The Breath of War

The wind blew stronger, carrying the cold of the night and the damp scent of distant rain. The Sage Rat stood motionless on the rock, but within his mind, a storm had already begun to form.

"What do you plan to do next?" The Wise Crow asked, his sleek black wings trembling slightly in the wind.

The Sage Rat did not answer immediately. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if trying to listen to the echoes resonating from deep within his consciousness.

"I need to understand the situation" he spoke slowly. "Which areas are being hunted the most? Which species are suffering the worst?"

The Wise Crow nodded. "I can take you to meet the elders of the Northern Forest. They have witnessed the destruction firsthand."

The Sage Rat pondered for a moment, then turned, his gaze sharp as a blade cutting through the night.

"Then let's go. There's no time to waste."

The journey stretched through the night. The Sage Rat and The Wise Crow traversed misty forests, following small streams that whispered under the moonlight. Everything seemed peaceful, yet the air carried an unusual silence—the silence of creatures hiding, fearing something invisible yet ominous.

By dawn, as the sky turned a soft shade of orange, they reached the edge of the Northern Forest. Towering trees stood tall, yet among them were barren gaps—chopped-down trunks, shattered nests, and deep human footprints etched into the soil.

A small figure darted out from the underbrush—a young squirrel, its fur bristling with fear.

"Who—who are you?" The squirrel stared at the two visitors, its voice trembling.

The Wise Crow spoke in a calm, low voice. "Relax, little one. We are not your enemies."

The Sage Rat crouched down, his gaze both gentle and resolute. "We've come to help. Can you tell us what happened here?"

The young squirrel swallowed hard, then shakily pointed toward the distance, where black smoke was rising from the forest.

"They're here… the humans… They're burning the forest."

The Sage Rat clenched his fists. Last night, he had only thought about the coming war. But now, it had arrived faster than he had ever imagined.