Chapter 14: The Hunt Begins

Elara could still hear the whispers.

Even as she and Astra ran through the forest, even as the ruins faded into the distance, the voices clung to her.

Calling.

Watching.

Waiting.

She clenched her fists, forcing herself to focus on the present. The cold air burned in her lungs as she pushed forward, following Astra's lead through the twisting trees.

"We need to get out of here," Astra muttered. "Something feels off."

Elara swallowed hard. "You think?"

Astra shot her a sharp look. "I mean more than usual."

Elara's stomach twisted. She could feel it too.

The forest was shifting.

Not physically—but in a way she couldn't explain. It was like the trees were listening. Like the ground itself was aware of them.

And the whispers in her head weren't fading.

They were growing louder.

Elara forced herself to keep running. They had to get back to the cabin.

But then—

The forest moved.

Not in the normal way. Not with the wind.

The trees bent, twisted, reshaped the path.

Astra skidded to a stop. "Oh, come on!"

Elara stared in horror as the trail they had just been following vanished.

The forest had changed.

The way back was gone.

Astra let out a sharp breath, hand tightening around her dagger. "Alright. Not gonna panic."

Elara's heart pounded. "You sound like you're panicking."

"I said I'm not." Astra spun in a slow circle, scanning the shifting trees. "This isn't normal magic."

Elara swallowed. "I noticed."

The whispers grew stronger.

They slithered through her mind like threads of silk, coiling around her thoughts.

She shook her head, trying to push them away, but—

They weren't just whispers anymore.

They were words.

You cannot run.

Elara flinched.

That voice…

It wasn't like the others.

It wasn't an echo, wasn't a ghost of something long lost.

It was present.

Here.

Watching.

Elara gritted her teeth. "Astra, we need to move. Now."

Astra gave her a sharp look but didn't argue.

They turned—

And the path in front of them disappeared.

Elara's stomach dropped. "No."

The trees shifted again, growing taller, denser, closing in

Astra let out a low curse. "Okay. New plan."

Elara's voice was tight. "Which is?"

Astra drew her dagger. "We fight our way out."

Elara's heart pounded. "Against a forest?"

Astra grinned. "You'd be surprised what a good blade can do."

Elara exhaled sharply. "You're insane."

Astra winked. "Only a little."

Then she lunged—slashing at the nearest tree.

The moment Astra's blade struck wood, the entire forest screamed.

Not a physical sound—a mental one.

Elara felt it.

A deep, ancient rage rippled through the air, shaking the ground beneath their feet.

Astra stumbled back, eyes wide. "Okay. Bad idea."

Elara barely had time to react before the shadows moved.

From the trees. From the air itself.

They took form.

Not quite human.

Not quite anything.

Just darkness with eyes.

Dozens of them.

Surrounding them.

Watching.

Waiting.

Astra raised her dagger. "Oh, that's just great."

Elara's pulse thundered.

The whispers filled her head, the voice curling around her mind like smoke.

You are not welcome here.

Elara clenched her fists. "Too bad."

The voice laughed.

And then—

The shadows attacked.

Astra moved first.

She ducked and rolled just as a shadow lunged, striking with a speed that made Elara's stomach lurch.

Her dagger slashed through the air—but it passed through the shadow like mist.

Astra swore. "Oh, that's not fair!"

Elara stumbled back.

Another shadow lunged for her.

She barely dodged, tripping over a root and crashing to the ground.

Her hands scraped against stone—wait.

Not stone.

Runes.

Carved into the forest floor.

Glowing faintly.

Elara's breath caught.

She recognized them.

They were the same sigils she had seen in the golden city.

And she knew what they meant.

Her fingers pressed against the markings.

Light flared.

The shadows recoiled, hissing.

Astra's eyes went wide. "Okay, what the hell was that?"

Elara didn't have time to explain.

She focused. Called on the memory.

The runes lit up.

A pulse of energy exploded outward, sending the shadows reeling.

Elara's chest heaved.

The whispers screeched-then faded.

The shadows disappeared.

The forest stilled.

Astra lowered her dagger, breathless. "What. Just. Happened."

Elara swallowed. "I… I don't know."

That was a lie.

She did know.

The power, the runes, the whispers—

It was all connected.

And it had started the moment she said the name.

Valdris.

Astra watched her closely. "You're hiding something."

Elara hesitated.

Then, finally, she said, "I think the forest knows me."

Astra raised a brow. "Knows you?"

Elara's fingers brushed against the rune-carved ground.

The whispers were silent now.

But they weren't gone.

She could still feel them.

Watching.

Waiting.

And in that moment, she realized—

This wasn't just any forest.

It wasn't just ancient.

It wasn't just dangerous.

It was alive.

And it had been waiting for her.

For a very, very long time.