The woodland seemed strangely quiet, except for the gentle rustle of leaves underfoot. The figure went quickly through the woods, taking precise and purposeful steps to avoid leaving any tracks. Cloaked in a hood and mask that disguised their face, the person's eyes darted around, looking for any activity. Fear was a continuous companion on this journey—a gnawing sensation that turned the stomach and increased the heartbeat.
The path through the woods was twisting, with sharp turns and overgrown pathways. The silence was sporadically disturbed by faraway howling, which sent shivers down the hooded figure's spine. Every shadow appeared to contain a menace, and every sound was exaggerated in the night's silence.