The Gathering Dread

It was time to get moving—he couldn't afford to linger any longer. The unease that clawed at him only grew stronger the longer he stayed. Who knew what might come next, or worse, if he would be the next target?

Ezra tightened his grip on the makeshift bag slung over his shoulder and darted back into the treeline.

His boots crunched against the forest floor as he picked up speed, weaving through the towering trees with as much agility as his tired legs could manage.

The forest seemed endless, a labyrinth of gnarled roots and twisted branches.

Sunlight filtered sporadically through the dense canopy above, illuminating patches of the path ahead. As he ran, his sharp eyes caught glimpses of brightly colored fruits hanging from low branches or nestled among the shrubs.

Hunger clawed at his stomach again, the memory of his strange midnight feast flashing briefly in his mind.

Without stopping, Ezra swiped at anything that looked remotely edible.

He grabbed a round, orange fruit with a waxy exterior, then a cluster of small, red berries clinging to a thorny bush. He wasn't sure if any of it was safe, but he didn't have time to be picky. He shoved the fruits into his bag as he continued to move, keeping his focus sharp.

Soon after, Ezra found himself back at the clearing, the massive tree standing sentinel in the center. The golden hue of the setting sun filtered through the canopy, casting long shadows that stretched across the ground. He blinked, his eyes adjusting to the dimming light.

It wasn't until he dropped his makeshift bag by the base of the tree that he realized just how much time had passed.

The sun was almost below the horizon, its final rays barely piercing through the dense forest. He hadn't noticed how long he'd been gone, the hours slipping by as he wandered deeper into the woods.

"Was I really gone that long?" Ezra muttered to himself, glancing up at the darkening sky. A chill crept into the air, and the familiar unease of the forest at night began to settle over him like a heavy blanket.

Shirley's faint snores reached his ears, the older man still sprawled out on the wide branch above. At least one of them had managed to rest. Ezra let out a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his brow as he slumped against the tree trunk.

He glanced at the fruits he'd gathered, now scattered near his feet. "Better be worth it," he muttered, the gnawing hunger in his stomach starting to resurface.

But as the shadows deepened and the first stars began to appear, the familiar, eerie silence returned. It wasn't just nightfall—it was the kind of stillness that made his skin prickle and his instincts scream. He froze, his eyes darting toward the treeline.

"Not again…" he whispered, his pulse quickening.

They swarmed in like a plague of bees, their numbers far greater than the night before. From the smallest twisted shapes scuttling on insect-like limbs to massive, hulking creatures that seemed to block out the faint starlight, the forest had become infested with them.

Ezra's breath caught in his throat as he pressed himself against the base of the tree, his wide lavender eyes darting frantically across the clearing. They emerged from the shadows in waves, their glowing yellow eyes cutting through the darkness like malevolent lanterns.

Their guttural growls and sharp, clicking noises filled the air, a cacophony of sound that sent chills racing down his spine.

The ground vibrated under the weight of their approach, a steady, rhythmic thud that grew louder with each passing second. Ezra's heart pounded in his chest as he looked up, his voice a hoarse whisper. "Shirley! Wake up!"

Above him, Shirley stirred, his steel-gray eyes snapping open at the urgency in Ezra's voice. Without a word, he swung his legs over the branch, leaning forward to scan the clearing below. His expression darkened instantly as he took in the scene—the forest teeming with grotesque creatures, their oily black forms shifting and writhing like shadows given life.

"Damn it," Shirley muttered under his breath, already reaching for his weapon. "They're everywhere."

Ezra's hands clenched into fists as he fought the rising panic. The creatures encircled the tree, their numbers stretching far into the darkness. The smaller ones skittered closer, their movements jerky and unnatural, while the larger ones hung back, their amber eyes fixed on the massive tree.

One of the hulking monsters let out a guttural roar, its bat-like ears twitching as it took a deliberate step forward. Its talons gouged deep furrows into the earth, and the smaller creatures scattered briefly before regrouping, their movements eerily coordinated.

"They're not just here for fun," Shirley said grimly, his voice low but steady. "They're planning something."

Ezra swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Planning? Since when do these things plan?"

Shirley shot him a sharp glance. "Since they decided to bring the whole damn forest with them. Get ready, kid. This isn't going to be pretty."

Ezra nodded, his muscles tensing as he prepared for the inevitable. The tree groaned faintly under the weight of the encroaching darkness, the ancient wood seeming to resist the creatures' presence.

And then, with a deafening roar, the first wave charged.