A Dawn of Stars and Shadows

Part 2: The Trap

The Horzgar are violent, bloodthirsty creatures. Their tough skin, like hardened leather, is marked with scars and war paint. They possess enormous tusks protruding from their mouths, small eyes with unnatural colors, a prominent nose, and a murderous gaze. Little is known about their true anatomy or physique, as they leave no bodies behind when they attack—being cannibals, they believe the flesh of the weak serves only to nourish the strong. Their society, if it can be called one, is brutal, based on the fiercest cruelty, with no concept of compassion.

These fearsome creatures were now approaching, their hunting horns echoing, heading toward Dunhollow, where dozens of families were hiding in basements, praying to the gods not to be found. Meanwhile, Elara Starflare led a small, poorly armed group of men toward the edge of the Lirianth Forest, a dense woodland as dangerous as it was mysterious, and likely magical. They trudged along, muttering occasionally, unashamed to show their disagreement with Elara's leadership. They saw her as a foolish girl from a family of madmen. However, the prospect of facing the Horzgar head-on terrified them more than venturing into the dense woods.

Elara preferred not to meet their gaze. She also didn't want to look back, where she had left Ethan and her father at the mercy of those beasts. She truly believed the plan could work, but using her friend as bait made her stomach turn. She was nervous, but the lives of these men depended on her staying focused. She couldn't afford to be distracted now by personal concerns. Shaking her head, she took a deep breath before entering the forest.

As soon as she stepped inside, she felt the temperature shift, the greens and browns, and the smell of damp earth. It had always brought her comfort, ever since the first day she had set foot there. It was like feeling a soothing embrace, pulling her away from all other worries. She even had the impression that the sounds from beyond the boundaries of Lirianth disappeared, replaced by the melody of birds, the swaying of branches, and the rustling of leaves in the unreachable treetops. The creaking of wood and the soft tread on the ground, painted with grass and fallen leaves, dotted with small bushes bearing fresh berries for most of the year, where animals found shelter and food. Sometimes, when things became unbearable at home, Elara longed to come to the forest, discard her clothes—her timeworn shirt, leather pants, and boots—and simply run, letting nature caress her skin until she lost herself, becoming another creature, free.

But the horns, barely a whisper now inside the forest, still echoed near Dunhollow. What was happening? They must have already reached the first houses. Whatever occurred now was beyond her control. Her task was to set the traps and organize the distrustful villagers who eyed her warily.

Using fallen logs and repurposed hunting traps, she set up dangerous pathways for those unfamiliar with the area. But the grand finale was near a small stream. This water crossing marked an invisible boundary to those unfamiliar with the forest. For Elara, it was the line between relative safety and true danger. Crossing that line lowered one's survival chances to nearly zero. The animals changed from small rodents and insects hiding under stones to large, fearsome beasts, poisonous plants, and even trees that seemed to come to life, as the light darkened unnervingly.

We have to cross that stream. Just behind it is a large trap I made a while ago in case something bigger was chasing me — Elara told the men, their hands brown from helping her reposition and camouflage the traps in the earth.

It seems like we've gone far enough. Maybe we should turn back and find the others,—one of the villagers replied, trying to hide his fear.

As long as we don't go too deep, it's safe. We need to check that the large trap is intact. Then, you all hide in different places. I'll handle the rest.

I don't know if you're crazy, drunk on your father's stash, or just a fool...—Elara narrowed her eyes, glaring at him. She pressed her lips together, ready to respond, but didn't get the chance. —...but somehow, you seem to know what you're doing. I just hope the Silversmiths are doing their part... and that they're safe.—The others nodded, talking among themselves before taking a large stride and crossing the stream.