The rocky terrain stretched endlessly before them as Haruna, Johan and Heydan continued their trek further northwest into the highlands. Despite the early hour, the sun beat down relentlessly, and Johan could already feel beads of sweat trailing down his neck. He squinted against the harsh light, head still pounding from the drinks at the hot springs last night.

"Impressive work back there identifying our target, Johan," Heydan remarked, glancing back at his companions. "Your brash nature really came in handy."

Johan only grunted in response, eliciting a chuckle from the scout.

As the trio ventured deeper inland, an eerie fog began rolling through the surrounding forest. Wisps of mist curled around the trees like ghostly tendrils, obscuring their trunks from view. The further they went, the denser the fog became until they could barely see ten feet in front of them.

A murder of crows burst from the canopy, cawing raucously as they took to the gloomy sky. The sound set Johan's teeth on edge, and he glanced around warily. There was something sinister about this place that raised the hairs on the back of his neck.

"We must be getting close to Zan," Heydan murmured, a note of unease entering his usually calm voice. "I don't like it here. We should keep moving."

Johan fingered the hilt of his sword, ready to draw the blade at the first sign of trouble. The mist played tricks on his mind, forming twisted shapes that vanished when he tried to focus on them. He quickened his pace, eager to put this cursed forest behind them.

Something told him they weren't alone out here, and whatever was lurking in the shadows was no friend of theirs.

They continued on in tense silence, senses strained for any sign of danger. After another mile, Heydan gestured for them to stop.

"We'll make camp here for the night," he said, dropping his pack to the forest floor. "No point going any further in this soup."

Johan grunted in agreement, rotating his shoulders to relieve the ache from his heavy pack. He busied himself gathering firewood while Heydan cleared a spot to build their campfire. The mundane tasks brought a sense of comfort, a reminder that they were still in control of their own fates.

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Once the fire was crackling merrily, they settled down to eat a cold meal of jerky and hard bread. Johan grimaced at the unappetizing fare but ate without complaint. He'd survived on much worse in his time.

"Right, I'm going to scout the area, make sure we weren't followed," Haruna said once they'd finished. She strapped a long dagger to her belt and checked her other weapons were in easy reach. "I won't go far. You two try and get some rest."

Johan nodded, leaning back against his pack. He stared into the fire, listening to the whispers and creaks of the forest surrounding their tiny island of light. Haruna melted into the shadows, her footsteps silent as a cat's. Johan envied her woodcraft; he always felt like a lumbering ox crashing through the underbrush in comparison.

He glanced at Heydan, who was gazing pensively into the darkness. "Don't worry, she can handle herself," Heyden said. "Get some sleep. I'll take first watch."

Johan gave him a tight smile. "No doubt. Wake me in a few hours." He wrapped himself in his cloak, eyes already drifting shut. Heyden added another branch to the fire, then settled in to stand vigil through the long night ahead.

Haruna moved swiftly through the dark forest, senses alert for any signs of danger. The mist swirled around her legs, muffling her footsteps. She paused every few yards to listen - the cry of a night bird, the skittering of some small animal in the underbrush, the wind sighing through the trees. Nothing alarming.

She scouted in an ever-widening circle around their camp, looking for tracks or any other indications that someone else was in the area. These northern woods were sparsely populated, but that did not mean they were safe.

Satisfied that no immediate threat lurked nearby, Haruna turned back toward the warm glow of the campfire. She had just stepped into a moonlit clearing when the hairs on the back of her neck prickled. Her hand went to the hilt of her dagger as she scanned the surrounding woods.

There - a hint of movement in the shadows. Haruna slid into a defensive stance, ready to fight or flee.

"Must've been a crow" she noted to herself.

She returned to find Johan already tucked into his bedroll near the crackling fire. Johan let out a noisy snore, dead to the world.

Hayden sat watch, stoking the flames. He raised an eyebrow at their approach. "All quiet out there?"

Haruna nodded, settling down to warm her hands by the blaze. "Nothing to report. "

"We should let him rest," she said. "I can take next watch."

"I'm alright for now. Get some shut-eye, both of you." Hayden glanced up at the stars. "Few more hours till dawn.

Haruna hesitated, then nodded. The camp was as secure as they could make it. And she could use the rest after a long day of hiking. She settled into her bedroll, drifting off to the soothing crackle of the fire and Hayden's quiet humming blending with the chorus of the forest night.