Chapter 15: New Challenges

The morning light crept slowly into the cave, the soft glow of the sun casting long shadows on the walls. The storm had passed in the night, leaving behind a stillness that felt almost unnatural after the chaos of the previous day. The fire had long since died out, leaving only cold embers in its place, and the air inside the cave was damp and chilled.

Dorian blinked awake, his body stiff from the cold and the rough stone floor beneath him. His muscles ached, the tension of the night still lingering in his bones. For a moment, he lay there, listening to the soft sounds of the forest outside—the rustle of leaves, the distant drip of water from the trees—but soon the reality of their situation crept back into his mind.

They were still lost. And Rhys was still injured.

Dorian sat up slowly, glancing over at Rhys, who was still leaning against the cave wall, his face pale and drawn. The pain had clearly taken its toll on him, and even in his sleep, he looked exhausted. Dorian's heart clenched at the sight. He hadn't been able to do much for him beyond resetting his arm and bandaging it, but it wasn't enough. Rhys needed real medical attention.

Dorian's mind raced as he considered their options. The storm had passed, but the forest was likely more treacherous now than ever. The rain would have flooded the lower areas, making the terrain slippery and dangerous. Getting back to camp wasn't going to be easy, and with Rhys in this condition, it was going to be even harder.

He stood slowly, his legs shaky from the cold, and made his way to the mouth of the cave. The forest beyond was still, the trees dripping with moisture from the storm. The ground was a muddy mess, the streams swollen and overflowing, and the path they had taken the day before was completely unrecognizable.

"Great," Dorian muttered under his breath.

A low groan from behind him drew his attention, and Dorian turned to see Rhys slowly waking, wincing as he shifted against the wall.

"How are you feeling?" Dorian asked softly, crouching beside him.

Rhys grimaced, his good hand coming up to rub his eyes. "Like I got hit by a bus," He muttered. "But I'm alive."

Dorian's lips twitched in a small, reluctant smile, but it didn't last long. His gaze shifted to Rhys' injured arm, still tightly wrapped in the makeshift sling. "We need to get you back to camp," He said quietly. "But it's not going to be easy. The ground's a mess out there."

Rhys let out a tired sigh, his head falling back against the cave wall. "Of course it is."

Dorian stood up again, running a hand through his hair as he paced the small space of the cave. "We'll have to find a new way back," He muttered, more to himself than to Rhys. "The path we took yesterday is probably flooded by now. We'll need to go higher, avoid the streams…"

Rhys watched him for a moment, his brow furrowing as he saw the tension in Dorian's posture, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. "Hey," He said softly, his voice pulling Dorian from his thoughts. "We'll figure it out."

Dorian stopped pacing, his eyes flicking down to meet Rhys'. "You're injured. You can't push yourself."

Rhys shrugged, his good hand resting on his bandaged arm. "I'm not exactly in peak condition, but I can walk. We'll just have to take it slow."

Dorian bit his lip, his mind racing with all the possibilities, all the dangers they might face out there. The storm had made everything more dangerous, and Rhys was already weakened by his injury. Every step would be a risk.

But they couldn't stay here. Not with Rhys' condition.

"Fine," Dorian said after a long pause, his voice tight. "But we have to be careful. One wrong step and—"

"I know," Rhys interrupted gently, his voice calm. "We'll be careful."

Dorian nodded, though his mind was still racing with worry. He packed up their belongings, making sure the medical kit was secure in his bag, and then helped Rhys to his feet. Rhys winced as he stood, his face pale with pain, but he gave Dorian a small nod of reassurance.

With one last glance at the cave, they stepped out into the forest.

The ground was slick and treacherous, every step sinking into the mud as they carefully picked their way through the trees. The swollen streams had turned into fast-moving currents, cutting off their usual paths, and the air was thick with moisture, making the forest feel more claustrophobic than ever.

Dorian kept his gaze sharp, his eyes scanning the ground for any signs of stability, but every path seemed to lead them into deeper trouble. Rhys struggled beside him, his breath coming in short, labored bursts, and Dorian could see the exhaustion weighing heavily on him.

"We'll take a break soon," Dorian said, his voice tight with worry. "Just a little further."

Rhys gave a weak nod, but Dorian could see the strain on his face. They were moving too slowly, and Rhys was in too much pain. The longer they stayed out here, the more dangerous it became, but there was no clear path to safety.

As they carefully navigated around another flooded area, Rhys stumbled, his body sagging heavily against Dorian as he gasped in pain.

