The Hunter Saga - The book of shadows

Chapter 2 - Trail runs cold

in the dark chasm a skeleton hand jutting out of the cliffside grasping an old lantern was found. He opens it and tries to fix it. The lantern glows with light and the light passes through him.

As Baxter's memories flooded back, he recalled his wife's warm smile and his children's laughter, a flicker of light in the darkness of his past. The realization that he had a family waiting for him spurred him on, giving him the strength to push forward despite the seemingly insurmountable odds stacked against him. With renewed determination, Baxter set out to unravel the mysteries surrounding his presence in this cursed realm and find a way back to his loved ones.

The lantern he had found in the cave emitted a faint glow, illuminating the path ahead as he ventured deeper into the chasm. The walls seemed to close in around him, ancient runes and symbols etched into the stone casting eerie shadows that danced with malevolent intent. But Baxter pressed on, his resolve unwavering as he followed the trail of the mysterious light that had infused him with newfound knowledge of his past.

As he delved further into the darkness, the trail began to grow cold, the whispers of the sinister creatures that lurked in the shadows growing louder and more insistent. Baxter's heart pounded in his chest, a primal fear clawing at the edges of his mind as he realized he was alone in a hostile and unforgiving world. But just as despair threatened to overtake him, a voice echoed in his mind, a faint whisper that spoke of hope and redemption.

With renewed vigor, Baxter continued his journey, guided by the light of the lantern and the voice that urged him forward. He comes across a clearing bordered by 2 Cliffsides. It filled with blackened trees but still look like they're alive.

As Baxter stood in the clearing, he felt a sense of unease wash over him. The blackened trees seemed to writhe and twist, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. The air was thick with a heavy, oppressive energy that made it difficult to breathe. Despite the eerie atmosphere, Baxter pressed on, determined to uncover the secrets hidden within this mysterious realm.

As he moved deeper into the clearing, he noticed a strange symbol etched into the trunk of one of the trees. It glowed faintly in the dim light, pulsing with an otherworldly energy. Intrigued, Baxter reached out to touch the symbol, and as his fingers made contact, a jolt of electricity shot through him, causing him to recoil in pain.

But the pain was fleeting, replaced instead by a surge of knowledge and understanding. The symbol had unlocked a hidden power within Baxter, granting him the ability to see beyond the veil of reality and into the deeper mysteries of the world. With this newfound gift, he began to unravel the threads of fate that had brought him to this cursed realm.

As he explored further, Baxter discovered a hidden cave hidden beneath one of the cliffsides. Inside, he found a series of intricate carvings depicting scenes of ancient battles and mythical creatures. The carvings seemed to come alive before his eyes, the figures moving and shifting as if they were trying to communicate with him.

Guided by instinct, Baxter traced the carvings with his fingers, feeling a strange connection to the ancient symbols. Suddenly, a blinding light erupted from the cave, illuminating the darkness and revealing a hidden chamber beyond.

Inside the chamber, Baxter found a pedestal with a glowing orb resting atop it. The orb pulsed with an otherworldly energy, beckoning him closer. As he reached out to touch it, a voice spoke to him in a language he understand very well, a memory of his wife.

The voice imparted upon him a quest, a journey to unlock the mysteries of the cursed realm and find a way back to her. With newfound purpose, Baxter accepted this knowing that the path ahead would be fraught with danger and uncertainty.

As he emerged from the chamber, Baxter felt a sense of clarity and purpose that had eluded him since his arrival in this strange land. The lantern in his hand glowed with renewed intensity, casting a beam of light that illuminated the darkness of the chasm ahead. With a newfound sense of determination, Baxter set out once more, eager to uncover the secrets that lay hidden in the depths of this cursed realm.

And as he journeyed deeper into the twilight, guided by the light of the lantern and the whispers of his wife and kids, Baxter knew that his path was far from over. The trail may have grown cold, but he was determined to follow it to the very end, no matter what challenges lay in his way. For he knew that his family was waiting for him, and he would stop at nothing to find his way back to them, no matter the cost.