Land of Blue

Ethan and Ferox pack their belongings, preparing to move on. Ferox hoists his shovel onto his back and lifts the coffin with ease, its weight nothing to his immense strength. Ethan carefully wraps the Legionnaire's remains in cloth, securing them to his back. He then gathers the remaining meat, bundling it tightly before slinging it over his shoulder. 

He glances at Ferox.

"So, where should we head next?" 

Ferox looks toward the horizon, his eyes narrowing as he points in a specific direction. "Through the graveyard, over the Hollow Woods." 

Ethan's expression shifts slightly. He sighs, his shoulders tensing.

"That place, huh?" 

Though he tries to appear calm, a flicker of anxiety crosses his face. The Hollow Woods are no ordinary forest, and Ethan knows it. 

"Alright, next stop: Hollow Forest." 

They begin their journey, the Bone Guard joining them shortly after. Its sword and shield are stained with blood, evidence of its relentless slaughter of the remaining zombies. 

CLICK CLICK

Its jaw rattles as it falls into step beside Ethan. 

Ethan nods in acknowledgment.

"You can stay next to us. Seeing as you've cleared most of them already, we won't have to worry about fighting for a while... at least until we reach the forest." 

The trio walks along the old trails, the landscape a haunting reminder of what this land once was—a place of life, now twisted by death. The path winds through tall, withered trees, their skeletal branches clawing at the sky. The air carries a bluish hue, a cold, ethereal glow that blankets the surroundings. It's eerie, yet strangely beautiful, as if death itself has painted the world in its colors. 

They climb the hills, the path growing steeper as they ascend. The sun's light struggles to penetrate the dense canopy of the Hollow Woods, casting long shadows that dance across the ground. As they reach the peak, the blue mist mingles with the fading sunlight, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. 

".....Seems like a sight to behold," Ethan murmurs, taking a deep breath. The air here feels cleaner, lighter, compared to the oppressive graveyard they left behind. 

"Don't let your guard down, kid"

Ferox warns, his voice low and gruff. His eyes scan the surroundings, alert for any sign of danger. 

"It's alright,"

Ethan says, waving him off.

"Usually, the main concentration of undead is at the center of the forest. The outskirts have little to offer." 

Ferox grunts in response, clearly unconvinced but choosing not to argue. 

They begin their descent down the steep hill, the path becoming overgrown with thick shrubs and tangled vines. The Bone Guard moves to the front, its sword slicing through the tall grass and clearing the way. Ethan watches it work, a faint smile tugging at his lips. 

"Good job"

he says quietly, more to himself than anyone else. 

As they continued, something felt... off. Each step they took seemed to echo louder than it should, and the air grew heavier, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.

The Bone Guard grew quieter, its movements more deliberate, as if it too sensed the shift. 

Ethan tried to act calm, his eyes scanning the surroundings as they pressed forward. But the feeling of being watched was undeniable. It was as if unseen eyes followed their every move, hidden within the shadows of the twisted trees. 

Ferox, however, made no attempt to hide his unease. His massive frame tensed, his hand tightening around the handle of his shovel. His eyes darted across the forest, his instincts screaming at him to stay alert. 

"...Kid,"

Ferox muttered, his voice low and gravelly. 

Ethan glanced over, his grip tightening on the hilt of his katana.

"Yeah?" 

Ferox's gaze remained fixed on the trees ahead.

"I guess there's no rest for us." 

Ethan nodded, his expression hardening. He drew his katana in one fluid motion, the blade gleaming faintly in the eerie blue light of the forest. The Bone Guard stepped closer, its shield raised and its sword at the ready, its purple eyes glowing brighter as it prepared for whatever lay ahead. 

The trio moved forward, their steps cautious and deliberate. The forest seemed to close in around them, the shadows deepening and the silence growing oppressive. Every rustle of leaves, every creak of a branch, felt like a warning. 

Ethan's heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to breathe steadily.

"Stay close,"

Ferox grunted in response, his shovel resting on his shoulder like a weapon. The Bone Guard's jaw clicked softly, its hollow eyes scanning the darkness. 

WOOSH

CLANK 

A massive tree trunk hurtles through the air, slamming into Ferox with enough force to stagger him. He grunts, bracing himself as he shoves the trunk aside, his muscles straining under the weight. 

Ethan and the Bone Guard immediately turn, their weapons raised, scanning the shadows for the source of the attack. But the forest is silent, the trees standing still as if nothing had happened. 

"...Phantoms,"

Ethan mutters, his voice low and tense. 

Ferox growls, his grip tightening on his shovel. "Keep moving. Don't give them a target." 

The trio presses forward, their senses on high alert. The forest feels alive now, its unseen watchers lurking just beyond the edge of sight. The Bone Guard's jaw clicks softly, its purple eyes glowing brighter as it scans the darkness. 

Ethan takes a deep breath, his katana steady in his hand.

"Time to run " 

They move quickly, the weight of the forest's gaze pressing down on them. Whatever lurked in the Hollow Woods, it wasn't done with them yet.