Watcher in the Shadows
Kael's movements were as steady as ever, his confidence unshaken. But Nova could sense an edge to his demeanor now, a wariness in the way he glanced over his shoulder more frequently than usual. The silence between them grew heavier as they pressed deeper into the woods.
Finally, Nova couldn't hold back any longer. "You feel it too, don't you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kael slowed, turning to look at her. His eyes were sharp, scanning her face. "Feel what?"
"The... something," Nova said, gesturing vaguely to the trees around them. "Like we're being watched."
Kael's lips pressed into a thin line. "It's not your imagination. We're not alone."
A chill ran down Nova's spine. She stopped in her tracks, straining her ears for any sound. The forest seemed alive with whispers, the faintest echo of movement just beyond her line of sight. "Is it them? The Shadowmarks?"
"Maybe," Kael admitted, his tone grim. "Or something worse."
"Worse?" Nova's voice rose slightly, panic creeping in. "What could be worse?"
Kael stepped closer, his voice dropping to a near growl. "There are things in this world that even humans fear. Creatures older than us, older than them. Things that don't belong in towns or forests. Things that don't belong in this world."
Nova's breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest. She glanced around, the darkness pressing in on her. "You're joking, right? This is just one of your scare tactics to keep me in line."
Kael's expression didn't waver. "I wish it was."
A low, guttural growl echoed through the trees, freezing them both in place. Nova's blood ran cold as the sound reverberated in her chest, primal and menacing. She instinctively stepped closer to Kael, her hand brushing against his arm.
"Run," he said, his voice firm and urgent.
"What? But—"
"No time for questions," Kael snapped, grabbing her wrist. "Move. Now!"
He pulled her forward, his pace breaking into a sprint. Nova stumbled at first but quickly found her footing, adrenaline surging through her veins. The growl came again, louder this time, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps crashing through the underbrush behind them.
Nova dared a glance over her shoulder and immediately wished she hadn't. A massive shadow moved through the trees, its form indistinct but terrifyingly large. The air seemed to grow colder with its presence, and the smell of damp earth and decay filled her nostrils.
"What is that?" she gasped, her lungs burning as she struggled to keep up with Kael.
"Not now!" Kael barked, his grip on her wrist tightening. He led her down a narrow path, the trees closing in around them like walls. The sound of their pursuer grew closer, each step shaking the ground beneath their feet.
Kael suddenly veered off the path, his grip firm as he pulled Nova into a dense thicket. Without a word, he wrapped an arm around her and clamped a hand over her mouth, crouching low and dragging her down with him and into his arms.
"Stay quiet," he murmured, his voice barely audible against the pounding of her heartbeat. His breath was warm and steady, a sharp contrast to the wild rhythm of her own.
Nova pressed herself into him, her body tense but somehow anchored by the solidness of his frame. His scent enveloped her—grounding her in the chaos.
The sound of footsteps slowed, and a low, guttural growl broke the silence. Nova stiffened as the noise turned into a deep, deliberate sniffing, the creature's presence unbearably close. She shut her eyes, trying to steady her breath, but her heart hammered in her chest, each beat threatening to give them away.
Kael met her gaze, his expression fierce. He mouthed a single word: "Wait."
The creature's shadow loomed over them, its shape monstrous and distorted. Nova clenched her fists, every instinct screaming at her to run, but she forced herself to stay still. The air grew thick, the oppressive presence of the creature suffocating.
Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the shadow moved on, its footsteps fading into the distance. Nova let out a shaky breath, her entire body trembling.
Kael didn't move for several long moments, his body tense as his ears strained for any sign of the creature's return. Only when the silence stretched on did he slowly rise, his hand instinctively reaching out to help Nova to her feet.
"What was that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kael shook his head, his expression grim. "Something that doesn't belong here."
Nova stared at him, her fear giving way to frustration. "Is this why you're always so evasive? You knew something was out here, didn't you?"
"I didn't know," Kael said, cutting her off, his voice firm but calm. "I suspected. There's a difference." His gaze softened, though his tone remained steady.
Nova clenched her fists, her mind racing with unspoken questions, but the weight of his words settled over her like a heavy fog. She looked back toward the darkened woods, the memory of the creature's growl still sharp in her ears.
"Next time," she said after a long pause, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands, "warn me."
Kael gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Next time."
They set off again, the forest around them eerily silent, as if holding its breath. Nova couldn't shake the feeling that whatever had crossed their path wasn't gone—it was merely waiting.