new?

Mukouda gripped Kaelgyr's fur tightly as they tore through the darkness, speeding toward the forest beyond the estate. His heart pounded like a war drum. The cold night air stung his face, but he barely noticed.

Behind them, the distant shouts of guards echoed through the trees. Torches flickered as they spread out, searching for him.

Kaelgyr didn't slow down. "We need to put as much distance between us and them as possible."

Mukouda swallowed hard. "No argument here!"

Branches whipped past, and the dirt path blurred beneath them. Every so often, Kaelgyr's ears would twitch at a distant sound, his sharp eyes scanning for threats.

Then, suddenly—

A faint glow flickered ahead in the trees.

Kaelgyr skidded to a stop, nearly throwing Mukouda off.

Mukouda caught his breath. "W-What is it?"

Kaelgyr's golden eyes narrowed. "A barrier."

Mukouda peered ahead. At first, he didn't see anything… but then, as he focused, he noticed a faint shimmering in the air. It stretched across the path like an invisible wall.

His stomach twisted. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me."

Kaelgyr clicked his tongue. "They were prepared. This isn't just some noble's paranoia—this was a trap from the start."

Mukouda's mind raced. "Can you break it?"

Kaelgyr studied it for a moment before shaking his head. "Not without causing a massive explosion and alerting everyone to our location."

Mukouda groaned. "Great. So what do we do?"

Kaelgyr's ears twitched again. "…We're not alone."

Mukouda stiffened. "H-Huh?"

Before he could react, a figure stepped out from the shadows of the trees.

A woman, dressed in a dark cloak, her face partially obscured by the hood. Her piercing green eyes locked onto Mukouda with an unreadable expression.

Kaelgyr immediately positioned himself between Mukouda and the stranger, his fur bristling.

Mukouda held up his hands. "Uh—h-hi?"

The woman tilted her head slightly. "You're the one Reynard captured, aren't you?"

Mukouda hesitated. "…Maybe?"

She smirked. "Relax. I'm not with him."

Kaelgyr didn't relax. "Then who are you?"

The woman pulled down her hood, revealing sharp elven features. Her long, silver hair shimmered faintly in the moonlight.

"My name is Lyria," she said smoothly. "And if you want to survive the night, you should come with me."

Mukouda blinked. "Uh. That sounds ominous."

Lyria sighed. "Do you have a better option?"

Kaelgyr glanced at the barrier. Then at the distant sound of approaching footsteps.

Mukouda groaned. "…Fine. Lead the way."

Lyria smirked and turned, vanishing into the trees.

Kaelgyr huffed. "If she betrays us, I'm eating her."

Mukouda patted his side. "Noted."

They took off into the darkness, leaving the estate—and whatever nightmare awaited them—far behind.