TerraWorld~The Youngest One.. (#8)

Chapter 1

The clash of weapons echoed through the forest as Enna dodged a swift strike from an unseen attacker. The air crackled with energy, and the ground beneath them trembled. Kevin, his face set with grim determination, parried a blow aimed at Enna, his sword glinting in the dim light.

"Enna, look out!" Kevin shouted as a shadowy figure lunged at her from the side.

Enna spun on her heel, her own weapon meeting the attacker's with a resounding clash. The force of the blow sent shockwaves through her arms, but she held her ground. "Who are these guys?" she gritted out, eyes scanning the dense foliage for more enemies.

Kevin shook his head. "I don't know, but they're strong. We need to be careful."

From the corner of her eye, Enna saw Scarlett hiding behind a tree, her pink eyes wide with fear. "Scarlett, stay hidden!" she called out.

As Enna and Kevin fought off the relentless attackers, a figure cloaked in darkness emerged from the trees. The shadows seemed to writhe around him, and his eyes glowed with an eerie light. "You cannot protect the Child of Prophecy," he hissed, his voice like the rustling of dead leaves.

Enna's heart pounded. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her.

The shadowy figure laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "I am the Herald of the Shadows. And I have come for the child."

Kevin stepped forward, his sword raised. "You won't lay a finger on her."

The Herald smirked, raising his hand. Darkness surged forward, enveloping Kevin and lifting him off the ground. Enna's eyes widened in horror as Kevin struggled against the shadowy tendrils.

"Kevin!" Enna screamed, lunging forward, but another attacker intercepted her, forcing her back.

Scarlett watched in terror, her small hands trembling. She wanted to help, but she didn't know how. The power within her surged, reacting to her fear and desperation. Pink light began to emanate from her, and the air around her shimmered with energy.

The Herald's eyes narrowed as he noticed the change. "So, the child awakens," he murmured. "This should be interesting."

With a fierce battle cry, Enna broke free from her attacker and charged at the Herald. "Leave her alone!"

The Herald waved his hand, and Enna was thrown back by a wave of dark energy. She hit the ground hard, gasping for breath.

"Enna, stay down!" Kevin shouted, his voice strained as he continued to fight against the shadows holding him.

But Enna refused to give up. She pushed herself to her feet, determination burning in her eyes. "We won't let you take her," she vowed.

Scarlett, feeling the warmth of Enna's resolve, took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the tree. "You won't hurt my friends," she said, her voice small but steady.

The pink light around her intensified, and the ground beneath them began to shake. The Herald's smirk faltered, replaced by a look of surprise. "What...?"

Before he could react, a burst of energy erupted from Scarlett, driving the shadows away and freeing Kevin. The attackers were thrown back, and the Herald staggered, his grip on the darkness weakening.

Kevin landed on his feet, quickly rushing to Enna's side. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

Enna nodded, her eyes on Scarlett. "She's amazing."

The Herald, regaining his composure, glared at them. "This isn't over," he snarled. "The child will be ours."

With that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving Enna, Kevin, and Scarlett standing amidst the aftermath of the battle. The forest was silent once more, the echoes of the fight fading into the night.

Enna knelt down beside Scarlett, her expression softening. "You were incredible, Scarlett. Thank you."

Scarlett nodded, still trembling slightly. "I... I just wanted to help."

Kevin placed a hand on her shoulder. "You did great, kid. But we need to talk about what just happened."

Enna stood up, her mind already racing with possibilities. "Let's head back to the cabin. We need to figure out who that was and why they're after Scarlett."

As they made their way back, Enna couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The shadows were closing in, and they needed to be prepared for whatever came next.