Chrono Weaver: The Keys of Infinity

Chapter 7 - Shadows in Pursuit

Piper ran

The wind whipped against her face, the cold air biting into her skin, but she couldn't stop

Not now

Not when freedom was so close, yet still so fragile

The forest that surrounded the Vault was thick, its ancient trees towering like sentinels, their branches forming a canopy that filtered the faint light of dusk

Her footsteps were barely audible on the damp forest floor, but her heartbeat pounded in her ears

The Hunters were out there, somewhere in the shadows, tracking her every move

She could feel it their presence lurking just behind the veil of trees, waiting for her to slip up

One mistake, and they'd drag her back to the Vault

And this time, they wouldn't be so lenient

Piper's breath came in sharp bursts as she weaved between the trees, her muscles burning with exhaustion

The magic she had used to escape had drained her, leaving her weaker than she liked, but she pushed on

There was no other choice

The keys were still with her, faint but pulsing like a heartbeat, their warmth a constant reminder that she wasn't alone

She stumbled over a root, catching herself just before hitting the ground

Her mind was racing, piecing together her next move

She had no idea where she was, no idea how far the Vault's influence stretched, but she had to find shelter Somewhere to rest

Somewhere safe

If safety even exists anymore, she thought bitterly

The distant howl of a hound echoed through the forest, making her stomach drop

The Hunters had unleashed their trackers

Move faster

Piper gritted her teeth, her legs protesting with every step

The trees became a blur around her, her body running on pure adrenaline now

She tried to recall the layout of the land, the lessons her father had once given her on navigating through unknown terrain

But that was before

Before the betrayal

Before her life had become a twisted game of survival

Branches scraped against her skin, and she winced but didn't slow down

Every second counted

The forest began to thin out, revealing jagged cliffs ahead, the landscape dropping sharply into a valley below

Piper skidded to a halt at the edge, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she surveyed the scene

The valley stretched far below her, covered in a thick fog that swirled like ghostly tendrils

To her right, the cliff face sloped downward at an angle that looked dangerous but climbable

She had no time to weigh her options

The hounds' howls were closer now, and she could hear the distant snap of branches as the Hunters closed in

Without hesitation, Piper swung herself over the edge of the cliff, her fingers scrambling for purchase on the jagged rocks. She descended carefully but quickly, her hands shaking as she lowered herself further down