Chapter 6 - Searching

The forest felt different as Aric stepped outside the hut. The air was cooler, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the small dwelling, and the shadows had grown longer, stretching across the forest floor like dark fingers.

The quietness that had settled over the woods earlier still lingered an uneasy silence that set Aric's instincts on edge.

He tightened the straps of his tunic and adjusted the sheath of his sword, his movements quick and efficient.

Vire had stayed behind with the woman, tending to her as she rested, but Aric couldn't shake the need to investigate what—or who—had caused her injuries. If there was something dangerous lurking in the forest, he needed to know.

With a final glance back at the hut, Aric headed into the woods, his senses alert. The path he took was the same one they had travelled earlier, leading back toward the oak tree where they had found the woman.

The forest was thick with shadows, the tall trees blocking out much of the fading light, but Aric moved with purpose, his footsteps silent on the soft earth.

As he walked, he replayed the scene in his mind—the woman lying beneath the tree, her body battered and bruised. The gash on her side had been deep, too clean to have been caused by an animal's claws.

Whatever had attacked her, it wasn't a wild beast. Aric's thoughts darkened at the implications. Could it have been a person? A hunter gone rogue? Or something more sinister?

The forest, usually so familiar to him, seemed filled with hidden threats. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, made his muscles tense, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword.

He had spent years patrolling these woods, driving out trespassers and ensuring the safety of the land he called home. But now, the thought that someone—or something—might have slipped past his watch made him uneasy.

He reached the clearing where they had found the woman, the large oak tree towering above him. The ground was still disturbed from when he had lifted her, the faint traces of blood staining the earth. Aric crouched down, examining the area more closely.

Footprints were leading away from the tree, small and light as if the woman had been running before she collapsed. But there were no other tracks, nothing to indicate that someone had been chasing her.

Aric frowned, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the surrounding area. The forest was dense here, the trees growing close together, their branches intertwining to form a thick canopy overhead. It would be easy for someone—or something—to hide in the shadows, watching without being seen.

He stood and began to follow the direction of the woman's tracks, moving deeper into the forest.

The ground was uneven, the underbrush thick with tangled roots and fallen branches, but Aric moved swiftly, his eyes sharp as he searched for any signs of a struggle. The silence pressed in around him, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of a bird.

After several minutes of walking, he came upon a small clearing, the grass trampled and the earth disturbed. Aric's heart quickened as he knelt down, examining the ground.

There were more footprints here, larger and heavier than the woman's, and the signs of a struggle were evident—broken branches, disturbed leaves, and a few dark stains that looked suspiciously like blood.

Aric's mind raced as he pieced together what might have happened. The woman had been attacked here, fought back, and then fled, running until she collapsed beneath the oak tree. But what had attacked her? And where had it gone?

He stood up, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword as he scanned the surrounding trees. The footprints led away from the clearing, deeper into the forest, but they were erratic as if the attacker had moved quickly, trying to cover their tracks. 

Aric hesitated for a moment, considering his options. He could follow the tracks, try to catch whoever—or whatever—had done this. But the thought of leaving the hut unguarded, with the woman still inside and Vire watching over her, made him uneasy. 

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. He would have to be careful, not just for his own sake but for theirs as well. Aric continued along the path, moving even more cautiously than before, his senses attuned to every sound, every shift in the wind.

As he ventured deeper into the forest, the trees grew thicker, the light dimming further until it felt like he was walking through twilight. The air was cooler here, carrying with it a faint scent of something unfamiliar—something metallic and sharp.

Aric's grip on his sword tightened, his body tensing as he followed the tracks, each step bringing him closer to whatever had attacked the woman.

The forest was eerily silent now, the usual sounds of life muted or absent entirely.

Aric's breath came in slow, measured breaths, his heart pounding in his chest as he moved forward.

Every sense was on high alert, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

Then, suddenly, the tracks ended.

Aric stopped, his brow furrowing in confusion. The footprints simply vanished, as if whoever had made them had disappeared into thin air.

He looked around, his eyes narrowing as he searched for any clue, any indication of where the attacker had gone. But there was nothing—just the thick trees and the darkening sky above.

A chill ran down Aric's spine. Whatever he was dealing with, it wasn't natural. He had seen enough in his years living in the forest to know when something was wrong and when something didn't belong. And this—this felt like the forest itself was hiding something, something it didn't want him to find.

Aric turned back, his decision made. He needed to return to the hut, to Vire and the woman. Whatever had attacked her was still out there, and it was more dangerous than he had anticipated. He would need to be prepared for whatever came next.

As he retraced his steps, the forest seemed to close in around him, the shadows growing darker, the silence heavier.

Aric's mind raced with possibilities, with the knowledge that something was lurking in the woods, something that had already hurt one person and could easily do the same to others.

He would protect his home, his land. Whatever it took, whatever the cost.

And as he approached the hut, the small dwelling stood like a beacon in the gathering darkness.