Herderd and Cornered

Scarlett moved cautiously through the forest. Beside her, Simeon kept pace, his demeanor tense yet composed. They hadn't spoken much since escaping the mine, and the silence between them had become its own form of pressure, one that Scarlett wasn't entirely sure she wanted to break.

Ahead, the trees parted to reveal an abandoned cabin. Its weathered wood was nearly overtaken by moss and vines, a relic of a time long forgotten. Scarlett motioned for Simeon to stop as she scanned the area.

"Think it's safe?" Simeon whispered; his voice barely audible.

"For now," Scarlett replied, her tone clipped. "Let's move."

The door creaked open under her touch, revealing an interior thick with dust and decay. A single table sat in the center; its surface littered with old, yellowed papers.

....