They moved swiftly toward the barrier, following Grey’s directions. The air grew heavier with each step, the looming divide marking the transition from the snowy stillness of their home to the unpredictable vibrancy of the outer woods.

“Everyone, get in position,” Keen commanded, his voice calm but firm. The group quickly adjusted, with Keen, Grey, and Brawl forming a protective outer line while the others stayed in the center. “We’ll move at a light jog. Keep your eyes and ears open. Let’s move.”

They began, the sound of their boots muffled against the forest floor. Serene stayed near Grey, her apprehension evident in her stiff movements and darting eyes. She paused at the barrier, hesitating just before stepping through. The stark contrast between the snowscape behind them and the spring-like growth of the outer woods was jarring, even with the faint chill of the approaching winter hanging in the air.

“Take a breath,” Grey said gently, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. His silver eyes met hers, steady and calm. “We’ll step together.”

She nodded, inhaling deeply before exhaling. With Grey beside her, she took a step forward, her movements growing smoother as her tension eased. Looking at him, she managed a small, grateful smile. “Thanks.”

Nearby, Wild stood frozen at the edge of the barrier, staring at the ground as if something invisible tethered her there. Her eyes filled with grief, her expression clouded with memories. Brawl stepped up beside her, his broad frame towering but steady.

“We have to do this,” he said, his voice gruff but firm. “It’s the only way to honor him—and to make things right.”

Wild glanced up at him, her lip trembling slightly. After a moment, she nodded, gripping his extended arm as she stepped forward with renewed resolve.

Shot brought up the rear, her sharp eyes scanning the treeline for any sign of movement. She stayed close behind Serene, her calm demeanor masking the tension etched into her every step.

Once they all crossed the barrier, they moved forward as one unit, picking up their pace into a light jog. No one spoke, their focus locked on the forest around them. The air felt alive here, the trees swaying slightly despite the lack of wind, their shadows dancing in the dappled sunlight.

Grey’s silver eyes darted across his surroundings, always aware of the golden thread pulling him forward. But something else caught his attention—a faint glimmer just beyond his line of sight. A light orange glow flickered between the trees, its movements erratic yet deliberate. It spiraled slowly, its patterns growing more intricate as they moved.

Before Grey could say anything, Shot’s voice rang out sharply. “Stop!”

The group froze in an instant, weapons raised and eyes scanning the forest.

“What’s wrong?” Keen asked as he turned to her.

Grey answered first, his voice low but certain. “Something’s coming. I noticed it too, just a moment ago.”

The air grew still, the forest around them falling into a heavy silence. Even the faint sounds of rustling leaves seemed to vanish, leaving only the soft rhythm of their breaths.

Then, it emerged—a blur of motion darting between the trees. The sleek shape moved too fast to fully register, its silver form flashing in and out of view. The chittering sound that followed was sharp and unsettling, like metal scraping against stone.

“Did you see that?” Serene whispered, her voice tight as she raised her bow.

“Stay focused,” Keen commanded, his grip tightening on his weapon.

A glint of yellow eyes reflected the faint light filtering through the canopy before disappearing again. The next moment, the creature broke from the shadows, its lean, sinewy frame low to the ground. It paused for a heartbeat, barbed tails flicking behind it as its piercing gaze locked onto the group.

Then, in an instant, the creature vanished into the trees again, leaving only heavy silence and the suffocating tension of an unseen predator closing in.

Grey’s sharp eyes caught brief glimpses of it—a four-legged figure with a sleek, sinewy body that resembled a massive lizard. Its claws gleamed like polished steel, and its segmented tail flicked behind it like a whip, cutting through the air.

“Keep together!” Brawl shouted, his voice booming with authority. “It’s testing us! If it wanted to strike, it wouldn’t have shown itself like that.”

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Grey gritted his teeth, shifting his focus from the chaotic spirals of Will he’d been trying to read. The patterns were too erratic to decipher in the heat of the moment. Instead, he tuned his senses to the subtle sounds—the crunch of leaves, the faint rustle of disturbed branches. “If we can hold it still for just a second,” he said, his voice low but steady, “Serene, Shot, and I can shoot it. Even if the arrows graze it, the poison will slow it down.”

“I’ll try to lure it in,” Brawl growled. His grip on his club tightened as his eyes scanned the surrounding trees. “Think it’s locked on you?”

Grey shook his head. “I’m not sure. If it was, it probably would’ve been more reckless by now.”

“Got it.” Brawl’s tone turned resolute. “Keen, cover me with the spear. Wild, stay close to him—don’t rush in unless I call for you.”