"Rhys!" Dorian's heart lurched as he grabbed Rhys, steadying him.

"I'm... fine," Rhys muttered through gritted teeth, but Dorian could see the truth in his eyes. Rhys wasn't fine. He was barely holding on.

Dorian's stomach twisted with fear and guilt. He had pushed them too far, had let his stubbornness lead them into more danger, and now Rhys was paying the price.

They needed help.

"Rhys," Dorian said quietly, his voice thick with worry. "We need to stop. You can't keep going like this."

Rhys shook his head, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "We can't stop. We have to keep moving."

Dorian's heart ached at the determination in Rhys' voice, but he knew better. Rhys was strong, but he was injured, and the longer they stayed out here, the worse it would get.

"We're lost," Dorian said, the weight of the words sinking in. "We can't keep going like this."

Rhys glanced at him, his face pale, but his eyes still filled with that same stubborn resolve. "Then what do you suggest?"

Dorian hesitated, his mind racing. He didn't want to leave Rhys behind—didn't want to risk being separated—but he couldn't ignore the reality of the situation. Rhys needed help, and they weren't going to find it if they kept wandering aimlessly through the forest.

"I'll go for help," Dorian said finally, his voice trembling slightly with the weight of the decision. "I'll find the others and bring them back. You stay here and rest."

Rhys' eyes widened in surprise, his usual smirk replaced by something more serious, more vulnerable. "You want to leave me?"

"I don't want to," Dorian said quickly, his heart pounding. "But it's the only way. You're hurt, and I can't... I can't let you get worse."

Rhys was quiet for a long moment, his eyes searching Dorian's face. There was something unspoken between them, something that neither of them had acknowledged yet, but it hung in the air, heavy and real.

Finally, Rhys nodded, his voice soft. "Alright. Go. But don't take too long."

Dorian's chest tightened with a mixture of relief and fear. He didn't want to leave Rhys, but he knew it was the only way. With one last look, he turned and began to make his way through the forest, his heart pounding with every step.

_

The forest seemed to close in around Dorian as he moved through the thick underbrush, his feet slipping on the muddy ground with every step. The wind had calmed, the storm now just a distant memory, but the heavy dampness in the air made the world feel suffocating. Every breath felt like a struggle, the humid air clinging to his skin and filling his lungs with each shaky inhale.

Rhys's face lingered in Dorian's mind, pale and drawn with pain, and the memory of leaving him behind gnawed at his heart. He had promised to come back—promised to find help—but the forest was vast, and every direction looked the same.

Dorian pressed on, his legs burning from exhaustion as he pushed himself harder, faster. His mind was spinning, a tight knot of fear and guilt winding itself tighter with every passing second. He had to find help. He had to.

But as he moved deeper into the forest, something else began to gnaw at him—something strange and unsettling. His skin felt too warm, his heart beating too fast, the air around him thick and stifling. Sweat gathered on his brow, trickling down his neck, but it wasn't just the humidity or the strain of the hike that was making him feel this way.

It was something else. Something familiar, but not.

Dorian stumbled over a root, his body swaying dangerously as he caught himself on a nearby tree. His head was spinning now, the forest blurring at the edges of his vision as a strange heat began to pulse through his body, his chest tightening with a sense of urgency that he didn't fully understand.

His breath came faster, more shallow, and a strange ache settled low in his abdomen, a pressure building inside him that made it hard to think. Hard to focus.

"No," Dorian muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he tried to push the feeling away. This wasn't the time. Not now. Not when Rhys was hurt, not when he needed to find help.

But his body wasn't listening.

The symptoms were undeniable now. The rising heat, the trembling in his hands, the ache deep in his core—it was all too familiar. Dorian's heart pounded as the realization hit him, panic mixing with the growing desire that was quickly overtaking his senses.

He was entering his rut.

"No, no, no," Dorian whispered, his voice trembling as he forced himself to keep moving. He couldn't stop. Not now. He had to find help before it got worse, before he lost control.

But with every step, the heat intensified, spreading through his body like fire. His skin felt too tight, his muscles tensing painfully as the pressure inside him built, pushing him toward a dangerous edge. He stumbled again, his knees buckling as the world spun around him.

He couldn't focus. Couldn't think.

Dorian's breath hitched, his vision blurring as he staggered forward, barely able to keep himself upright. He could feel the tremors in his legs, the way his body screamed for release, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to give in. Not yet. He couldn't let it happen now.

But the forest around him seemed to close in, the trees spinning in a dizzying blur as his body betrayed him, his thoughts slipping away into a haze of need and confusion. His heart raced, pounding in his chest as his breaths came in quick, shallow gasps.

