𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 - 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘱𝘯

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘟𝘟

𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀 𝐀𝐑𝐂

𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘
___________

You cautiously poke your head out into the open, taking in the vast expanse of the sky above. It's a pristine blue, devoid of any clouds. With a grunt, you pull yourself up, standing tall as your gaze sweeps across the desolate landscape. It's a wasteland, devoid of any signs of life as far as your eyes can see.

Suddenly, Emma's voice cuts through the silence, "Wait! Hold on!" You whip your head around just in time to see a man take off, darting in the direction of the nearby forest.

"What in the world?" you mutter under your breath, confusion and surprise lacing your words. Without wasting another second, the three of you spring into action, pounding the ground beneath your feet as you chase after him. But he's fast, unnaturally so, his speed leaving you trailing.

"No joke, he's really fast." Emma huffs, her breath coming out in short pants as we continue our relentless pursuit. "He's lugging around that heavy gun, too." she adds in an undertone, her voice barely audible over the pounding of our feet on the ground.

"Kids suck at this!" the man comments, his laughter echoing back towards us as he throws a taunting glance over his shoulder.

"I guess adults are just on another level." Emma retorts with a nervous chuckle.

"He acts like a spoiled kid though!" Ray interjects angrily, his words laced with bitterness and frustration.

"No joke, this man really pisses me off." You interject.

-

After an exhausting chase that felt like it stretched on for an eternity, we finally manage to close the gap on him just as we reach the outskirts of the forest.

"Not a bad place." he comments nonchalantly, seemingly unfazed by the lengthy chase. "Wastelands done." he continues, gesturing towards the thick expanse of trees.

"We'll aim for a four day trip." he proposes, his gaze scanning the dense woodland that stretches out before us.

His words hang in the air as the four of us take a moment to absorb the sight of the forest, its towering trees and shadowy undergrowth a stark contrast to the desolate wasteland we've just left behind.

"First comes this forest. It's where the packs of man-eaters nest. They see you, you die. Let's go and clear it before sunset." The man says as he begins to walk into the forest.

As we delve deeper into the danger of the forest, an uncanny sensation creeps up on you. The surroundings are unlike anything you've ever witnessed before or even gleaned from the pages of the books back at the shelter.

The trees here have a peculiar appearance, almost as though they're in the process of melting. Their trunks and branches droop in a way that looks like a liquid state, yet their color remains vibrant, a difference to the usual brown bark we're accustomed to.

Curiosity getting the better of you,you reach out tentatively. To my surprise, the tree feels as hard as pure stone, its surface cool under your touch.

"In this forest, there's no end to them." The man speaks up, referring to the demons. "The ones in this area.. they're wild, but know how to form packs. They always keep in groups. On top of that, they're aggressive. In other words, if you're seen, you're dead." He looks down at the three of you.

"They will call for more, and the band will fall on you." he remarks, scratching his chin before turning around and forging ahead.