Surrounded

As we set off on our journey, the path ahead seemed like an uncertain ribbon stretching into the unknown. It lay before us, long and challenging, doubled by the detour we had taken to the lake. My legs throbbed with fatigue, and my lungs seared with each labored breath, yet I remained silent.

My sole focus was on reaching safety and seeking refuge at his friend's sanctuary. The sun climbed higher and higher, casting a scorching heat upon the path. The hours stretched ahead, resembling a relentless desert of fear and uncertainty. The image of the castle, the turmoil likely brewing in my absence, only intensified the terror that gripped my heart.

They must be searching for us. They had to have realized we were gone by now. The images of their fury, their relentless pursuit, flashed through my mind, a constant reminder of the danger that pursued us.