CAUTION: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SENSITIVE CONTENT!!!
The night was silent, cold. The cave's familiar dampness clung to his skin as Eryx slithered inside, his long black tail leaving faint imprints on the stone floor.
He was in no mood for anything else. His body ached with tension, his mind a storm of restless thoughts. All he wanted was rest.
But then—A sound.
Distant. Unfamiliar.
His silver eyes snapped open.
It wasn't the usual rustling of prey or the guttural calls of wandering beastmen. This was different. Unnatural.
His body went still, instincts flaring.
For a moment, he considered ignoring it. Whatever it was, it wasn't his problem.
And yet—A low, eerie hum carried through the air, wrong in every possible way.
His jaw tensed. Annoyed. Alert. Dangerous.
With a quiet exhale, he pushed off the stone ledge, his serpentine form gliding downward.