Panicking, Raven hurriedly searched for the path, trying to follow the bent branches that marked Dante's trail. Suddenly, she heard Dante's voice calling her name, and the panic began to dissipate. "I'm right here!" she yelled, relieved that she was on the right track. She quickened her pace, eager to catch up to him and feel safe again.

As she was about to move past a heavy branch in her way, she suddenly felt a cool and chilly sensation wash over her body, causing her feet to lift off the ground. She started swaying left and right, unable to control her movements as she floated towards the treetops. "Dante!" she screamed, fear creeping into her voice. "Help!"

As Raven helplessly kicked her legs, she tried to swing her body back towards the forest floor. But the force pulling her up was too strong, and she was slowly rising higher into the trees. Suddenly, Dante burst through the brush and, without hesitation, leaped into the air to grab her floating body. He gently rolled to the ground and pulled her close to his body, ensuring she was unharmed.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice full of panic.

"What was that!?" she trembled in his arms. "I can't fly, can I?" she asked.

"No," he chuckled. "This forest is old and wise. Some creatures have lived in this forest longer than we have both been alive. The tree nymphs are mischievous. They like to mess with people who don't belong in the forest. However," he began to shout. He knew that the nymphs were listening and lingering around. "You are a daughter of this forest, and they would make a big mistake to touch you."

She looked at him as his face twisted into a scowl and his eyes glowed darker. He was upset. She wondered why. As Raven stopped trembling, Dante released his grip on her and they stood up cautiously. He gazed at her curiously, unsure of how to proceed from here. The forest creatures had already started to play, and he wanted to reach their destination as possible.

Raven whispered "Dante," feeling slightly embarrassed that a tree nymph had almost carried her away. "I'm sorry. I'll hold your hand, and I promise not to complain."

A look of relief washed over Dante's face. Without hesitation, he took her hand. "I'm sorry if I move too fast for you, but please bear with me a little longer. I can't let you out of my sight again."

Raven's heart fluttered once more, but this time she refused to let her embarrassment get the best of her. She accepted the fact that she couldn't move forward without Dante by her side.

As the evening sounds echoed through the forest, Raven realized it was almost dark and she was completely out of energy. Her legs felt numb, and she knew they would have stopped moving long ago if it weren't for Dante's constant motion. She had hoped they would reach their destination soon, but the pain in her feet made that hope slip away. Suddenly, Dante stopped, and Raven stumbled forward. He caught her and pulled her closer to him, preventing her fall.

"Oof," she grunted as she collided with his firm body. "Why did we stop?" she asked, curious since they hadn't paused since eating the rabbit. Despite her empty stomach, the pain in her feet and side prevented her from feeling hunger. Dante looked at her intently, his dark eyes filled with concern and intensity, as if they were piercing right through her.

"'Are you okay?" he asked.

Raven wanted to blurt out a million complaints, but she held back. Her side hurt, her feet were done for, and her legs would be sore for days. "Um," she finally said aloud after a long pause. "I'll be OK. I just want to get wherever it is we're going as soon as possible."

Dante could tell by the weakness of her voice that she was done. He felt a twinge of guilt for having pushed her so hard, but as the heir to the pack, it was his duty to protect her and the forest at night was tricky, especially with someone after her. He looked at her with concern, his thoughts turning to the wolf that had almost attacked her. He couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment and anger at the thought of failing to protect her. It felt agonizing and he could not understand the feeling. He gazed at her for a few moments more before she finally broke his intense stare.

“What is it?” she asked. “I am OK, I promise.”

His scowl softened, and he loosened his embrace. As the last of the sunlight faded away, the moonlight took over the sky. Raven shivered as she glanced around the forest. It was like a completely different place from before. The once soft and gentle canopy of trees now seemed like eerie shadows in the darkness that disappeared into a never-ending blackness. The loud sounds of the forest were now muffled, and a strange stillness filled the air.

“It's okay,” Dante whispered into her ear, his voice barely audible. “We're here.”

He moved away the thick, gnarled branch that had been concealing a massive boulder at the foot of a menacing tree. The roots of the tree resembled massive legs, stretching deep into the forest and reaching skyward, some as tall as Raven. She felt the weight of the ancient trees around her, their collective age permeating the air.

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Dante brushed away the thick layer of lichen and moss from the stone's surface with a gentle hand, revealing its true form after being hidden for so long. He motioned for Raven to come closer, and as she approached, she felt herself being drawn to the ancient energy emanating from it.

"For us to enter the ancient city, we must prove that we belong," Dante's deep, hypnotic voice commanded Raven's attention. She listened intently as he continued to instruct her, feeling slightly confused but willing to follow his lead. "Don't be afraid," he reassured her before producing a small golden dagger, adorned with intricate runes along the handle.

In the moonlight, the blade glimmered and cast a strange, electric energy that Raven could feel. "What is that!?" she exclaimed, taking a hesitant step away from him. "I don't understand. You better not hurt me with that!" She began to doubt whether she should trust Dante so blindly.

Dante cut his left palm with the dagger and touched the stone before Raven could protest, causing her to yell out, "What are you doing?!" But before he could answer, the stone lit up in a pattern of interlinking knots, glowing red.

"Now," he said softly, "You must do the same. We cannot go forward if you do not."

