing grew erratic, each inhale forming dense clouds in the icy air. His grip on the branch tightened, even though his numb fingers slipped slightly on the wood, damp with snow and sweat. A sharp pain throbbed in his forehead, a reminder of a blow he'd taken earlier. A thin line of blood trickled down his temple, mingling with the irregular streaks of frozen sweat that crisscrossed his face. His gaze lingered for a moment on the wolf he had just killed. The pristine snow around its body was splattered with red, a violent scene that made a lump rise in his throat. But he quickly looked away. Veil (internal thought, forcing himself to refocus): I can't let myself get distracted... That's exactly what they're waiting for. Focus, Veil... Focus, or you'll be next. The wolves were still growling, their movements slow but relentless. They waited, as if they knew his exhaustion would eventually betray him. The weight of their stares was suffocating, every step they took in the snow amplifying the crushing tension. Veil (internal thought, searching for a way out): I have to find a solution... I can't take them all on like this. Not in this state. He swallowed hard, summoning what little courage he had left. His legs trembled, but he forced them to stay steady. He had no choice: he had to survive. Though he tried to stay focused, his eyes drifted briefly back to the lifeless wolf lying on the ground. The snow around the animal was stained red, a brutal contrast that seemed to pull at his mind. A part of him registered the horror of what he had done, but there was no time to dwell on it. The reality of what he had just done crashed over him like an icy wave. He had taken a life. Not by choice, but by necessity. Yet he felt no remorse, no relief. Only an overwhelming fatigue that weighed heavily on his shoulders and a visceral fear clinging to his mind, refusing to let go. His gaze returned to the three remaining wolves. They continued to watch him, their piercing eyes gleaming through the icy mist like ominous stars. They didn't seem intimidated. Veil knew this calm was only temporary. They were waiting for their moment, an opening to deliver the fatal blow. Veil (internal thought, burdened but determined): They won't stop. No matter what I do, there are too many of them... But I can't give up. Not now. He clenched his teeth, trying to suppress the panic threatening to consume him. His breath grew ragged, almost animalistic, as he fought to stay on his feet. Veil (panting, shouting): "I'm not... DYING HERE!" A defiant cry escaped his lips, raw and coarse. His legs, weakened by the cold and exhaustion, trembled for a moment before yielding to his will. He planted his feet firmly in the snow, ignoring the sharp pain radiating through his muscles. The wolves didn't move immediately. They seemed to be weighing their options, their piercing gazes never leaving their prey. But their pointed ears and taut muscles betrayed their imminent intent. Veil (internal thought, on guard): They're testing me. They know I'm at my limit. But I'm waiting for them too. The wind howled through the trees, a wild scream that drowned out the menacing growls of the predators. Snow swirled around Veil, creating a fleeting veil that blurred his vision. And that's when he felt it—something else. A presence. It wasn't just the wolves. There was something more, lurking in the shadows. An oppressive sensation settled in his chest, as if an unseen gaze were scrutinizing his every move. Veil (internal thought, uneasy and perplexed): Someone... or something... is watching me. How long has it been there? Why isn't it doing anything? His eyes searched around him, but he saw nothing. Only the trees, the wind, and the wolves that continued to stare him down. That presence remained hidden, still cloaked in the shadows.