Last hope

Valen ran and ran till then end of his power in legs...

trees around him were tall and twisted like claws. Darkness hung over the forest like a heavy blanket. The ground was wet, full of roots and rocks. He could barely see through the thick fog.

He had escaped the knights. For now.

His chest burned. His legs felt like they would break. He leaned against a tree, breathing hard. Sweat dripped from his forehead.

"Damn," he muttered. "I finally got some sleep, and now I'm tired again. Hungry… and I don't even know what else."

tree wood was rough under his hand. Cold, like stone. He looked around. Everything was green, dark, and full of shadows. It was too quiet. Not peaceful. Just…wrong.

There was no wind. No birds singing. Only the sound of crows above, their harsh cries echoing through the trees. They sounded like they were laughing at him.

Then came the whispers.

Soft. Cold. Like someone behind him, speaking just out of reach.

His skin turned cold. He didn't look back. He didn't want to see what might be there.

He started walking again.

Step by step, through mud and dead leaves. His boots made soft splashes in the water. His stomach growled loud. His throat was dry. Every part of him screamed to stop, to sleep, to eat. But he couldn't.

The forest didn't feel safe.

The trees seemed to watch him. Their branches looked like they could grab him if he got too close. He thought he saw one move… but maybe it was just his tired eyes.

Time felt strange. He didn't know how long he walked. Maybe an hour. Maybe more.

Then he saw it.

A road.

Old, sand, and half-covered in moss. But it was there, stretching forward into the mist. A path.

He stood at the edge, staring at it. The fog moved slightly, as if opening the way just for him. The crows went quiet. The whispers faded.

Valen took a step onto the road.

The air changed. Colder now. Sharper.

The trees near the road leaned back, like they didn't want to be close. Like the road was cursed.

He was too tired to think. Too hungry to question it. The road might lead to danger… but standing still would kill him faster.

He walked forward.

The forest watched in silence. The fog wrapped around him like a living thing. And somewhere, far behind, deep in the trees…

He saw a shadow but he didn't care

Valen walked slowly through the road.

"I hope this is the end of my problems," he said to himself.

Then he saw something strange ahead. A broken carriage stood between the trees. It was badly damaged, like it had been attacked. Around it were seven wolves. They had dark fur and glowing blue eyes. They looked like shadows moving in the wind.

The wolves were eating the dead bodies on the ground. Some of them were biting and scratching at a metal cage.

Inside the cage was a little girl. She looked scared. Her eyes were big and golden, shining like glass. Her hair was short and dark, and she had pointy ears. But the strangest thing was the white horn on her forehead.

She wore a thick coat with soft fur around the collar, and a small bell hung from it. She didn't speak, just stared at Valen with wide eyes, like she was waiting for help.

She was crying, but not making a sound.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked at Valen with those golden eyes.

Valen froze.

"No... I can't, she is just an Oni" he said quietly, grabbing his face with one hand.

"I can't… I don't want to fight."

He turned away.

But guilt hit him like a punch.

"Ahh, I'll regret this… damn it."

He grabbed his sword and pulled it from the sheath.

Then he started to speak a magic spell.

But after a moment, he stopped.

"Damn… I can't use magic. I might hurt her."

He whistled loudly to get the wolves attention.

"Hey, you motherfckers!" he shouted, his voice full of anger.

The wolves turned their heads slowly toward him, red eyes glowing like fire. Blood dripped from their jaws.

Valen tightened his grip on the sword.

"Yeah, that's right. Come here."