Rowan's POV
That growl wasn't just some ordinary monster sound, you know? It was a real threat, deep and nasty, and it made the ground shake. Before I could even think, my body moved on its own, putting me right in front of Elaria. My inner wolf felt all edgy, ready to go.
Stay close, I mumbled, mostly to myself.
Elaria got the message. She was already right behind me, breathing steady even though you could feel this heavy, unseen force pressing down on us. This wasn't some random monster attack – someone planned this.
The smell was off. It wasn't just the usual dirt and pine trees from Nyxvale. It was heavier, almost rotten. This meant there were more than just wild animals lurking around.
I clenched my hands, and my claws popped out as the bushes rustled again. The shadows in front of us seemed to move, and then, BAM, eyes appeared, catching the moonlight like broken glass.
These aren't just random monsters, Elaria whispered. Look how they're lined up.
She was right. Monsters usually just charge in like crazy, driven by whatever instinct they have. But these things were moving with a purpose. They were waiting for us.
A quick move, and then nothing. A test. A taunt. They were sizing us up.
My chest tightened up. Those creeps are playing with us.
I growled and stepped forward, not wanting to play their stupid game. If they wanted a fight, then bring it on.
But before I could charge, Elaria grabbed my arm. Rowan, wait.
She pointed to the ground. There were symbols scratched into the dirt, and they had this faint, creepy glow. My blood turned to ice. I knew those symbols from the really old books I'd been studying.
This wasn't just some ambush. It was like some kind of ritual.
Before I could even react, the ground started shaking. The symbols glowed brighter, and the forest around us went from scary to totally nightmare fuel.
A wall of shadows shot out from the trees, heading right for us like it was alive. Inside, you could see these messed-up figures flickering in and out of solid form. Their eyes were burning like hot coals, staring right at us with a pang of hunger.
Elaria swore under her breath. We need to go. Now!
But it was already too late. The trap had been sprung.
Something I couldn't see hit me hard, knocking the air out of my lungs and sending me flying. My back slammed into the ground, and pain shot through my head. I couldn't see straight as the night turned into twisting shadows and far-off screams.
Before I passed out, I saw Elaria. Her golden eyes were burning like fire as she stood her ground.
Then everything went dark.
I woke up with a jolt, gasping for air. My chest felt really tight, and it was hard to breathe. Elaria's warning kept echoing in my head, but there was something else too – whispers. They were soft, but they kept pulling me.
I forced myself to move, and the voices got louder. It was like something was getting closer, wanting me to listen. The trees started to thin out, and I ended up in a clearing. In the middle of the clearing was a lake, and it was so black you couldn't see anything in it. The trees around the lake were standing perfectly still, like they were waiting for something.
A weird feeling crawled through my bones. A pull that I couldn't fight.
Then, the whispers started forming words.
Rowan.
I spun around, looking around the empty forest. The air felt heavy, like something old was watching me. My instincts were telling me to get out of there, but I couldn't move.
I took a step closer to the water.
The water moved, and my reflection started to change.
For a second, I saw something else looking back at me. It looked like me, but with burning eyes and sharp, mean features. A predator. I could feel its urge for blood, like it was inside me, wanting to get out.
The whispers got stronger.
Come closer.
A gust of wind blew through the trees, and leaves went flying across the water. The water started to swirl, and a figure started rising from the depths. It was wearing dark robes and had this overwhelming sense of strength.
I tried to move, but I couldn't make a sound.
Then, it spoke.
You are not ready.
Something slammed into my chest, knocking me backward. I hit the ground hard, and pain shot through my back. Gasping, I scrambled to my feet. The figure was gone, but the lake was still all stirred up, with ripples spreading from something under the water.
I stumbled back. I had to get out of there.
I turned to run—
And froze.
Elaria was standing at the edge of the trees, and she looked really worried.
What did you do?
Before I could answer, a cold wind blew through the clearing, carrying a weird smell. My wolf got all riled up, sensing danger.
I took a step forward, looking around at the shadows between the trees.
Come on out, I growled, trying to sound tougher than I felt.
Nothing.
Then—a whisper. Soft, and almost too quiet to hear.
Rowan.
I spun around, grabbing the hilt of my sword. The smell was getting stronger, like old metal and decay. Wrong.
A rustle in the bushes.
Then—movement.
I didn't hesitate. I charged, swinging my sword. But the figure moved super-fast, dodging out of the way.
Pain shot through my ribs as something hit me from behind, knocking me down. I twisted around, kicking my attacker off just in time to get back on my feet.
I was breathing hard as I looked around.
Eyes.
Lots of them, glowing like hot coals in the dark.
Then they all stepped forward at once.
I was surrounded.
Trapped.
And the noose was getting tighter.