A chill hung in the air as the group left the carcass behind, pressing deeper into the forest. The trees thinned gradually, replaced by craggy outcroppings and jagged rocks that turned the trail treacherous underfoot. The ground’s dampness gave way to a subtle incline, the incline steepening with every step. The quiet was almost suffocating, punctuated only by the scrape of boots on stone or the faint rustle of the underbrush.

Cassie stayed close to Theodoric, her dagger still unsheathed. Every shadow seemed to slither and shift, her eyes straining to distinguish between movement and imagination. Behind them, the guards moved in tense silence, their earlier discipline fraying under the forest’s oppressive weight.

Cedric’s voice broke through the stillness, cutting across the tension like a jagged blade. “Do we even know where we’re going? Or are we just wandering until something decides to eat us?”

“Hold your tongue,” Theodoric replied, his voice calm but edged with warning.

“Why?” Cedric countered, his smirk audible. “Wouldn’t want to offend the local wildlife? Or are we hoping they’ll lose interest if we pretend to be quiet?”

Cassie glanced over her shoulder, her irritation spiking. “You’re more likely to make yourself a target.”

“Good,” Cedric shot back. “Maybe then I’ll finally see what we’re all so afraid of.”

“Enough,” Theodoric said sharply, his tone brooking no argument. He didn’t look back as he spoke, his focus fixed on the trail ahead. “Stay in formation.”

Cassie turned forward again, her grip tightening on her dagger. Cedric’s recklessness grated at her, but it was the cracks forming in the group’s cohesion that gnawed at her nerves. Even a small lapse in discipline could spell disaster out here.

As they pressed on, the terrain grew rougher. Rocks jutted out like jagged teeth, and the incline forced them to move single file once more. Cassie took point, her eyes scanning the narrowing path for traps or signs of pursuit. The edges of the trail crumbled in places, revealing a steep drop into shadowy depths below. Her boots slid slightly on loose gravel, but her movements remained controlled, deliberate.

The sound of rushing water reached her ears—faint at first, then steadily growing louder. Cassie glanced toward the ravine, catching a glimpse of a fast-moving stream cutting through the rocks below. The noise should have been comforting, a sign of life, but it only deepened her unease. The water reflected the dim light of the overcast sky, its surface fractured and chaotic.

Theodoric joined her at the front, his expression unreadable. “The path narrows ahead,” he murmured. “Stay close.”

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She nodded, her focus snapping back to the trail. A faint smell drifted past her nose—something acrid and chemical, distinct from the forest’s natural decay. Her stomach turned as she crouched, fingers brushing against a slick substance smeared across a jagged rock.

“What is it?” Theodoric asked quietly, kneeling beside her.

“Oil,” Cassie said, her voice tight. “Fresh. Someone’s been here recently.”

Theodoric stood, his posture tense but composed. “We need to keep moving.”

The group moved with painstaking care along the narrowing trail, each step measured to avoid the loose stones and treacherous footing. Sweat dripped from their brows as they carefully placed their feet, their breaths shallow and controlled in the tense quiet of the narrowing path.

Cassie’s unease only deepened as she spotted more signs of deliberate interference—loose rocks piled unnaturally, faint scuff marks that suggested hurried movement. The patterns were erratic, but the intent was unmistakable.

Halfway along the ravine, the sound of falling rocks jolted the group to a halt. Cassie’s head snapped toward the noise, her dagger raised. A small cascade of stones tumbled from the cliffs above, striking the path with a hollow clatter before disappearing into the abyss below.

“Eyes up,” she warned, her voice low but firm.

The group scanned the cliffs, but the dense canopy above obscured their view. Theodoric motioned for them to move again, his expression grim. “Keep your guard. No sudden movements.”

Cassie took the lead once more, her steps cautious. The trail widened briefly, allowing the group to regroup before the final stretch. She took the moment to glance back, her sharp eyes catching a flicker of movement in the distance—figures darting between the trees far above the ravine.

Her breath caught. They weren’t beasts. Their movements were calculated, deliberate, like predators circling prey.

She turned to Theodoric, her voice urgent but quiet. “We’re being followed.”

His gaze shifted toward the cliffs, his eyes narrowing. “How many?”

“Too far to tell,” she said. “But they’re coordinating.”

Theodoric’s expression hardened. “We need to draw them into the open. They’re waiting for us to make a mistake.”

Cassie nodded, her mind racing. The signs had been there from the beginning—the manipulated tracks, the unnatural terrain. Whoever was pursuing them was more than just a threat. They were strategists.

The group moved again, the tension palpable. Every step felt heavier, every sound amplified. The air grew colder as the shadows lengthened, the dim light of day fading into twilight.

Cassie’s attention snagged on the trees ahead. Fresh marks scarred their trunks, deep gouges forming crude symbols she didn’t recognize. Her stomach twisted as she realized the marks weren’t random—they were guiding them, funneling them toward something unseen.

She slowed, her unease spilling into her voice. “Your Highness. Look.”

He joined her, his gaze locking onto the marks. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing, his silence heavy with understanding.

The forest fell unnervingly silent. No wind, no distant howls—only the muffled sounds of their own footsteps. Cassie’s grip on her dagger tightened as her eyes darted between the shadows, her instincts screaming that they were running out of time.

A faint noise broke the silence—a low hum, almost imperceptible, emanating from the trees ahead. It sent a shiver down her spine, a primal warning she couldn’t ignore.

Theodoric spoke softly, his voice barely audible. “Be ready.”

The group slowed, their weapons raised, as they pressed toward whatever lay in wait ahead.