The group shifted formation. Brawl moved away slowly, his legs bent, every muscle in his frame coiled like a spring, ready to explode into motion. The tension was thick enough to choke on as the others tightened their grips on their weapons.

Then it came. A streak of silver shot from the treetops, faster than anyone expected. Keen reacted instantly, thrusting his spear forward with precision. The creature twisted midair, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the sudden shift in its trajectory slowed it down just enough for Brawl to act.

With a feral roar, Brawl lunged, his massive hands closing around one of the beast’s powerful legs. The creature thrashed wildly, its segmented tail lashing out with enough force to crack the bark of a nearby tree.

“Now!” Brawl bellowed, his voice straining as he wrestled with the creature’s raw power.

Wild sprang into action, darting forward with remarkable agility. The creature flailed, its claws raking the air, but Wild was relentless, grappling with its other leg to give the group the opening they needed.

Grey, Serene, and Shot raised their bows in unison, their poisoned arrows glinting in the dappled light of the forest. “Hold steady!” Serene called, her voice tense as she tracked the writhing target.

With Wild’s extra effort pinning the beast down for a brief moment, three arrows found their mark, sinking into the creature’s side and flank.

The effect was almost immediate. The creature’s thrashing slowed, its movements losing their earlier sharpness. The glow in its eyes dimmed slightly, and its claws dug into the ground less forcefully as the toxin began to course through its veins.

The creature let out a piercing screech, the sound vibrating in their ears as it stumbled to regain its footing. Its powerful tail lashed out again, narrowly missing Brawl as he dove out of the way. The beast staggered, its speed faltering, its limbs trembling as the poison sapped its strength.

Keen saw the opening and didn’t hesitate. With precision honed by years of hunting, he hurled another spear he had prepared for this hunt. The weapon whistled through the air, striking the creature square in the chest. The impact drove it backward, pinning it against the base of a tree.

The beast let out one final, guttural hiss before collapsing. Its limbs twitched weakly, and its segmented tail coiled once before going limp. The glow in its eyes faded completely, and the forest fell silent once more.

The group stood still, their breaths heavy and visible in the cold air. Brawl wiped his brow and stepped forward, pulling the spear from the beast’s chest. Blood oozed from the wound, pooling on the forest floor.

“Everyone alright?” he asked, his voice gruff but steady.

Grey nodded, though his arms trembled slightly as he lowered his bow. “Yeah. That poison… it worked fast.”

“Good thing too,” Wild muttered, brushing dirt from her arms. “If it hadn’t slowed down, we’d still be chasing it.”

Keen glanced around, his sharp eyes scanning the trees for any signs of movement. “Let’s not waste time. Check the body for anything useful, but stay alert. If it had companions, we’ll know soon enough.”

The group moved quickly, surrounding the fallen beast. Its sleek, scaled body was still and lifeless, but its sharp claws and segmented tail were a grim reminder of how dangerous it had been moments ago. Grey crouched beside the corpse, his eyes narrowing as he examined its hide for signs of a Central Core.

Shot ran her hand along its side, her expression grim. “Nothing here,” she sighed, wiping her hands on her cloak. “No Core. But the meat and leather could still be useful for the village.”

Keen nodded, standing from his own search. “We’ll take it on the way back. If another beast doesn’t get to the corpse before then, it’ll still be worth harvesting. For now, it’s too dangerous to carry it with us and risk being slowed down.”

Brawl stood, his towering frame casting a shadow over the others. “Yeah, we’re not done here. Considering it had no Core, that means it wasn’t what we were after. Right, kid?” He looked at Grey, his expression expectant.

Grey nodded, his silver eyes fixed on the glowing thread still pulling him forward. “Yeah. That wasn’t the target. The thread’s still leading that way.” He raised a hand, pointing toward the dense trees ahead, where the forest seemed darker and less forgiving.

Keen’s gaze followed Grey’s direction, his jaw tightening. “Alright. Regroup, get back in formation. We’re moving out now.”

The group quickly fell back into their positions, the tension thick in the air as they prepared to press forward. Grey stole a glance at Serene, her bow gripped tightly in her hands. She caught his eye and gave him a small nod, her resolve firm despite the apprehension flickering in her gaze.

With Keen at the lead, Brawl close behind, and Grey guiding them with the thread, the group advanced into the unknown. The forest around them seemed to grow quieter with each step, the vibrant sounds of life replaced by an uneasy stillness. Shadows stretched long between the trees, and every crunch of their boots against the forest floor felt louder than it should.

Ahead lay the unknown, and with it, whatever conflict awaited them.