Shadow of the forest

The golden light of the setting sun filtered through the dense canopy of the forest, painting everything in hues of orange and gold. The air was heavy with the earthy smell of moss and fallen leaves, and the occasional distant caw of a bird echoed through the trees. Two months had passed since Zeke and Arina began wandering the forest, searching for answers and battling shadows at every turn. They had learned much about their foes, but the questions that remained unanswered were as vast and shadowy as the forest itself.

"Can you at least try not to burn the whole damn forest down?" Zeke grumbled as he crouched near a small fire he had built, his golden lion-like eyes fixed on Arina.

Arina stood a few feet away, his arms raised as blue light pulsed from the marks that covered them. His expression was one of focus, his brow furrowed as he directed his magic toward a fallen tree trunk. With a flick of his wrist, blue flames erupted from his palm, engulfing the trunk. The wood crackled and hissed as it was consumed, turning into ash within seconds.

Arina grinned, lowering his arms. "I'm getting the hang of it. Look at that! Not a single wasted spark."

Zeke rolled his eyes, poking at the fire with a stick. "Yeah, yeah, you're a real prodigy. Now stop showing off and make yourself useful. I'm not cooking your damn dinner for you."

Arina turned, his smile faltering when he saw Zeke biting into a chunk of raw meat. He grimaced, his stomach turning at the sight. "Could you not eat like that? It's disgusting."

Zeke smirked, tearing off another piece with his sharp teeth. "What's the matter, boy? Too refined for a little blood?"

Arina ignored him, grabbing a piece of meat from the supplies they had scavenged earlier. He skewered it on a stick and held it over the fire, watching as the flames licked at the flesh. The sizzling sound was oddly soothing, a reminder of simpler times.

"You're gonna burn that," Zeke said, nodding toward the meat.

"I'll take my chances," Arina muttered, turning the stick slowly.

The two sat in relative silence as night fell, the forest around them growing darker and quieter. The fire crackled softly, its warmth a small comfort in the vast, cold wilderness. Arina glanced at Zeke, who was staring into the flames with an unreadable expression.

"What's on your mind?" Arina asked, breaking the silence.

Zeke didn't answer immediately. He leaned back, resting on his hands as he looked up at the star-speckled sky visible through the gaps in the trees. "Just thinking about ....Kava."

"..."

The next morning, the forest was shrouded in mist, the air cool and damp. Zeke and Arina set off early, their footsteps muffled by the soft ground. Arina, as usual, kept stopping to examine and sketch the various plants they encountered.

"Will you stop that?" Zeke snapped, grabbing Arina by the shoulder and pulling him forward. "We don't have time for your little art project."

Arina tucked his notebook under his arm, shooting Zeke a glare. "These 'little art projects' might help us someday, you know. The plants here could be useful for medicine or—"

"Or nothing, because you'll be dead if you keep wasting time," Zeke interrupted, his tone sharp.

Arina sighed but didn't argue. He knew Zeke was right, even if the older man's bluntness grated on his nerves.

As they walked, the forest grew eerily quiet. The usual sounds of rustling leaves and distant animal calls were absent, replaced by an oppressive silence that set both of them on edge.

Then, without warning, a shadow creature burst out from behind a tree, its red eyes wide with panic.

Arina and Zeke both tensed, preparing for a fight. But instead of attacking, the shadow turned and bolted past them, its movements frantic and disjointed.

"What the hell?" Arina muttered, lowering his fists.

Before Zeke could respond, a massive shadow emerged from the trees, its form towering and grotesque. Unlike the smaller shadows they were used to, this one was solid and menacing, its black body rippling like liquid tar.

The smaller shadow didn't stand a chance. The larger one lunged, its massive jaws snapping around its prey. The smaller shadow let out a piercing shriek as it was devoured, its form dissolving into nothingness within seconds.

Arina and Zeke stood frozen, their breaths caught in their throats. The giant shadow turned slowly, its glowing red eyes locking onto them.

Arina's heart pounded as he raised his arms, the marks on his skin beginning to glow. Zeke unsheathed his sword, his grip firm and steady.

But the shadow didn't attack. It stared at them for a moment, then turned and lumbered away, disappearing into the darkness of the forest.

"What the hell was that?" Arina whispered, lowering his arms.

Zeke sheathed his sword, his expression grim. "They're devouring each other."

Arina looked at him, confusion etched on his face. "Why? I thought they were on the same side."

"They were," Zeke said, his tone heavy. "But it seems like they've run out of other things to eat. The creatures, the plants… maybe even the people. Either they've been consumed, or they're hiding too well to be found. So now the shadows are turning on each other."

Arina swallowed hard, the weight of Zeke's words sinking in. The forest wasn't just dying—it was being torn apart from the inside.

"Does that mean… they'll get stronger?" Arina asked hesitantly.

Zeke nodded. "The strongest will survive, and they'll be harder to kill. We need to be ready."

Arina looked down at his hands, the glowing marks faintly pulsing. He clenched his fists, determination hardening his features. "We have to stop them before it's too late."

Zeke placed a hand on his shoulder, his grip firm but reassuring. "Then let's keep moving. There's no time to waste."

---

The rest of the day was tense and uneventful. Every rustle of leaves or shadow that shifted in the corner of their vision set their nerves on edge. The forest felt more alive than ever, but not in a comforting way. It was as if the very ground beneath their feet was holding its breath, waiting for the next moment of chaos.

By the time they set up camp that night, both of them were exhausted. Arina sat by the fire, staring into the flames as he absentmindedly traced the glowing marks on his arms.

"Do you think we'll make it?" he asked quietly, his voice barely audible over the crackling fire.

Zeke, who was sharpening his sword, paused and looked at him. "We've made it this far, haven't we?"

"That's not an answer," Arina muttered, glancing up at him.

Zeke sighed, setting his sword aside. "I don't know, kid. But I do know that giving up isn't an option. Not for you, not for me....."

Arina nodded, his gaze returning to the fire. The flickering flames reflected in his eyes, their light mirroring the resolve burning within him.

The forest was dark, dangerous, and full of unknowns. But Arina knew one thing for certain, he wouldn't stop fighting until the shadows were defeated and the forest was free.

And as the shadows continued to devour each other in the distance, he couldn't help but feel that their time was running out.