Twilight’s Descent

The chamber was closer to the tree than Ezra had anticipated, and with the large feline guiding him through the dense forest, navigating the snow-covered terrain became surprisingly effortless. Flakes drifted down from the gray sky, dusting the branches and roots in a silvery sheen.

The creature moved with an uncanny grace, weaving between towering trunks and overgrown roots, its sharp blue eyes always scanning ahead.

"It's really cold for some reason," Ezra muttered, pulling his coat tighter around him.

Just as they neared the chamber, the feline suddenly stopped a few feet away, its fur bristling as a low growl rumbled from its throat. Ezra's muscles tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon.

"The sun's still up," he muttered under his breath, his lavender eyes narrowing. "Have they already gotten used to daylight? It hasn't even been a day."

His eyes darted around the forest, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement, his pulse quickening. But as his gaze swept the area, he realized the feline wasn't focused on the surroundings—it was growling directly at the tree.

Ezra frowned, confusion flickering across his face. "What's wrong with the tree?" he murmured, lowering his stance but keeping his guard up. The massive trunk loomed ominously in the fading light, its skeletal branches swaying slightly, as if in response to the creature's growl.

The cat let out another warning rumble, its ears pinned back, its gaze fixed unblinkingly on the tree's ancient form. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

"Hey, you don't like the tree?" Ezra asked, crouching slightly to rub the feline's ears. Its fur was stiff, the tension radiating off its body clear as it grumbled in response, leaning in reluctantly.

Ezra stepped forward, but the feline remained rooted in place, its claws digging into the snow-covered earth. It didn't dare move closer.

"That's odd. I thought big cats liked trees. Maybe it's because you can't climb," he mused, giving her an amused glance.

The feline blinked, seeming almost offended, its blue eyes fixed on him with an expression that could only be described as incredulous.

"Yeah, that seems more like it," Ezra said with a smirk. "It's 'cause you can't climb, right?"

The cat stared at him, dumbfounded, her ears twitching slightly in what looked like disbelief.

"You see, up there is my pal," Ezra continued, jerking his thumb toward the tree. "For some reason, he's become a lazy bum, and I've got to give him some food, okay? So follow me—it won't take a while."

But the feline didn't move, standing firm, her gaze shifting warily back to the tree.

"Okay, whatever suits you best," Ezra sighed, shaking his head as he turned toward the massive trunk.

As he approached the tree, the snow crunched softly beneath his boots, and his sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.

Something felt… off. He reached the bark, and his gaze fell to the ground at its base, narrowing in confusion. Mushrooms, hidden beneath the snow, had grown around the tree in thick, clustered patches.

"I'm pretty sure they weren't here before," he muttered, crouching down to inspect them. The mushrooms looked unnatural, their stalks a pale gray that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light, and their caps were mottled with dark, web-like veins.

Ezra straightened, his lavender eyes flicking upward to the branches. The air around the tree felt heavier now, colder, as if the snow wasn't just falling—it was being drawn toward it.

"It wasn't snowing when I left," he murmured, the unease in his chest growing.

Concerned for Shirley's condition, Ezra scrambled up the tree with uncharacteristic speed, his hands gripping the gnarled bark as he pulled himself upward. His heart pounded in his chest as he reached the branch where Shirley had been resting.

His breath caught in his throat at the sight before him.

Shirley's body had turned a sickly shade of blue, his skin pale and waxy, his lips and fingers an alarming shade of purple. Frost clung to his eyelashes and hair, and his breaths were faint, almost imperceptible.

"Shirley!" Ezra exclaimed, his voice trembling as he knelt beside the older man. His hands hovered over Shirley's frozen form, unsure of what to do.

He glanced to the side and noticed something else—the fruits they had gathered the day before were completely rotten. Blackened and shriveled, they gave off a sour stench, the decay spreading to the cloth they rested on.

"How?" Ezra muttered, his voice barely audible. His lavender eyes darted between Shirley and the rotted food. "I was only gone for a day…"

The realization hit him like a blow to the chest. Time had shifted somehow.

"It's got to be the chamber…" he whispered, gritting his teeth. Without wasting another moment, he grabbed Shirley's body and hauled him upward with all the strength he could muster. Shirley groaned weakly, his head lolling to the side.

"Let me sleep…" Shirley murmured, his voice barely audible.

"You're seriously thinking about sleep when you're about to die from hypothermia?" Ezra snapped, his frustration boiling over.

He rubbed his hands together, white flames sparking to life and casting a warm glow around them. Ezra pressed his glowing palms against Shirley's chest, letting the fire envelop the older man's body. Slowly but surely, the icy blue hue faded from Shirley's skin, replaced by his natural tan complexion.

"Let's get you down," Ezra muttered, hauling Shirley onto his back with effort as the older man groaned in protest.

"No, let me stay there," Shirley mumbled, his voice groggy but stubborn.

"If I wasn't racing against time, I'd torch your beard off," Ezra growled, steadying himself as he began the climb down with Shirley clinging weakly to his back.

As they descended, Ezra glanced at the horizon and froze. The sun was setting.

"I could use some help over here, you know!" he called out to the feline, frustration creeping into his voice. But as always, the cat didn't move, calmly licking its paw as it watched him intently.

"No more pets then," Ezra snapped.

That seemed to do the trick. The feline's ears perked up, and it moved forward with an annoyed expression, trotting to assist. Ezra struggled under Shirley's weight, his arms trembling as he finally reached the ground.

But as they touched down, Ezra's stomach dropped.

The sun had set.