He didn't know how long he had been walking when the world suddenly tipped sideways, his knees giving out beneath him. Dorian crashed to the ground, his hands digging into the wet earth as he struggled to catch his breath, his body trembling violently.

The heat was overwhelming now, a feverish, desperate ache that made it impossible to think of anything else.

But just as his vision began to darken, the sound of rustling leaves broke through the haze.

Kaelen and Emory moved cautiously through the forest, their senses on high alert as they scanned the surrounding trees. The storm had left the forest treacherous, the ground slick with mud, but the fading daylight and thick canopy above made it difficult to see much of anything.

"We're getting closer to where they could be," Emory muttered, their voice tense with worry as they pushed a branch out of their way. "But I don't—"

A rustling sound to their left made both of them freeze, their heads snapping in the direction of the noise.

"What was that?" Emory asked, their voice low.

Kaelen's heart leaped into his throat as his instincts kicked in, his sharp eyes scanning the trees for any sign of movement. And then, through the dense underbrush, he saw it—a figure, hunched over and struggling to stay on their feet.

"Dorian!" Kaelen's voice was sharp as he darted forward, his heart pounding in his chest.

Dorian barely managed to lift his head as Kaelen and Emory reached him, his body trembling violently, his breath coming in short, labored gasps. His skin was flushed, beads of sweat trickling down his neck as his body shuddered with the force of his oncoming rut.

Kaelen's heart twisted painfully at the sight. He had seen this before—he knew the signs. Dorian's rut was hitting him hard, and there was no mistaking the agony in his eyes.

"Dorian, stay with us," Emory said urgently as they knelt beside him, their voice steady but laced with concern.

Dorian's head lolled to the side, his eyes glazed with a mixture of pain and desperation. He tried to speak, but the words came out in a broken whisper, his voice trembling. "Rhys... he's... I need..."

Kaelen's chest tightened as he knelt beside Dorian, his hand gently pressing against his son's shoulder. "Dorian, we'll get you through this. Where's Rhys? Is he safe?"

Dorian's eyes fluttered, his body tensing as another wave of heat surged through him. "He's... hurt," Dorian gasped, his hands clenching into fists as he fought against the overwhelming pressure building inside him. "I... I left him..."

Kaelen's jaw clenched, a wave of fear and protectiveness crashing over him. Rhys was injured, and now Dorian was on the verge of losing control. This was worse than he had feared.

Emory's eyes widened as they realized what was happening, their gaze flicking between Dorian and Kaelen. "He's going into his rut," Emory whispered, their voice tight with urgency. "We have to help him."

Kaelen nodded, his mind racing. There was no time to waste. They needed to stabilize Dorian before he lost complete control, and they needed to find Rhys before his condition worsened.

Emory tightened their grip around Dorian, feeling the heat radiating from his body as they tried to keep him upright. Dorian's breathing was shallow and labored, his face pale except for the flush of his impending rut that stained his cheeks. He was barely holding on, and Emory knew they couldn't wait any longer.

"I'll take him back," Emory said firmly, glancing up at Kaelen, whose expression was set in determination.

Kaelen's jaw clenched as he knelt beside Dorian, his sharp gaze flicking over to Emory before settling back on his son. "I'll find Rhys," Kaelen said quietly, though the weight of the responsibility hung heavy in his voice. "You focus on getting Dorian to safety. He needs help."

Emory nodded, the urgency in Kaelen's voice pushing them into action. "I know you'll take care of him," Emory said, their tone softer for a moment, trusting Kaelen to find Rhys and keep him safe.

Kaelen's eyes darkened with a mix of resolve and something deeper—something unspoken. But there was no time for anything else as he stood up, giving one last look at Dorian before turning toward the trees to continue the search for Rhys.

Emory carefully hoisted Dorian up, wrapping his arm around their shoulders to support him as they began the slow, treacherous journey back. Dorian's body trembled against them, his breath coming in short gasps, his eyes half-closed as he fought against the waves of heat rolling through him.

"Hang in there," Emory murmured, their voice low and steady as they guided him through the forest. "We're almost there."

Dorian's head lolled to the side, his voice a broken whisper. "I... I'm sorry."

Emory's chest tightened, their heart aching for Dorian's guilt and pain. "Don't apologize," They said firmly. "You're going to be okay."

