The Hunt Begins

Jin moved swiftly through the dense forest, his breath steady despite the chase unfolding behind him. The moon cast long shadows over the gnarled roots and thick foliage, and every step had to be carefully measured. His pursuers were not far behind—he could hear them now, their movements precise, their numbers growing.

The woman he had fought was no ordinary warrior. Her skill, her discipline—it suggested she was someone of rank, someone who had been trained to lead. And the reinforcements arriving only confirmed it. Whoever she was, she had the means to summon an entire unit at a moment's notice.

Jin's grip on the hilt of his blade tightened. The weapon hummed faintly in his hand, as if sensing the danger that surrounded them. He had claimed it, and now it had marked him. There was no turning back.

A flicker of movement to his left.

Jin reacted instinctively, twisting just in time to avoid the arrow that whizzed past his shoulder. He rolled forward, his feet landing on a sloped incline that led deeper into the forest. Without hesitation, he let himself slide down, using the momentum to put distance between himself and his pursuers.

More arrows followed, striking the trees with sharp thuds. They weren't aiming to kill—yet. They wanted him alive. That meant he still had a chance to escape.

He reached the bottom of the incline and dashed forward. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, masking his scent, but it wouldn't be enough. They had trackers. He needed to lose them another way.

His mind raced. The forest was unfamiliar, but there was always an advantage to be found in the unknown. He had learned that much in the Vale.

Then he saw it—a ravine, hidden beneath the thick canopy. A deep, narrow gorge, its walls slick with moss and treacherous with jagged rocks. A single misstep meant death.

Perfect.

Jin didn't hesitate. He adjusted his footing, angling his trajectory toward the edge. The voices behind him grew louder. They had seen him. They knew where he was going.

"Don't let him cross!" someone shouted.

Too late.

Jin leaped.

For a moment, he was weightless, the night sky stretching endlessly above him. Then gravity took hold, and he twisted his body, angling himself toward an outcropping just below. His hands shot out, fingers grasping at the damp rock. The impact jarred his bones, but he held firm.

Above him, the woman and her soldiers skidded to a halt at the edge of the ravine. Their torches flickered, illuminating the steep drop.

"Damn it," one of them muttered. "He won't survive that."

The woman, however, remained silent, her gaze scanning the darkness below.

Jin didn't wait to see if she would order them to follow. He began moving along the rock face, careful not to dislodge any loose stones. Every movement had to be deliberate, precise. One mistake, and he'd fall to his death.

Minutes stretched into eternity as he climbed. The sounds of pursuit faded, but he knew better than to assume he was safe. They wouldn't give up so easily.

He finally reached a ledge wide enough to stand on. His muscles burned from the effort, but he forced himself to keep moving. The gorge narrowed ahead, leading to a narrow passage hidden between two massive boulders.

He slipped through.

The other side opened into a small clearing, shielded from view by thick undergrowth. Jin allowed himself a single deep breath before scanning his surroundings. There had to be another way out, another path that would take him beyond their reach.

Then, movement.

Jin's body tensed, his hand going to his blade. But what emerged from the shadows was not a soldier.

A child.

She was small, no older than seven, with wide, frightened eyes and clothes that were torn and stained. She stared at him, frozen in place, as if unsure whether to run or stay.

Jin lowered his weapon slightly. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice softer than before.

The girl hesitated, then pointed toward the trees behind her. "They took my brother."

Jin frowned. "Who?"

"The ones in black."

The words sent a chill through him. He had assumed his pursuers were only after him—but if they were taking prisoners, there was something more at play.

He exhaled.

He should leave.

He had barely escaped with his life, and staying here only increased the chances of being caught.

But the girl's eyes pleaded with him, her small hands trembling as she clutched the hem of her tunic.

Jin sighed. He had been marked by death for as long as he could remember. But perhaps, just this once, he could change that.

"Where did they take him?"

The girl's face lit up with hope, and she pointed deeper into the forest.

Jin followed her gaze, his mind already working through the possibilities. He didn't know what he was walking into, but one thing was certain.

His journey was far from over.

Suddenly, a low growl rumbled through the darkness. Jin's eyes snapped up as figures stepped out from the trees—three men, cloaked in black, their faces obscured by masks. One of them held a struggling boy, his face streaked with dirt and tears.

Jin tightened his grip on his sword.

"Well, well," one of the masked figures chuckled. "It seems we've found something interesting tonight."

The leader's voice was cold, calculating. "You should have run, wanderer."

Jin felt the air grow tense. He was outnumbered, but that had never stopped him before.

The child's sobs echoed in the night.

Jin took a slow step forward, his voice unwavering. "Let the boy go."

The leader tilted his head. "And why would we do that?"

Jin's blade shimmered under the moonlight, its deadly edge reflecting his resolve. "Because if you don't, none of you are leaving this forest alive."

One of the masked men chuckled. "You don't know who you're dealing with."

Jin's eyes darkened. "And you don't know what I've survived."