The Call of Home

CHAPTER 7

The following days and nights blurred together in a strange rhythm. The hike was peaceful and serene, with the vibrant greenery of the forest surrounding us like an embrace. Each day brought the beauty of majestic rivers flowing, leading to moss-covered cliffs, fields of wildflowers that stretched as far as the eye could see, and the occasional glimpse of wildlife darting through the underbrush. The air smelled fresh, untouched by time. During the day, I almost forgot the strange unease that had settled in my chest.

But every night, when the sun dipped below the horizon and the forest took on a different tone, that sense of peace evaporated. The laughter and stories shared around the campfire would fade into the background as the eerie stillness of the wilderness crept back in. It wasn't just the quiet, it was the way the shadows seemed to stretch, how the wind would pick up, carrying faint, distant whispers that I couldn't quite make out.

And then came the dreams. Every night, without fail, I'd wake with the same sense of unease, my mind clouded by strange images that slipped away the moment I tried to grasp them. They were all nearly identical, variations of the same unsettling vision as the first. Sometimes I'd catch a glimpse of something—a figure moving just beyond the edge of my vision, always slipping back into the darkness before I could see it. Other times, I'd hear a soft, breathy whisper, too faint to understand but haunting enough to have it fester in the depths of my consciousness. We couldn't arrive at the grove soon enough. I would demand answers from who knows what, but all I knew, I could get what I wanted.

Finally, we were getting close to our destination, I recognized the large, misshapen rocks and vines caking the stone around us on one side, and enormous trees on the other. That shielded entrance would come around in just a few hours.

Just as I finished the thought, something like a lightning bolt cracked through me, sending every inch of me on alert, every hair on my body standing at attention.

"Feel that?" I murmured hand resting on the hilt of my blade. "Something's off."

The group scanned the thick forest. Seren perked her head up, "I'm not so sure. Arwel's stories getting to you?"

I slowed my pace, my eyes sharp as I surveyed the terrain.

The group instinctively tightened into a more defensive formation, understanding that my sudden seriousness was not a joke, the casual air of the afternoon gone. As we pushed deeper into the forest, the undergrowth became more tangled, and a faint, sour smell hung in the air. It was faint, but distinct—something animalistic, yet foreign.

Suddenly, Arwel held up a hand, signalling for us to stop. He crouched low, examining the ground. "Tracks," he whispered. "But they're like nothing I've seen before."

I knelt beside him, my heart racing as I studied the prints in the dirt. They were massive--larger than any bear or wolf, and the shape was all wrong. The toes were elongated, almost claw-like, and the deep impressions suggested something heavy.

"Whatever made these," Idris said quietly, "is big."

"And close," Cerys added, her voice barely above a whisper.

The forest felt like it was holding its breath, waiting for something. I could feel the weight of the dagger at my side, and for the first time since we left, I unslung my bow, knocking an arrow, and pointing it down to ensure my vision would not be blocked.

We stood there in tense silence, listening, waiting. The tension in the air was thick, every nerve on edge as we strained to hear any sign of movement. The forest was eerily still, not a rustle or chirp to be heard. It was as if even the animals had sensed what we hadn't. Something was stalking us, I could only wonder for how long.

A low growl rumbled through the air, so deep it was felt more than heard. My heart slammed against my chest as I turned toward the sound, the others following suit. From the dense shadows of the forest, something shifted, a dark shape moving between the trees, too quick and too large to be anything familiar.

"There!" I hissed, pointing toward the thick brush just ahead.

The growl came again, closer this time, vibrating through the dirt beneath our feet. My grip tightened on the bow, pulling the string taut as I aimed toward the movement. The others were already in position, weapons drawn and ready, but none of us could quite make out what we were facing.

Then, without warning, it lunged.

A massive, hulking creature burst from the underbrush, its dark fur matted with dirt and blood. It stood at least twice the height of a man, its muscled form moving with preternatural speed for something so large. Its eyes, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light, locked onto me, and a snarl tore from its throat, revealing rows of jagged teeth.

"Get back!" Idris shouted, raising his sword just in time to block a sweeping claw aimed at him.

The beast's strike was so powerful that it sent Idris flying back, slamming into the rock at our backs, knocking him out cold. This was not the position to be in for this.

I loosed my arrow, the string snapping with a satisfying twang. The arrow sunk into the creature's hide, but it barely flinched. Cerys moved swiftly, flames dancing at her fingertips as she hurled a burst of fire at the beast's face.

It roared in pain, swiping at its head to extinguish the flames, but it was only angrier now. The air felt charged with electricity, like a storm about to break. I quickly knocked another arrow, this time aiming for the beast's exposed neck.

Seren darted in from the side, her blade flashing in the light as she struck at the creature's legs, trying to weaken it. Arwel followed suit, swinging his hatchet toward the beast's flanks. Their attacks distracted it for a moment, giving me just enough time to release my second arrow. This time, it hit its mark.

The arrow pierced deep into the creature's neck, and with a guttural roar, it staggered back, black blood spurting from the wound. In a final attempt for revenge, it lunged at me once more, sending me crashing to the ground. It stood over me, its disgusting breath smelled of rot and razor-sharp teeth were just inches from my face. The others continued their attacks, the beast writhed and kicked them away. It was just distracted enough I was able to free my dagger and slice deeply across its jugular. Blood sprayed across my face, into my eyes, my mouth.

The creature howled, a deafening sound that echoed through the trees, and for a moment, I thought it would keep fighting. But the combination of wounds was too much, even for a creature as monstrous as this one. It swayed on its feet, blood pooling beneath it as it struggled to stay upright.

With one final gasp, it collapsed onto me, its massive body crushing me, winding me. I coughed and choked when the ground suddenly shifted, launching the beast off of me. Idris stood over me, returning the rocks and dirt to where they once lay. I didn't even have time to register what he did before I turned to my side and vomited at the taste of blood, and the horror of my life nearly ending before me. Everyone stood there, panting, weapons still raised as they watched the beast's life drain away, its glowing eyes dimming until they were nothing more than lifeless orbs. It slowly turned to ash, and by Cerys' look, it was not of her own doing. The beast just--disintegrated.