As we walk away from the square, the village seems different to me somehow. Something feels wrong, like when you wake up and realize someone has moved all your furniture just an inch to the left during the night. The familiar houses and streets I've known forever look... off, somehow.

Old Mr. Peterson's wind chimes catch my eye. They're completely still, even though there's definitely a breeze. I've walked past those chimes every single day of my life, but I've never seen them so quiet. It's like they're waiting for something.

Mrs. Hedda's old red cat, who usually rubs against our legs begging for attention, freezes when it sees us. Its fur stands straight up, its tail puffs out like a bottle brush, and with a sharp hiss, it bolts under the porch like it's just seen a ghost. I've never seen that cat run from anyone before - it's so lazy it barely moves for dinner.

I grab Claire's arm without thinking. "Did you see that?"

Before she can answer, a whole flock of sparrows bursts out of the bush next to us, wings beating like crazy as they race away from... something. The sound is so sudden in the weird quiet that we both jump.

"That's the third time today," Claire says, rubbing her arms. "Even our chickens were acting weird this morning. They wouldn't come out when Mom tried to feed them."

I stop walking. "Claire, doesn't something feel... wrong to you?"

She turns to look at me, forehead wrinkled. "Wrong? What do you mean?"

I try to find the right words, but how do you explain a feeling like this? Like the whole village is holding its breath? "I don't know exactly. It's like... like right before a really big storm, but worse."

The wind changes direction suddenly, bringing a chill that doesn't belong in summer. It smells strange too - like wet dirt even though it hasn't rained in days, and something else I can't quite place. The leaves in the trees start shaking, making a sound that's almost like whispering. I feel goosebumps pop up all over my arms, and it's definitely not from the cold.

We pass the village well, where I notice something strange. The water bucket is completely still - usually it at least moves a little in the breeze. There's a crow perched on the edge, and it watches us pass with eyes that seem way too smart for a bird.

"Did you notice how weird the traders were acting?" Claire asks quietly. "They kept staring at the forest while they were unloading. And they left super early."

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She's right. The lead merchant's hands were shaking while he counted the grain. The younger traders kept huddling together and whispering. Even their horses seemed nervous, like they could sense something we couldn't.

BANG!

Claire and I practically jump out of our skins as a door slams somewhere behind us. We look at each other and burst out laughing.

"Scaredy cat!" I whisper, nudging her with my shoulder.

"Hey, you jumped t-"

"BOO!"

This time we both screech so loud I'm pretty sure they heard us in the next village. I spin around to find Finn doubled over laughing by the old elm tree, with Mira and Rosso sitting in the grass trying not to grin.

"You should've seen your faces!" Finn wipes tears from his eyes.

"Jerk!" Claire shouts, but she's smiling too. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

"Very mature, Finn," I say, fighting back a grin of my own. "Really impressive."

"Not my fault you two are such scaredy cats," he says with his typical smirk. "Better watch out - maybe there are monsters in the woods! Ooooh!"

But there's something off about his usual teasing. His smile doesn't quite reach his eyes, and Mira and Rosso look like they're trying too hard to act normal. Behind them, the old elm's branches move in a wind that doesn't seem to touch anything else.

"Did you get lost in the exciting world of grain counting?" Finn asks, but his voice has an edge I don't like. "How was trade day?"

Something twists in my stomach. The morning's whispers might be gone, but this new tension feels almost as bad.

"We weren't late," Claire says, glancing at me with worry in her eyes. "It's just been a weird day."

Mira gets up and walks over, moving as gracefully as always. "Weird how?"

I hesitate. How can I explain everything that's happening? The whispers, the scared animals, this feeling that keeps getting stronger? I can't find the right words.

"The animals are all acting strange," I finally say. "And something about the air feels..."

"Oh, come on!" Finn rolls his eyes so hard I'm surprised they don't get stuck. "Don't tell me you're starting with all that stuff about 'hidden dangers' and 'secrets in the woods' like old Sven!"

"Don't talk about my grandfather like that!" Claire snaps. "He knows more than you ever will!"

Everything goes quiet for a moment, like the whole village is listening. Part of me wants to run home, but a bigger part wants to stand my ground. There are things in this world they don't understand. Things I'm just starting to see myself.

Dark clouds are gathering overhead, even though this morning was perfectly clear. They're moving too fast, swirling together like ink in water.

"Hey," Rosso stands up, clearly trying to break the tension. "Who wants to play hide and seek?"

Everyone nods, grateful for the distraction, and we start spreading out to hide. But I can't shake the feeling that we're being watched. The trees seem to be leaning in closer than usual, their shadows stretching out like long fingers in the afternoon sun. And somewhere, just barely audible, I think I hear those whispers again.

A cold wind whips through the village, making me shiver. I have a feeling this isn't going to be just an ordinary game of hide and seek.