Radio to the heart

Unexpected allies 

The forest clearing stretched out before us, bathed in the dim light of the crescent moon. Long shadows clung to the forest floor, twisting the trees into haunting shapes. The wind whispered through the branches, filling the night air with a constant hum. It had been quiet between us, the weight of our earlier conversation still hanging like a fog. I shifted closer to Alistair, trying to let the tension between us settle. His warmth radiated next to me, the solid presence of him a small comfort in the vastness of the night.

Just as my heartbeat began to slow, a sharp crack split through the stillness. I jerked upright, muscles coiling, and Alistair tensed beside me.

"Did you hear that?" I whispered, my voice barely above the rustling wind.

Alistair nodded, his body already on high alert. "We're not alone."

I could feel the shift in him, the way his posture stiffened as his eyes scanned the dark edges of the clearing. Every instinct in me screamed to be ready. My hands itched, the familiar burn of magic prickling under my skin. I could call my dragon, summon the flames she taught me to wield, but something held me back. A whisper of caution.

Alistair stood slowly, his gaze still fixed on the treeline. "Whoever you are," he called out, his voice rough with warning, "you better speak now, or I'll take your screams for my radio broadcast."

It was a bluff, the kind Alistair was known for-calculated, sharp, but with an undercurrent of real threat. He wasn't a man to be trifled with, and anyone lurking in the shadows should've known better. Still, the air around us felt charged, as if the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

I stood too, my movements quiet, careful. The snap of the underbrush had shattered the fragile calm we'd managed to find here. Alistair glanced back at me, concern flashing in his eyes, though his face remained a mask of control.

"Stay behind me," he said, his voice low, almost pleading. "Please, Tess. I don't know what's out there, but I won't let it touch you. I can fight, but I need you safe."

I nodded, resisting the urge to argue. I wasn't helpless. I wasn't some damsel to be protected. My dragon had taught me how to survive-how to fight. But the sincerity in his tone, the way his shoulders squared as if he'd already decided he would throw himself between me and any threat, held me in place.

"I'll stay close," I said quietly, resting a hand on his arm. "But I'm not useless, Alistair. You know that."

He exhaled, a mix of frustration and acceptance, and gave a slight nod. "I know. Just... be ready."

The forest pressed in on us, every rustle of leaves sounding too loud in the silence that followed. There was something out there, watching. I could feel its eyes on us, a presence in the dark, lurking just beyond our sight. Alistair stepped forward, his hand hovering near his side, ready to draw whatever weapon he had on him. I stayed close, every muscle in my body tensed, the fire inside me ready to ignite if it came to that.

The peace we had moments ago was gone. The forest, so serene just minutes before, now felt hostile.

The forest was darker here, deeper, as if the trees themselves were suffocating the light. Shadows shifted unnaturally, and I felt something watching us, just out of sight. I kept close to Alistair, my breath shallow, trying to make sense of the oppressive atmosphere around us.

Beyond the clearing, hidden among the thick underbrush, I caught the faintest glimmer of movement. Alistair hadn't noticed yet, but my heart quickened. Something-or someone-was out there.

I wasn't wrong. Further into the woods, where the moonlight barely touched the ground, shadowy figures lingered. I could feel their eyes on us, glowing faintly like predatory animals. The wind carried a coldness, swirling through the clearing, pulling at my clothes and sending chills down my spine. I pulled my jacket tighter around myself, watching as Alistair's posture stiffened.