Into the Wild

The first light of dawn stretched across the horizon as Gabriel and Ivy stood at the edge of the forest. The towering trees loomed like ancient sentinels, their branches thick with frost. The world beyond the manor was a vast, untamed wilderness, filled with dangers both known and unknown. But Ivy felt no fear as Gabriel laced his fingers through hers, his warmth steadying her.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked, his golden eyes scanning her face.

She nodded, her resolve unwavering. "We don't have a choice. If the Shadow Veil is where this ends, then that's where we need to be."

Gabriel squeezed her hand, his expression a mix of pride and worry. "Stay close to me. These woods aren't kind to strangers."

They stepped into the forest, the air instantly cooler under the dense canopy. Every crunch of their boots on the frost-covered ground echoed in the stillness. Ivy couldn't help but marvel at the beauty around her—icy tendrils of moss clinging to tree trunks, the faint glimmer of frost-covered leaves in the early light, and the sharp, fresh scent of pine and earth.

But beauty wasn't all the forest held. Gabriel's tense posture reminded her of the dangers they faced.

"How far is the mountain range?" Ivy asked, her voice breaking the quiet.

"Several days' journey," Gabriel said. "But the closer we get, the more likely Morrith's magic will try to stop us. She won't let us reach the Shadow Veil without a fight."

Ivy swallowed hard. She had seen what Morrith could do, and the thought of facing her magic in the wild sent a shiver down her spine. But the alternative—leaving the curse unbroken—was far worse.

Hours passed as they trekked deeper into the woods. The silence grew heavier, the air colder. Gabriel's keen senses kept him alert, his ears twitching at every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig. Ivy tried to match his vigilance, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

"Do you feel that?" she whispered, her breath visible in the icy air.

Gabriel nodded, his jaw tightening. "We're not alone."

They pressed on, their pace quickening as the trees seemed to close in around them. The light filtering through the branches dimmed, and a strange mist began to rise from the ground. Ivy's pulse quickened, her grip on Gabriel's hand tightening.

"What is this?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

"Morrith's doing," Gabriel said grimly. "She's trying to disorient us."

The mist thickened, swirling around them like a living thing. Shapes began to form within it—shadowy figures with glowing eyes that watched them from the corners of their vision.

"Don't stop," Gabriel said, his voice steady but firm. "Keep moving."

But as they pushed forward, the figures grew bolder, stepping closer. One lunged toward Ivy, its claw-like hand reaching for her. She screamed, but Gabriel was faster, slashing through the shadow with his claws. The figure dissolved into mist, but more took its place.

"They're everywhere!" Ivy cried, her heart racing.

Gabriel growled, his beastly instincts taking over. "Stay behind me."

He fought fiercely, his claws tearing through the shadow creatures as they attacked. Ivy watched in awe and terror as he moved with inhuman speed and strength, protecting her with every swing of his arm. But the creatures kept coming, their numbers overwhelming.

"We can't fight them all," Gabriel said, his voice strained. "We need to find higher ground."

Ivy spotted a rocky incline ahead, its surface slick with frost but climbable. "There!" she shouted, pointing.

Gabriel nodded, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the slope. They scrambled up the rocks, the shadowy figures clawing at their heels. Ivy's breath came in gasps, her muscles burning as she climbed.

"Almost there!" Gabriel urged, his voice sharp with urgency.

They reached the top of the incline, and Gabriel turned, his claws ready as the shadows began to swarm up after them. Ivy searched desperately for anything that could help. Her eyes fell on a large branch, thick and sturdy, lying nearby.

"Gabriel, catch!" she shouted, tossing the branch to him.

He caught it mid-air, swinging it like a club to knock the creatures back. The branch splintered on impact, but it bought them precious seconds.

Suddenly, a high-pitched wail echoed through the forest, and the shadows recoiled, their forms twisting and dissolving into the mist. The wail grew louder, until the shadows vanished entirely, leaving the forest eerily silent once more.

Ivy collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath. "What… what just happened?"

Gabriel crouched beside her, his chest heaving. "Something scared them off," he said, his voice low.

"But what could scare them?" Ivy asked, her fear returning.

Gabriel's golden eyes scanned the trees, his expression dark. "Something worse."

As if in answer, the ground beneath them began to tremble. A deep, guttural growl echoed through the forest, sending chills down Ivy's spine. Gabriel stood, his body tense, his claws ready.

"We're not safe here," he said, his voice grim. "Whatever's coming… it's not Morrith."

A massive shape emerged from the shadows, its glowing red eyes fixed on them. It was unlike anything Ivy had ever seen—part wolf, part bear, its hulking form covered in jagged, black fur. Its mouth opened in a snarl, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.

Ivy's breath caught. "What is that?"

"A guardian of the forest," Gabriel said, his voice low. "They protect the Shadow Veil from intruders."

The creature lunged toward them, its massive paws shaking the ground. Gabriel pushed Ivy behind him, his claws extended, his body coiled to fight.

"Stay back, Ivy," he growled. "I'll handle this."

But Ivy stepped forward, her fear replaced by determination. "No. We handle this together."

The creature roared, and they braced themselves for the fight of their lives.