Chapter 8: Unseen Burden

The Jagras pack moved through the undergrowth in uneven strides, their usual coordination frayed by exhaustion and fear. The battle had left them wounded, their numbers thinned. What remained of the pack followed their leader, pressing forward with no time to lick their wounds.The Great Jagras led them deeper into the forest, its body sluggish, movements not as fluid as before. The wounds it had sustained in the fight still oozed, but something else gnawed at it—a haze creeping into its senses, faint but growing.Above them, the canopy was thick with shifting leaves. The forest never felt safe, but now, it was wrong. Chirps and rustles came from unseen creatures, yet there was an eerie lack of response from the usual prey. The infected had chased them for a while, but the sounds had faded, as if the parasite had changed its approach.A Jagras limped beside its leader, whining softly. Others flicked their heads around, eyes wide, sensing something just out of reach. They had no words to express it, only instinct—instinct that screamed to move.The Great Jagras stopped suddenly.The pack stiffened. Their leader's chest expanded, nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air. Something was ahead. It was faint, but familiar.Another Jagras pack.The Great Jagras let out a low rumble, a call—not one of warning, but acknowledgment. The sound was met with silence. The other pack had heard, but there was no answer.Something was wrong.The pack hesitated, ears flicking as the silence stretched. Then—movement. The undergrowth shifted ahead, heavy steps drawing closer.The Great Jagras blinked slowly. The haze returned, a creeping fog at the edges of its thoughts. The scent of its own kind was strong, yet something about it itched at the back of its mind.The pack behind it whined softly, shifting uneasily.Then, finally—a response. A deep, familiar growl.The other Great Jagras had arrived.The leader of the approaching pack emerged, muscles tensed, eyes sharp. It scanned the group, taking in their wounds, their weariness. It chuffed lowly, a questioning sound.The infected Great Jagras felt something linger at the edge of its thoughts. It wasn't here yet, but its presence was creeping closer. The haze in his mind pulsed, like something unseen breathing beneath the surface.The two leaders locked eyes.The Great Jagras hesitated. It had intended to seek safety—to warn the others of what lurked behind them. But now, something twisted inside its thoughts.A moment too long passed before it let out a call, a strained sound, meant to signal their distress.The other leader's nostrils flared, hackles raising slightly. It had noticed the hesitation.The pack behind them shifted uneasily. Something was coming.Something was watching.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ short chapter, but may be revised in the future.