Rowan moved cautiously through the outskirts of the forest, his senses heightened in a way that felt both exhilarating and unnerving.
The towering trees loomed above him, their thick canopy blotting out most of the sunlight, leaving streaks of golden light spilling through the gaps.
He crouched near a patch of familiar herbs, carefully plucking the leaves while keeping one ear tuned to the forest's subtle sounds.
The faint rustling of leaves, the chirping of distant birds, it all seemed magnified. He realized, perhaps for the first time, that his senses were sharper than they used to be, and he made full use of them to stay aware of any lurking dangers.
Yet, the quietness of the forest felt… unnatural.
Every crunch of leaves beneath his feet echoed louder than it should. Every whisper of wind brushing against the treetops felt as though it carried a warning.
Shaking off the unease, Rowan stuffed the herbs into his bag and straightened up.
"Just nerves," he muttered under his breath. He adjusted the short blade strapped to his waist.
Suddenly, a sharp snap echoed from behind him.
Rowan froze, his heart pounding in his chest as he instinctively tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade. Slowly, he turned, scanning the shadows between the trees.
"Relax," a calm voice broke the silence, making him jump. "If I wanted to hurt you, I would've done it already."
Rowan spun around to see a girl step out from behind a tree. Her movements were deliberate, her posture casual yet confident.
She looked about his age, but there was something in her sharp gaze and easy composure that made her seem older, more seasoned.
"Who are you?" Rowan demanded, his voice steadier than he felt.
The girl smirked, raising her hands slightly in a gesture of non-aggression. "Just someone who knows this forest better than you do."
Rowan narrowed his eyes, his grip on his blade unwavering. She didn't appear hostile, but something about her calm demeanor set him on edge.
"You're not supposed to be here," she said, tilting her head slightly as she studied him.
"Neither are you," Rowan shot back, unwilling to let his guard down.
The girl chuckled, lowering her hands. "Fair point. But judging by that sorry excuse for a weapon, you're out of your mind. Let me guess… gathering herbs?"
Rowan hesitated before nodding. "What's it to you?"
"Relax," she said again, slinging her satchel over her shoulder. "I'm not here to steal your precious leaves. Name's Kiera."
"Rowan," he said reluctantly, his voice still guarded.
Kiera's smirk deepened. "Well, Rowan, I'll give you this. You've got guts. But guts won't save you out here."
Before Rowan could respond, a low growl rippled through the air. The sound made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
"What was that?" Rowan whispered, his hand darting back to his blade.
Kiera's easy smirk vanished, replaced by a sharp, focused expression. "A wandering beast," she said quietly. "Too close to the edge. That's bad."
The growl came again, louder this time, accompanied by the rustling of underbrush.
Rowan's pulse quickened as dread began to claw at his chest. Gathering herbs was one thing, but a magical beast? That was an entirely different story.
"We need to move," Kiera said, her voice low and urgent. She took a step back, her hand drifting toward her satchel. "Now."
Rowan hesitated, gripping his blade tighter. "Shouldn't we—"
"No!" Kiera cut him off sharply. "Unless you've suddenly become a seasoned beast hunter or a Master mage, running is the only option."
The growl turned into a snarl, and the ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble. Rowan's legs felt like they were made of lead, his body frozen by the primal fear coursing through him.
Kiera grabbed his arm and yanked him forward with surprising strength. "Come on!" she hissed, breaking him out of his stupor.
Rowan's legs finally obeyed, and he sprinted after her, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
The forest blurred around them as they ran, the sound of snapping branches and heavy footfalls growing louder behind them.
"Keep going!" Kiera shouted, her voice cutting through his rising panic.
They burst into a small clearing, and for a brief moment, Rowan thought they'd outrun whatever was chasing them.
But then the beast emerged from the shadows of the trees, its massive form illuminated by the dappled sunlight.
It was a monstrous hybrid, its body resembling a bear but with grotesque, rodent-like features. Its glowing red eyes locked onto them, and it let out a bone-rattling snarl.
Kiera skidded to a halt, throwing an arm out to stop Rowan from moving any further. "Stay back," she ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small vial filled with a faintly glowing liquid.
"What are you doing?" Rowan gasped, his chest heaving.
"Buying us time," she muttered, uncorking the vial.
The beast lunged forward just as Kiera hurled the vial at its snout. The glass shattered, releasing a thick, greenish mist that engulfed the creature's head.
It let out an ear-piercing roar, thrashing violently as the mist clung to its fur.
"Run!" Kiera barked, shoving Rowan forward with enough force to make him stumble.
This time, he didn't argue. His legs moved on instinct, carrying him away from the chaos behind him. The beast's enraged howls faded into the distance as they sprinted toward the forest's edge.
By the time they reached open ground, Rowan collapsed onto his knees, gasping for air. His lungs burned, and his entire body trembled, but they had made it.
Kiera leaned against a nearby tree, her chest rising and falling as she caught her breath. "Not bad for a newbie," she said, her voice still laced with exhaustion.
"But you're crazy if you think you can come out here alone and survive," she added, smirking faintly. "Either you've got a death wish, or you're just really bad at thinking things through."
Rowan didn't respond, his eyes fixed on the sky as he tried to steady his breathing.
Kiera chuckled, shaking her head. "You'll live, but if you're planning to come back out here, you'd better be more prepared. Next time, I won't be around to save you."
She turned to leave, her steps unhurried despite what had just happened.
"Wait," Rowan called out with a hoarse voice.
Kiera paused, glancing back over her shoulder.
"Thanks," he said simply, the gratitude clear in his tone.
Her lips curved into a small smile. "Don't mention it. See you around, crazy lad."
And with that, she disappeared into the forest, leaving Rowan alone to process what had just happened.
As the adrenaline began to fade, Rowan leaned back on his elbows, staring up at the canopy of trees. His first trip to the Freehigh Forest had been far more than he bargained for, but it wasn't enough to scare him off.
If anything, it only solidified his resolve. Next time, he will be ready.