The air felt heavy as Ravenna and Damien packed their things and prepared to move. The distant howls of wolves echoed around them, a reminder that they weren't alone. Ravenna could feel the weight of the pendant around her neck, its mysterious power both unsettling and comforting at the same time.
Damien led the way, his eyes scanning the treeline for any signs of movement. The forest was dense, the canopy above thick with leaves, but he moved with confidence, knowing exactly where to step. Ravenna followed closely behind, her mind racing with questions.
"Damien," she said after a while, her voice quiet, "Do you think those wolves were the ones looking for me?"
"I'm not sure," Damien replied, glancing back at her. "But I'd bet they weren't here by accident. Whoever is behind all this is getting closer."
Ravenna felt a shiver run down her spine at his words. The idea that someone—or something—was deliberately hunting her felt like an overwhelming weight pressing down on her chest.
They walked in silence for a while, the tension between them palpable. Eventually, Damien stopped and pointed toward a small path obscured by thick underbrush.
"We'll take this route. It'll be faster, and hopefully, we can avoid any more surprises."
Ravenna nodded, stepping forward as he cleared the way. The path was narrow, barely wide enough for them to walk side by side, but it wound through the forest in a way that felt almost unnatural. It was as if the trees themselves were guiding them, the branches parting just enough to let them through.
As they walked, the pendant around her neck seemed to grow warmer, its glow faint but unmistakable. Ravenna couldn't shake the feeling that it was calling her toward something, as though it knew something she didn't.
"Damien, do you think this pendant has a purpose?" she asked suddenly, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Damien's steps slowed, and he turned to face her. "I think it's more than just a piece of jewelry, Ravenna. I believe it's tied to who you are—and what you're meant to do. But we won't know for sure until we get answers."
She looked down at the pendant, her fingers brushing against the cool metal. It had been with her for as long as she could remember, but it had always felt like a mystery—one that she wasn't ready to solve.
"What if I'm not ready for this?" she whispered, more to herself than to Damien.
"You don't have to be ready," Damien replied, his tone soft but steady. "I'll be here with you, every step of the way. We'll face whatever comes together."
The sincerity in his words made Ravenna's heart skip a beat, and for the first time since they'd set out on this journey, she felt like maybe—just maybe—she wasn't as alone as she thought.
They continued walking, the forest growing darker as the sun dipped lower in the sky. Ravenna's thoughts kept drifting back to the pendant, and to the haunting howl of the wolves that echoed in the distance.
Something was coming for her. And no matter how hard she tried to ignore it, Ravenna knew that her past—her real past—was finally catching up with her.