The howl faded, leaving a vacuum of silence that pressed heavily against the group. Theodoric’s hand remained raised, signaling the guards to hold their ground. Cassie tightened her grip on her dagger, her knuckles whitening. The oppressive quiet seemed to make every breath deafening.
Theodoric broke the silence, his voice measured but firm. “Cedric, flank left. Cassandra, take point with me. The rest, hold formation and cover our backs.”
Cedric, a tall and broad-shouldered noble dressed in dark, finely tailored hunting gear, let out a faint scoff. “Finally, some action,” he muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear. His family crest—a silver hawk in flight—was stitched across his chest, a reminder of his status as heir to the powerful House Veln.
He gave the Crown Prince a pointed look, his smirk sharp as a blade. “Let’s hope we’re not wasting time chasing shadows, Your Highness.”
Cassie caught Theodoric’s flicker of irritation, though he remained composed.
“Do your part, Cedric,” Theodoric said coolly, “and leave the planning to me.”
Cedric hesitated, the smirk on his face faltering for a moment. Cassie stepped forward, her voice low but pointed. “We’re wasting time.” She gestured toward the looming shadows. “It’s circling us. Either we move, or it picks its moment.”
The noble’s smirk returned, though it seemed forced. “Right, of course. Wouldn’t want you to get bored waiting, girl.”
Cassie ignored him, turning back toward the path ahead. Theodoric shot her a quick glance, something unreadable passing between them before he nodded. “Move out.”
The group adjusted their positions with practiced efficiency, the guards falling into step with weapons raised. Cassie moved ahead of Theodoric, her boots pressing silently into the soft ground. Cedric peeled off reluctantly, his bow slung low as he headed to the left flank. His movements were less deliberate than Cassie’s, marked by the occasional crunch of leaves underfoot.
She couldn’t resist a glance in his direction, irritation flickering in her eyes.
A faint glint of sunlight caught the edge of her dagger as she drew it, keeping it low but ready. The deeper they pushed, the more erratic the forest became—trees with clawed bark gave way to patches of undergrowth ripped apart, their branches twisted into unnatural angles.
The forest didn’t feel alive. It felt manipulated.
Behind her, one of Theodoric’s guards, Callen, cleared his throat. “Should we be moving faster?”
“Not unless you want to step into a trap,” Cassie replied, her voice even.
“Or get ambushed,” Theodoric added, emerging from the underbrush to her left. His tone was calm, but there was an edge to it, as if he wasn’t entirely sure whether Callen’s question was born of ignorance or doubt.
They moved as a unit, Theodoric taking the lead while Cassie fell back slightly to maintain a broader view of their surroundings. The faint crunch of Cedric’s group moving parallel to them carried through the air—too loud, Cassie noted.
A sudden rustling to her right snapped her focus. She raised a hand, freezing her section of the team. Her eyes narrowed on the source of the movement: a small bird struggling to free itself from a snare.
It wasn’t the trap itself that caught her attention—it was the placement. The snare was positioned too high for small game, as if it were meant to catch something much larger or dissuade their progress.
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“This wasn’t meant for the hunt,” she muttered, crouching to inspect the trap. Theodoric knelt beside her, his brow furrowing as he examined the thin wire and carefully bent branches holding it in place.
Callen stepped closer. “Who would set something like this? We’re the only ones out here.”
“No,” Theodoric said, his voice low. “We’re the only ones meant to be out here.”
Cassie glanced at him, her lips pressing into a tight line. He was right. The trap’s craftsmanship was precise but utilitarian, lacking the telltale care of a hunter’s tools. This was someone who wanted to injure or slow, not kill outright.
A sharp laugh carried through the trees. Cedric’s voice, unmistakable, broke the moment.
“Are we still creeping around like frightened children?” he called. Moments later, he and his group emerged from the shadows, their armor flecked with bits of foliage. Cedric’s eyes locked on Theodoric with a smirk. “We’re wasting time. If there’s danger here, let’s meet it head-on instead of skulking through the trees like thieves.”
Theodoric rose slowly, his posture radiating calm authority. “And step into a trap, no doubt.”
Cedric’s smile widened. “A trap is only a threat to someone too slow to avoid it.”
The tension between them was palpable, rippling through the clearing like a drawn blade. Cassie shifted her weight, her hand still resting on the hilt of her dagger as she scanned the faces of Cedric’s guards. They seemed loyal enough, but their glances toward Cedric suggested a shared disdain for Theodoric’s more measured approach.
“Then you’re free to go ahead,” Theodoric said finally, his tone cool. “But if you get yourself caught—or worse—don’t expect a rescue.”
Cedric’s smirk faltered briefly, though he recovered quickly. “I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said, stepping closer. “Though perhaps your advisor should be a little less focused on the dirt and more on the real threat. If there even is one.”
Cassie didn’t rise to the bait. She met Cedric’s gaze with a steady, unflinching look before turning back to Theodoric. “We should keep moving.”
“Agreed.” Theodoric’s voice left no room for argument. “Cassandra, you take point again. Cedric, hold your position until we’ve scouted ahead.”
Cedric muttered something under his breath, but he didn’t push further.
As the group pressed on, the forest began to change again. A faint gurgling sound reached their ears, growing louder as they approached a small stream cutting through the trees. The group paused at its edge, the guards lowering their weapons briefly as they knelt to refill their water skins.
Cassie crouched near the water’s edge, dipping her fingers into the cool current. The quiet moment did little to ease the tension coiled in her chest.
“Lovely spot for a break,” Cedric said, his voice laced with mockery. He leaned against a tree, his sword resting loosely in his hand.
Theodoric ignored him, his attention fixed on the forest beyond the stream. “Five minutes,” he said. “No more.”
The sound came without warning—a metallic screech that sent shivers down Cassie’s spine. She shot to her feet, dagger drawn as the trees across the stream exploded outward.
A creature emerged, its body low and sinuous, its claws glinting like polished steel. Its eyes burned with unnatural light, and its growl rumbled deep enough to vibrate the ground beneath their feet.
The guards reacted instantly, forming a loose perimeter around the Crown Prince. Cassie moved to his side, her heart hammering in her chest as she sized up the beast. It wasn’t natural—nothing about it was.
The creature lunged, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed. Cedric was the first in its path, his sword raised in a sloppy defense. He stumbled as the creature swiped at him, the impact knocking him backward.
Theodoric moved without hesitation. His blade struck true, deflecting the beast’s claw mere inches from Cedric’s chest. The creature recoiled, its growl rising to a deafening pitch as it circled the group.
“Stay together!” Theodoric barked, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Cassie darted forward, her dagger slicing a shallow line across the creature’s flank. It turned toward her with a snarl, its glowing eyes narrowing.
“Over here!” she shouted, drawing its focus away from the others.
The beast lunged again, but this time she was ready. She dodged to the side, her movements precise as the creature’s claws raked the air inches from her face.
Theodoric seized the opening, driving his sword into the creature’s side. It howled, its body twisting in a desperate attempt to escape. Blood—thick and dark—spattered the ground as it staggered back toward the trees.
For a moment, the forest was silent again.
Cedric staggered to his feet, his face pale. He opened his mouth to speak, but Theodoric cut him off.
“Save it,” the Crown Prince said coldly. “We’re not out of this yet.”
Cassie wiped her dagger clean on her cloak, her eyes fixed on the shadowy trees where the beast had disappeared. The group was still intact, but the cracks in their unity had deepened.