CHATER 10:THE HUNTERS’ ARRIVAL

The Veilwood Forest had always been a place of mystery and ancient power, but tonight, it trembled under the weight of an impending storm—one not of nature, but of war.

Seraphina could feel it in the air.

She stood outside the small, makeshift cabin that had sheltered them for the past few days, gripping the edges of her cloak. Something was wrong.

Kael emerged from the shadows of the forest, his sharp gaze scanning their surroundings. He had been patrolling their perimeter, sensing the same unease that had jolted Seraphina awake. His sword was already drawn, the moonlight gleaming off its deadly edge.

"You feel it too," Seraphina whispered.

Kael nodded, his storm-gray eyes narrowing. "Something has changed." He glanced toward the dark treetops. "The forest is warning us."

And then they heard it.

Distant at first, like the low murmur of a waking beast, but steadily growing—a drumming, rhythmic and relentless.

Hoofbeats.

Seraphina's heart lurched.

Kael turned to her, his voice sharp with urgency. "We need to move. Now."

The King's Wrath

The Vaelorian war banner rippled in the wind, its golden lion sigil reflecting the dim torchlight as hundreds of soldiers rode through the Veilwood's threshold.

At their head was King Aldric Valeria, his eyes burning with unyielding determination. The dark magic he had summoned still thrummed through his veins, guiding him forward like an unseen tether to his daughter's very existence.

Beside him rode Lord Cedric Valerius, his smirk barely hidden beneath his polished helm. Behind them, an army of armored knights, skilled trackers, and battle-hardened warriors fanned out into formation.

They had entered the Veilwood knowing the risks.

But tonight, the forest would bow before the will of its king.

Aldric raised a gauntleted hand, and his forces came to a halt. The storm of hooves ceased, leaving only the rustling of the trees and the distant cry of a nightbird.

From the darkness, a hooded figure stepped forward—the sorcerer Aldric had enlisted after Maelor's sacrifice. His violet robes shimmered faintly with the residue of dark power.

"The forest resists us," the sorcerer murmured, placing a hand against the nearest tree. "But it cannot defy your will, Your Majesty."

Aldric's jaw tightened. "Then break its resistance."

The sorcerer spread his arms wide. A deep chant of unnatural syllables echoed through the trees, and the ground quivered in response. The air grew thick with unseen forces, the once-whispering leaves hissing in protest.

And then, the forest screamed.

A soundless force rippled through the Veilwood, sending flocks of crows into the night and shaking the very roots of the ancient trees.

The path ahead, once ever-shifting, straightened. The forest had lost its natural defenses.

Seraphina's sanctuary was no longer hidden.

Aldric's lips curled into a grim smile. "Now, we ride."

A Desperate Flight

The moment the unnatural pulse tore through the forest, Seraphina gasped, clutching her chest. It felt as though something had ripped open the sky, exposing them.

Kael caught her, steadying her with firm hands. "Seraphina, what is it?"

Her voice trembled. "He's coming."

Kael cursed under his breath, already moving. "We have no time. Get the supplies—I'll get the horses."

Seraphina rushed inside the cabin, her hands moving swiftly despite her racing pulse. A map, a dagger, a small satchel of food. They had prepared for this possibility, but the reality of it set her nerves ablaze.

She could hear Kael outside, untying their horses, whispering hurried words to calm them.

And then—

The first war horn sounded.

Seraphina's blood ran cold.

She dashed out of the cabin just as Kael swung onto his horse, his expression dark. "Seraphina, now!"

She didn't hesitate. She leaped onto her own mount, gripping the reins tight as Kael kicked his heels into his steed's side.

They bolted into the trees, their horses galloping with all the force of desperate survival.

Behind them, torches flickered in the distance, the first wave of Vaelorian soldiers pouring into the clearing.

The Forest Fights Back

Aldric reined in his horse as his men surrounded the empty cabin. His keen eyes took in the scene—the still-warm embers of a fire, the hastily abandoned supplies.

"They were here," Cedric murmured.

Aldric lifted his gaze to the disturbed underbrush, the clear hoofprints cutting into the damp soil. A hunter's grin crossed his face.

"They still are."

He turned to his second-in-command. "Release the hounds."

With a signal, the Vaelorian hunters unleashed their beasts—massive, black-furred warhounds bred for relentless pursuit.

The howls that followed were not of this world.

Aldric spurred his horse forward.

"Run while you can, my daughter," he muttered. "This time, there is nowhere left to hide."

The Chase Through Shadows

Seraphina's horse pounded through the underbrush, leaping over twisting roots and fallen branches. Kael rode beside her, his expression a mask of focus.

"They're too close," she gasped.

"I know." Kael pulled hard on the reins, forcing his horse into a sharp turn down a narrow, jagged ravine. "This way!"

Seraphina followed, barely ducking under a low-hanging branch as the path curved dangerously.

Then—

The howls came.

Low, guttural, unnatural.

Kael's head snapped back. "The hounds."

Seraphina swallowed down panic. They would never outrun them.

And then, as if the forest itself heard her fear—

The trees moved.

Branches twisted, roots surged upward, shifting the terrain in ways that should have been impossible. The Veilwood was fighting back.

The Vaelorian warhounds, once relentless, snarled in confusion as their path was swallowed by shifting vines and crushing roots.

Aldric's forces slowed, their horses rearing at the sudden resistance.

The king's eyes narrowed. "So, the forest chooses her side."

His fingers curled over the hilt of his sword.

"Then we burn it down."

To Be Continued…