The forest of Eldermere was not a place for the faint of heart. By day, it was an endless sea of ancient trees, their branches tangled like a web of secrets. But by night, it transformed into a realm of whispers and unseen eyes. No one dared venture into the woods after sunset, for it was said that the cursed walked among the shadows.
Ravenna clutched her basket tightly, the weight of her mother's words pressing on her mind. "Never linger in the forest after dusk," her mother had warned. But tonight, she had no choice.
The village healer's hut was nearly empty of supplies, and the sickly cries of a fever-stricken child still echoed in her ears. She had to gather the rare moonflower, a plant that only bloomed under the light of the crescent moon. It was a gamble, and every step deeper into the woods made her heart pound harder.
As she knelt to pluck a cluster of moonflowers, the sound of heavy breathing froze her in place. It wasn't her own. The air grew colder, and a faint growl rumbled through the trees. Slowly, Ravenna turned her head.
A man—or at least, something that resembled one—staggered out from the shadows. His black cloak was torn, and his silver hair was matted with blood. But it was his eyes that struck her. They glowed faintly, like embers in a dying fire.
"Help... me..." he rasped, collapsing onto the ground.
Instinct took over. Despite the fear that clawed at her chest, Ravenna dropped her basket and rushed to his side. His skin was ice-cold, and the wound on his side was deep, far beyond what she'd seen in any of the village hunters.
"What happened to you?" she whispered, though she wasn't sure she wanted the answer.
He didn't respond. His hand, strong despite his weakness, gripped her wrist. "Leave..." he muttered. "It's not safe..."
But before she could pull away, a sound like a distant howl pierced the air. Ravenna's heart leapt to her throat. The stories of the cursed—of beasts that roamed the forest under the moonlight—suddenly felt all too real.
Every instinct screamed at her to run, but something about the man kept her rooted in place. His pain was palpable, and his eyes held a desperation that she couldn't ignore. Against her better judgment, she slipped an arm under his shoulder and tried to lift him.
"You're going to be fine," she said, though she wasn't sure if it was true.
The journey back to the village was a blur of shadows and fear. By the time she reached her mother's hut, her arms burned from the effort of dragging him.
Her mother's face turned pale at the sight of him. "Ravenna, what have you done?"
"I couldn't leave him to die," she replied, her voice trembling.
Her mother didn't respond. Instead, she stepped closer to the man and gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "This... this is no ordinary man."
Before Ravenna could question her, the man's eyes opened again, locking onto hers. "You shouldn't have saved me," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "Now, you've sealed your fate."