Chapter 17: The Forest and the Wait

The forest enveloped us in its dense darkness, a stark contrast to the artificial brightness of the tower's gardens. The air was cool and damp, carrying the earthy scent of dead leaves and the subtle fragrance of pines. The silence was almost absolute, punctuated only by the occasional rustling of leaves underfoot and the distant hoot of an owl.

Étienne and Aria moved cautiously along the barely visible path, their hands often clasped together to avoid getting lost in the gloom. Worry for Lyra weighed heavily on their shoulders. Every snap of a twig made them jump.

"Do you think she'll find us?" Aria murmured, her voice trembling.

Étienne squeezed her hand tighter. "I have to believe so. Lyra is intelligent and determined. She knows where we need to be." Despite his reassuring words, a part of his mind was gnawed by anxiety. He replayed her determined face as she had launched herself in the opposite direction, sacrificing her own safety for theirs.

They finally reached a small clearing, the edge of the forest where Aria's path was supposed to lead. The moon, hidden behind thick clouds, offered only a faint, ghostly glow. The place was deserted.

"Maybe we arrived too early," Aria said, trying to mask her nervousness.

Étienne scanned the surroundings, his sharpened senses on alert. There was no sign of Lyra, no suspicious sound indicating an imminent pursuit. But the absence of news was in itself a source of worry.

Time stretched, each minute seeming like an eternity. Impatience and fear began to gnaw at their hearts. Aria bit her lip, her eyes fixed on the edge of the forest. Étienne paced the clearing, his silent steps betraying his inner agitation.

"If she was caught..." Aria began, her voice breaking with emotion.

"Don't even think about it," Étienne cut her off sharply, refusing to let that thought take root. "Lyra is strong. She'll find a way." But doubt lingered, heavy and oppressive.

Suddenly, a light rustling of leaves could be heard at the edge of the forest. Their heads turned simultaneously, their hearts pounding in their chests. A figure emerged from the shadows of the trees.

An instant of intense tension preceded recognition. It was Lyra.

A collective sigh of relief escaped their lips. Aria rushed towards her, hugging her tightly. Étienne approached more slowly, his face illuminated by a genuine smile.

"You did it," he said simply, his voice full of emotion.

Lyra returned their embrace, feeling the warmth of their presence comfort her. "They chased me for a while, but the forest offered better cover. I managed to lose them."

Relief gave way to exhaustion. The chase had drained their bodies and nerves. They sat down at the foot of a large tree, catching their breath in the relative silence of the forest.

"Now, we have to find Malakai," Lyra said, her voice determined. "Aria said the Chosen are looking for him."

"We have no idea where he could be," Étienne replied, his gaze somber.

"Maybe he has a refuge, a safe place where he's hiding," Aria suggested. "He talked to us about the forest as a place of freedom for those who are different."

A sliver of hope flickered within them. Malakai might know this forest better than anyone. They had to find a way to contact him, to warn him of the danger. The night was still long, and their journey had only just begun. The forest, once a potential place of refuge, was transforming into a new terrain of search and uncertainties.