Raven felt a mix of fear and curiosity, watching as Dante held out the dagger to her. His intense gaze made her feel vulnerable yet protected. "Are you serious? I can't just cut myself. I mean, I don't know what you- you..." Raven's voice trailed off as she began to panic, unsure about the idea of intentionally cutting herself, especially at the request of a stranger.

Sensing her unease, Dante gently took her other hand and looked into her eyes. "Shh, don't worry. I've protected you this far and I promise I won't hurt you. But the forest won't let us pass unless we prove that we are part of it."

"However, I'm not," Raven protested. "I live on Johnson Street. I work at a café. I don't know. I'm just...I just can't cut myself." She rambled nervously, looking at the blade and feeling uneasy at the thought of slicing her hand.

"It's okay, please," Dante pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her gently, careful not to stain her clothing with his own blood. "I promise this will be the only time I hurt you."

"Huh?" Raven muttered, but before she could react, Dante swiftly cut her left hand. The dagger was so sharp that she felt no pain. She was frozen, both shocked and amazed at how he had moved. He then pressed her hand onto the stone, and a twinkle of blood began to flow from the small cut. Raven watched in wonder as the stone glowed completely red and the ground began to shake beneath their feet.

"He placed his hand on top of hers and placed her other hand on top. The forest air began to swirl around them as if caught in a vortex, and the muffled sounds of the night disappeared. Suddenly, they were plunged into darkness, and her scream caught in her throat as her body propelled forward. Lights flashed around her and all the air escaped from her lungs, leaving her gasping for breath.

"Only a few moments more," she heard Dante's voice inside her head.

Then, lights began to appear all around her, along with the sounds of bustling activity and the smells of food. She finally managed to draw in a breath, but the light was so bright that she squeezed her eyes shut.

"Dante," she tried to say, but no sound came out. "Oh no," she thought as weakness began to wash over her, her energy completely depleted. The lights around her started to blur and her legs turned to jelly. She braced herself as she prepared to fall, unable to stop herself. Just as she was about to hit the ground, Dante scooped her up into his arms. As he watched her eyes soften, he smiled at the sight of her completely relaxed face and limp body.

"Thanks," she managed to whisper before surrendering to the darkness. She drifted off into sleep, no longer able to stay awake after using up all her energy. Dante continued to gaze at her peaceful features as she lay passed out in his arms. He felt a wave of relief that they had made it back, and that he had her.

Suddenly, the members of the Grand Council rushed into the room. "Dante Fireleaf!" an old voice yelled. "We expected you hours ago!" Dante frowned, anticipating the ridicule he would face from the Council members for being late. He also realized that his grandfather Xion, who he needed to report to immediately, would not be present.

"Dante," the old voice said again, this time in a calm and firm tone. "The Alpha awaits."

As Dante prepared to face his grandfather, a surge of duty rose within him, prompting him to place Raven onto the ground gently and adjust his own battered clothing. Glancing down at Raven, he hesitated to leave her at the mercy of the Council members. But the urgency of his duty propelled him forward, and he hurried to the room where Xion awaited him.

The Council members rushed towards Raven as Dante left the grand hall, pushing him aside in their excitement. "Go, Dante, your grandfather is waiting," one of the elders snapped. Without another word, Dante made his way to the Alpha's room.

Meanwhile, the Council members had found Raven and were erupting with sounds of excitement. "Ahhh! There she is!" one of the Elders exclaimed loudly. "Oh, the lost tribe of the Alistars is lost no more," a solemn voice said, silencing the others.

Lady Armita, Dante's grandmother, stepped forward from the group of Elders. Her long, dark robes glided across the floor like a shadow as she moved closer to Raven's sleeping body. "Let me get a closer look at her," she said, kneeling down and stroking Raven's face as she moved her hair away for a better view. "Yes, yes indeed, this is her. Hurry!" She stood abruptly, calling to the nearby guards at the door. "You three, carefully pick her up and let's take her to the room we've prepared for her."

The guards nodded in unison, and one of them gently scooped up Raven from her place on the ground. They followed Lady Armita as she led them to Raven's quarters, eager to care for the lost tribe member they had searched so long for.

***

The word spread around that Dante had returned. As he walked down the long corridor to his grandfather's room, the guards whispered to themselves. He took a deep breath, anxious to face his grandfather and afraid that he might not be alive. His biggest fear was not seeing his grandfather while he was searching for Raven. He exhaled and turned the doorknob, entering his grandfather's room.

After taking only one step, his grandfather immediately reacted to Dante's presence in the room. "I know that you have returned. What is she like? I want to know everything," his grandfather said with a deep chuckle, and Dante smiled to himself. Feelings of love rushed over his body, and he no longer felt anxious. Excitement rose in him as he was ready to tell his exciting story to his grandfather. His strong voice gave him reassurance, but his eyes softened with sadness as he looked down at his thin grandfather lying in a bed of fine silks. He knelt beside his grandfather's bed and placed a hand on his.

"She's beautiful, grandfather. I can't wait to tell you all about it," Dante said, smiling as he relaxed beside his grandfather's bed. Despite the grandeur of the room, he felt comfortable in the familiar place. The fireplace popped softly beside them as Dante began to tell the story of his search for Raven, recalling every detail of her beauty in the forest. He described how she fell into the ravine, and his grandfather chuckled heartily at the part about the wolf. Dante continued his story, enjoying his time with his beloved grandfather. For a moment, he forgot his duties and pretended they were just a regular grandfather and grandson.