chapter 8: A moment to Breathe

Kael reacted with sudden alarm when the soldier touched her neck and she struck him with a forceful gesture while showing fierce determination in her expression. "Don't touch me!" she spat, her voice venomous.

The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances. The most experienced veteran among them took a retreat step as he scanned his eyes around the entire group.

A dark warning tone emerged from his voice when he spoke those words. According to the prophecy it has started to unfold. This is a battle."

The area around him received a slow examination from Orin as he studied possible escape paths.

While observing the soldiers, he studied their placement, observed the buildings' layout, and identified any potential weapons among the objects at hand.

His mental processes operated fast as he devised the most suitable options.

The taller guard issued the command to handcuff them when he spoke. Kael sprang into action.

She delivered a quick strike to the soldier's leg which resulted in his leg producing a painful yelp.

The soldier dropped to the floor while holding his knee.

Kael and Orin attacked the soldiers with available weapons, which included homemade objects like fruits and frying pans.

When the soldiers started to escape, Zorro didn't know what exactly was happening until he saw Kael and Orin fighting. He knew they had to leave now or never.

Kael, Orin over here, Zorro shouted. They escaped to safety. They didn't stop until they reached a safe distance.

It started with a low chuckle that soon contacted Kael and then Orin; within seconds, they all burst into laughter.

The moment of their escape _ the frying pans, the flying fruit, the panicked soldiers everything just hit at once like a movie.

The friends kept themselves upright with one against the other and controlled their gasps because they needed air.

The penetrating look Kael received from Orin left him feeling admiration for her powerful presence and courageous spirit.

His gratitude toward her grew strong because she displayed immense strength in that moment.

During the jovial atmosphere, Orin sensed a peculiar, unsettling power that started to take hold within his body.

The unusual sensation started when his fingertips tingled before moving through his entire body, which made him feel dizzy and confused.

Orin made his way outside to discard the peculiar feeling that had built up; he held a tree to balance himself.

A short walking path led him while his eyes checked the landscape and he attempted to regain his composure.

The strange experience grew stronger until he began to hear voices without any physical source.

Orin first detected soft voices that escalated into more intense and pressing tones.

The quickening of his heart pounded as Orin attempted to decipher the voices yet their foreign language remained impossible to understand.

The voices stopped without warning after their abrupt onset which left Orin completely confused about what was happening to him.

The moment passed before he managed to recover his breath before walking slowly toward the rest of the group.

He decided to hide his strange experience from his companions because he remained uncertain about its meaning.

A seed of worry had been sown inside Orin who faced the unwelcome sensation that something hidden inside him could destroy his complete existence.

When Orin returned to his companions he made an effort to hide any signs of abnormality.

He needed to maintain a normal appearance to prevent his companions from uncovering any suspicious activity at this moment.

Zorro stretched his legs dramatically while groaning loudly before he fell onto the ground with a dramatic show. Kael watched him curiously but Zorro's performance interrupted her before she could speak.

That was all it took. Laughter erupted again.

Kael laughed while she playfully tapped the massive wolfhound Zorro with her foot. She called him a traitor. All the pack members agreed that Zorro had exceeded their running speed.

Orin admitted with a smile that Zorro guided us forward. "Tactical retreat, right?"

Zorro looked up with a satisfied expression which seemed to ask the obvious question.

The situation felt peaceful even though it was nothing more than a brief and misleading calm down. Orin deeply wanted to prolong this meaningful moment which he treasured.

But peace never lasted.

A rustling sound broke the laughter. The noise broke their laughter but it was not a natural wind sound. The unsettling sound emerged from the place where it should not.

Orin stilled. His senses sharpened.

Kael heard it too. Her fingers gently approached the dagger she had previously taken before she inched slightly toward him.

The hearing of Zorro became more alert as his body stiffened. A deep growl emerged from his throat.

Then—silence.

The quietness wrapped around your body until your breathing became amplified and unnatural.

Orin moved first. His sudden movement took him in a swift direction while his vision checked the wooded area.

The unsettling feeling returned to grip his body with the knowledge that an unseen watcher kept an eye on them.

Then, a whisper.

Not a voice. Not words. The sound floated through the air as a spectral presence that shaped itself into a whisper.

Orin's fists clenched.

Kael stiffened beside him. She uttered the question in a hushed tone to the darkness around them.

Orin exhaled slowly. "No."

Then, from the shadows—eyes.

Watching. Waiting.

The darkness consumed their entire presence.

Orin held his body in a tense position as he prepared for the unknown threat hiding in the dark.

Kael's breathing remained shallow next to him while her hand slowly moved toward her weapon. Zorro started a deep thunderous chuckle without any warning.

"Hah! A loud laughter escaped from Zorro as he pointed at our alarmed expressions while holding his stomach. "Relax, that was me."

Orin blinked. "What?"

Zorro managed to dry an escaping tear from his eye. "The noises? His body was simply moving around. And the wind? Oh, that happens once a year.

Aeolian turbulence represents a special atmospheric occurrence where dry air from the Tsaki Valley systems encounters nighttime cool air. Causes eerie sounds and sudden gusts. It's completely normal."

Kael exhaled, rolling her eyes. The information about your noises and wind should have been shared earlier.

Zorro smirked. The satisfaction of experiencing things first-hand would be missing if I had revealed those truths to you.

At that moment Orin began to sense the strain in his body dissolving. He had been too on edge. Maybe he was overthinking things.

The disappearance of their unease allowed them to finally rest because fatigue had overcome their bodies.

The first stretch of the night belonged to Kael who voiced her muscle discomfort before Zorro decided to rest near his nearby tent.

Orin reclined his body to gaze at the sky above him. His body had reached relaxation but his thoughts refused to rest.

The sensation which earlier had confused him turned out to be something other than gusts of wind. And those whispers…

The weight of exhaustion sank upon him before he could examine the matter further.