─── 𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 an unnatural force
tore through the skies over her quiet cottage.
She could feel it-
the rip in the fabric of reality itself.
(𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐱 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫)
𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔯𝔱 : 𝔰𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔢𝔫...
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• ──────── ꗃ ──────── •
The journey west began in the early morning haze, mist still clinging to the ground as Geralt led them down narrow, winding paths through fields of tall grass and shadowed woodlands.
The forest was silent, thick with tension, and Roseanne could feel the heavy presence of something watching them from deep within the trees. She kept her wand tucked safely within her cloak, her senses heightened.
Teddy was nestled against her back in a makeshift sling, his small arms clinging to her shoulders, his breaths soft and steady. He had woken only briefly as they prepared to leave, a sleepy smile lighting up his face before he had drifted off once more.
Ciri, walking on Roseanne's left, seemed as alert as ever, her eyes darting to every rustle and crack in the underbrush. Despite her youth, Roseanne could tell she was used to this life—trained, even, to expect danger around every corner.
As they moved deeper into the woods, Geralt suddenly halted, holding up a hand. His head tilted slightly, as if listening to something just out of range. Roseanne followed his gaze, her fingers tightening around her wand.
"Something's ahead," Geralt muttered, his voice low.
"Human?" Roseanne whispered, stepping closer to Ciri as her heart rate quickened.
Geralt shook his head, his eyes narrowing. "No. But something unnatural."
In response, Roseanne raised her wand, feeling the familiar thrum of magic course through her fingers. She didn't want to reveal her abilities just yet, but she couldn't risk being unprepared. They crept forward, moving as silently as possible until they came to a small clearing.
There, standing in the center, was a creature unlike any Roseanne had ever seen. Its body was hunched and covered in thick, matted fur, claws as long as daggers jutting from its massive paws. Its eyes glowed a sickly yellow, tracking their every movement.
Ciri sucked in a sharp breath beside her, gripping the hilt of a dagger at her side. Geralt took a step forward, his hand on the hilt of his silver sword, but Roseanne raised a hand.
"Wait," she said softly, her gaze fixed on the creature. Something about it felt familiar, a twinge of dark magic that sent a chill down her spine.
The creature growled, its massive shoulders shifting as it lowered itself into a crouch, ready to strike. Roseanne lifted her wand, her voice steady and calm.
"Protego!" she murmured, a shimmering shield forming between them and the creature just as it lunged. The beast collided with the barrier, snarling in confusion as it clawed at the magical shield, its claws sparking against the invisible wall.
Geralt shot Roseanne a glance, one eyebrow raised in silent question, but he didn't waste time. With a swift motion, he swung his silver sword, the blade flashing in the early morning light.
