Shadow of the forest

The morning was calm, the air carrying the lingering chill of dawn. Sunlight filtered through the thinning canopy, casting dappled rays onto the forest floor. Birds chirped faintly in the distance, but the forest's usual liveliness was subdued—a quiet mourning that matched the mood of the small group gathered at the centaur village's edge.

Zeke tightened the straps on his pack, his movements sharp and efficient as he prepared to leave. Nearby, Arina carefully folded the map Kava had given him, placing it securely inside his satchel. He glanced back toward Kara, who stood a few paces away with his son, Fonzo, and the dead centaur's daughter, Lira.

The girl, no older than six, clung tightly to Fonzo's arm, her dark eyes wide with fear and exhaustion. She had barely spoken a word since the previous night, her small frame still trembling at times. Kara knelt beside her, his strong presence a comforting anchor.

"You're sure about leaving so soon?" Kara asked, his voice heavy with concern as he straightened.

Zeke hoisted his pack over his shoulder and shrugged. "The longer we stay, the worse things get. You know that as well as I do."

Arina nodded, though his expression was softer. "We don't want to bring more trouble to the village." He glanced at Lira, who was now staring at him with an unreadable gaze. Her face, so small and fragile, pulled at his heart. "She's in good hands here, right?"

Kara placed a firm hand on Fonzo's shoulder, nodding. "I'll look after her as if she were my own. My children are strong, and Lira will be, too."

Fonzo puffed up his chest slightly, his young face hard with determination. "I'll protect her. I promise."

Zeke snorted lightly, though there was no mockery in it. "Good kid. You'll need that resolve if things get worse."

The group fell silent for a moment. Kara finally stepped forward and extended his hand to Zeke. The two clasped forearms tightly in a warrior's farewell. "Be careful out there. The forest grows darker with every passing day."

Zeke smirked, though his eyes were serious. "We'll handle it."

Arina exchanged a quieter farewell, offering Kara a faint smile before he turned to follow Zeke into the trees. As they disappeared into the forest, the faint voice of Lira called after them—soft, but clear.

"Come back safe…"

Neither of them looked back, though Arina's heart ached with the unspoken promise.

The forest stretched endlessly before them, its once-vibrant greens now tinged with sickly browns and grays. The path was uneven, choked with roots and overgrown thorns. Hours passed in silence, broken only by the crunch of their boots and the occasional murmurs of distant wildlife.

Arina's mind wandered as they walked, his thoughts lingering on the village and the little girl they had left behind. The sight of the ruined centaur settlement haunted him still—the broken lives, the emptiness left in the shadows' wake.

Zeke, walking a few paces ahead, glanced back. "You're quiet. Thinking about the kid?"

Arina nodded slightly. "It's hard not to. Lira lost everything in one night… And we just walked away."

Zeke sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, well, you can't save everyone, Arina. You do what you can, but sometimes you just have to keep moving. Sitting around feeling sorry for them doesn't kill the shadows."

"I know," Arina muttered, though the weight on his chest didn't lift.

After another hour, Zeke finally called for a break. "We'll rest here for a bit. Keep your strength up. There's no telling what's ahead."

They settled under the shade of a massive oak, one of the few trees that still looked alive. Arina dropped his pack and pulled out the map, spreading it across the grass. The edges were worn, and faint lines marked routes across the sprawling forest. His eyes focused on a particular spot at the center of the map.

"The main tree…" he whispered.

Zeke, sitting cross-legged and gnawing on a strip of dried meat, glanced over. "What about it?"

Arina traced a finger over the location. "Kava told me about it before. The main tree—it's the source of the forest's energy. It keeps everything alive. If the forest starts to die, it means…"

Zeke's gaze darkened as he finished Arina's sentence. "...that the worst shadow has taken root there. If they've invaded the main tree, the entire forest is as good as dead."

Arina swallowed hard, his fingers trembling slightly against the map. "How do we even stop something like that?"

"The path to the main tree isn't easy," Zeke said grimly, staring off into the distance. "The closer you get, the more the shadows will fight to stop you. It's their lifeline, too. If we cut it off, we cut them off."

Arina nodded, though the weight of their task settled heavily on him. "We need to hurry, then."

Zeke smirked faintly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Hurry, sure, but let's not drop dead on the way, yeah? Pace yourself."

Arina managed a weak smile, but just as he was about to respond, a sharp pain shot through his arm. His breath caught in his throat, and he doubled over with a strangled cry.

"Arina?" Zeke was on his feet instantly, eyes wide with alarm.

The symbols carved into Arina's arm, usually dormant, now glowed with an eerie blue light. The lines pulsed, sending waves of searing pain through his body. Arina collapsed to his knees, clutching his arm as his vision blurred.

"Arina!" Zeke grabbed his shoulders, shaking him roughly. "What the hell is happening?"

"I—I don't know!" Arina gasped, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. The pain was unbearable, like fire crawling under his skin, tearing through his veins.

Zeke cursed under his breath, his grip tightening. "What do I do? Dammit, Arina, talk to me!"

Then, as suddenly as it began, the pain vanished. The blue glow faded, leaving the symbols inert once more. Arina sagged forward, panting heavily. His fingers trembled as he gingerly touched his arm, which was now cold and clammy.

Zeke released him, though his expression was a mixture of anger and worry. "What the hell was that?"

Arina shook his head weakly. "...I don't know. It just… happened."

Zeke frowned deeply, his eyes narrowing. "It's the forest, isn't it? The damn thing is connected to you."

Arina's eyes widened slightly. "What do you mean?"

Zeke sat back, running a hand down his face. "I knew those symbols weren't normal, but I didn't think it'd get this bad. The forest is tied to the main tree, yeah? If it's dying, it's probably reacting through you. Like some kind of conduit."

Arina's stomach twisted with anxiety. "So what does that mean for me?"

Zeke's face turned grim, and his voice softened just slightly. "It means the worse the forest gets… the worse you're gonna feel it. If the tree falls, you might go down with it."

Arina swallowed hard, his mind spinning. "But—there has to be a way to stop it. There has to be."

Zeke looked at him for a long moment, then sighed. "There might be. But it means we have to get to that tree fast and burn out whatever shadow's trying to take it." He paused, his voice dropping to a growl. "And you'd better hold it together until then, got it?"

Arina nodded slowly, though fear still churned in his gut. The thought of being tied so closely to the forest—to its life and its death—made his skin crawl. But he couldn't let that stop him.

"We'll stop it," he said quietly, his voice firm despite the tremor in his hands.

Zeke's eyes softened just slightly. "Damn right we will."

The two of them sat in silence for a moment longer, the forest around them quiet and watchful. Somewhere in the distance, the faint rustle of leaves echoed, but neither of them moved.

Finally, Zeke stood and offered his hand to Arina. "Come on. Let's move. The forest isn't gonna save itself."

Arina took his hand, pulling himself to his feet. He cast one last glance at the map before stuffing it back into his bag. With the symbols still faintly tingling on his arm, he followed Zeke deeper into the forest, the weight of their mission heavier than ever.

And the shadows were waiting.