The hunters walked through a dense forest, the light of dawn barely piercing the thick canopy above. The air smelled of damp earth and pine, and the sound of their boots crunching against fallen leaves filled the silence.

Kaelen led the way, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his blade. Sigrid followed a few paces behind, her sharp gaze scanning the trees for any sign of danger. Nessa trudged at the rear, her usual snark muted by the oppressive quiet of the woods.

“You’d think after saving their skins, we’d at least get a map,” Nessa grumbled.

Kaelen smirked without looking back. “Where’s the fun in that? You get to discover the wonders of walking aimlessly.”

Sigrid rolled her eyes but said nothing.

After another hour of trudging through the forest, they came upon an old, overgrown path. The stones were cracked and weathered, moss growing thick between them. It stretched deeper into the woods, disappearing into the gloom.

“This wasn’t on the map,” Sigrid said, frowning as she knelt to inspect the path.

“Because it’s ancient,” Kaelen replied, his tone thoughtful. “Could be a forgotten trade route—or a shortcut to something nasty.”

Nessa crossed her arms. “So naturally, we’re going to follow it, right?”

Kaelen’s grin was almost boyish. “Of course. Where’s your sense of adventure?”

Sigrid shook her head but stood, brushing the dirt from her gloves. “Let’s get this over with.”

The path led them to a crumbling stone bridge spanning a narrow, mist-filled ravine. The air here was colder, the silence deeper. Even the birds seemed to avoid this place.

“Lovely,” Nessa muttered, eyeing the bridge warily. “I give it two steps before it collapses.”

Kaelen stepped onto the bridge, testing the stones beneath his boots. They held, though the faint sound of creaking echoed ominously.

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“See?” he said, gesturing for the others to follow. “Perfectly safe.”

Sigrid arched a brow. “Your definition of ‘safe’ is questionable at best.”

Still, she followed him, her steps light and precise. Nessa came last, muttering curses under her breath as she crossed.

On the other side of the ravine, the path continued, leading to what appeared to be the ruins of an old village. The buildings were little more than skeletal frames, their wood blackened and rotting.

“Charming,” Nessa said, her nose wrinkling. “Think anyone’s home?”

Kaelen ignored her, his gaze fixed on a strange symbol carved into a nearby tree. It was a series of interlocking circles, each one etched with jagged lines that seemed to shift under the light.

Sigrid joined him, her expression grim. “I’ve seen this before. It’s a warding sigil. Meant to keep something in—or out.”

Kaelen’s fingers traced the edge of the carving, his eyes narrowing. “Which one do you think it is?”

“Does it matter?” she replied, drawing her dagger.

As if in answer, a low growl rumbled through the ruins, the sound reverberating in their chests.

Nessa groaned. “Why is it always growls? Can’t we just find treasure or something for once?”

Kaelen unsheathed his sword, the blade catching the faint light filtering through the trees. “Where’s the fun in that?”

The growl grew louder, and from the shadows emerged a massive, wolf-like creature. Its fur was matted and black as tar, its eyes glowing an eerie green. Its teeth, long and jagged, dripped with a viscous, dark liquid that hissed when it hit the ground.

“Let me guess,” Kaelen said, his tone light despite the tension. “This one’s got a name too?”

Sigrid nodded, her magic flaring faintly in her hands. “Fenrir’s Scorn. It’s said to be a curse brought to life—a remnant of an ancient betrayal.”

“Great,” Nessa muttered, readying her bow. “We’re fighting a grudge.”

The beast lunged, faster than its size should have allowed. Kaelen barely managed to dodge, his blade slicing through the air in retaliation. The creature howled, its voice splitting the air like thunder.

Sigrid unleashed a burst of magic, icy tendrils snaring the beast’s legs. It snarled, thrashing against the bindings.

“Keep it distracted!” she shouted.

Kaelen darted forward, his strikes precise and relentless. The beast snapped at him, its teeth inches from his arm as he danced away.

Nessa loosed an arrow, the shaft sinking into the creature’s shoulder. It howled again, the sound rattling their bones.

But the beast wasn’t slowing. If anything, it seemed to grow stronger, its wounds knitting together even as they watched.

“It’s healing!” Nessa cried. “What do we do now?”

Kaelen’s eyes flashed, his voice steady. “I’ll deal with it.”

Before anyone could protest, he charged, his movements a blur. His eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, the world sharpening around him.

The beast lunged again, but this time Kaelen was ready. He sidestepped with inhuman precision, driving his blade deep into its side. The creature yelped, its green eyes dimming for a moment.

Kaelen didn’t stop. He twisted the blade, driving it upward, and a sickening crunch echoed through the air. The beast staggered, its strength faltering as Kaelen withdrew his sword.

Sigrid’s magic flared again, encasing the creature in ice. Nessa fired another arrow, this one striking true into its heart.

The beast let out one final, mournful howl before collapsing, its body dissolving into a pool of black ichor.

Kaelen wiped his blade on his cloak, his breath coming in heavy bursts.

“Not bad,” Sigrid said, her tone grudgingly impressed.

“Not bad?” Kaelen replied, grinning despite himself. “I’d call that a masterpiece.”

Nessa snorted. “Sure, let’s call it that. Now can we leave before another one shows up?”

Kaelen sheathed his sword, glancing at the warding sigil again. “Not yet. There’s more to this place than just one monster.”

Sigrid frowned, following his gaze. “You

think this was deliberate?”

Kaelen’s grin faded, his expression grim. “I think someone’s testing us.”