Rose jolted awake, her cheek pressed against damp moss. She shot upright, her chest heaving as her eyes darted around. The woods? Why in all the realms was she in the woods?
The towering trees swayed ominously above her, their darkened branches clawing at the sky. This wasn't a serene patch of greenery—it felt alive, watching, waiting.
Her fingers dug into the earth as she rose to her feet, her legs unsteady beneath her. The woods?
She never ventured into the woods. Heaven and hell both had them, sure, but everyone with half a brain knew better. The woods were... unpredictable. Dangerous. What could she possibly want here?
As she took a hesitant step forward, the crunch of leaves beneath her footwear echoed too loudly, drawing her attention to the eerie stillness surrounding her.
Then she heard it—the low, guttural growls. Slowly, she turned her head, and her breath caught in her throat.