They moved as quickly as they could, navigating the slippery ground and thick underbrush with care. Dorian was fading fast, his body trembling with the force of his rut, but Emory kept moving, refusing to let the weight of the situation slow them down. Dorian needed help—immediate help—and every second counted.

Just when Emory felt the strain of carrying Dorian might be too much, the sound of distant voices reached their ears. A flicker of hope surged through them as they pushed forward, the shapes of the search party coming into view through the trees.

"Over here!" Emory called, their voice strained but loud enough to catch the attention of the searchers.

In moments, the search party reached them, their faces filled with relief as they quickly moved to support Dorian. Emory could barely catch their breath, their arms aching from the effort, but the sight of help arriving was enough to ease some of the tension that had been pressing down on them.

The team wasted no time in guiding Dorian back through the forest, their pace steady but quick as they navigated the path toward the camp. When they finally broke through the tree line, Emory saw the ambulances waiting near the edge of the clearing, their lights flashing in the fading daylight. And standing near the ambulances, their faces etched with cold concern, were Eryx and Cassandra Vaelis.

Dorian's parents.

The moment the Vaelis couple saw Dorian being supported by the search party, their expressions shifted—worry tightening their features as they moved forward quickly, their sharp eyes assessing the situation with practiced control.

Eryx's gaze locked onto his son, his jaw tightening as he took in the sight of Dorian's weakened state. Cassandra's eyes, cold and calculating, flicked over Dorian before darting to Emory, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"What happened to him?" Eryx's voice was low and dangerous as he approached, his eyes narrowing as he glanced between the search party and Emory.

"He... entered his rut unexpectedly," Emory explained quickly, their voice steady but tense. "We found him before it got worse, but he needs medical attention now."

The Vaelis couple's eyes darkened at the mention of Dorian's rut, but they wasted no time in ushering him toward the waiting ambulance. As Dorian was gently lifted into the vehicle, his body weak and trembling, his parents stood by, their expressions unreadable.

Emory stood back, their body tense as they watched Dorian disappear into the ambulance, their heart pounding with the weight of the moment. But before they could dwell on it for too long, a rustling sound came from the forest behind them.

Kaelen emerged from the trees, supporting Rhys, who was pale and exhausted, his arm still bandaged tightly against his chest. Kaelen's face was drawn with fatigue, but there was relief in his eyes as he led Rhys toward the group.

The moment Eryx and Cassandra saw Kaelen, their expressions shifted—recognition flickering across their faces, followed by something sharper, more suspicious. Cassandra's sharp eyes narrowed as she assessed Kaelen, her gaze flicking between him and Rhys with cold precision.

"Who are you?" Cassandra's voice was cold and laced with suspicion as she stepped forward, her eyes locking onto Kaelen with an intensity that made Emory's chest tighten.

Kaelen's gaze remained calm, but there was something guarded in his expression as he glanced at Cassandra. "Just the guide who found your son," He said quietly, though his voice held an edge that hinted at more.

Eryx's eyes narrowed as well, his sharp gaze sweeping over Kaelen as if searching for something deeper. There was a flicker of recognition in his expression, as though something about Kaelen was triggering an old memory—something buried, something that shouldn't be.

"Thank you for finding him," Eryx said slowly, his voice careful but cold.

Kaelen gave a small nod, his eyes flicking briefly to Rhys, who was being helped into another ambulance by the medics. "I did what I could."

Cassandra's gaze lingered on Kaelen, her sharp mind clearly working through the pieces, her suspicion deepening with every passing second. There was something about him—something familiar—and it set her on edge. She exchanged a quick glance with Eryx, her lips pressing into a thin line.

The tension between them was palpable, and Emory could feel the weight of the Vaelis couple's scrutiny as they stood by, watching the exchange with growing unease.

But before anything more could be said, the medics called for the Vaelis couple's attention, and Cassandra finally tore her gaze away from Kaelen, her focus shifting back to Dorian.

"We'll be following the ambulances to the hospital," Eryx said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument. "We expect updates."

With that, they turned and followed the medics toward the waiting vehicles, leaving Kaelen and Emory standing in the clearing, the tension still thick in the air.

As the ambulances sped away, Kaelen's eyes darkened, his mind racing with the weight of what had just transpired. The Vaelis couple hadn't fully recognized him—not yet—but the suspicion in their eyes was enough to set him on edge.

"They know something," Emory murmured softly, their voice laced with concern as they glanced at Kaelen. "About you."

Kaelen's jaw tightened, his gaze fixed on the distant trail of the ambulances. "They'll figure it out soon enough," He said quietly, though the weight of those words lingered heavily in the air between them.