The Heir of the Lost Wings

The Quiet Run

The sun was beginning to dip behind the trees as Saars laced up her worn sneakers. Her legs itched to run, a feeling she knew too well. Running wasn't just exercise; it was the only time her mind seemed to quiet. Away from the endless assignments, the routines, and the faint but constant ache of missing Kaire, her best friend who had moved abroad months ago.

Saars had always been a quiet person, introspective and shy, and the absence of Kaire made her feel even more isolated. They had shared everything—the long nights of study sessions, whispered conversations about their future dreams, and the simple joys of being in each other's company. Now, there were only emails and occasional video calls that couldn't fill the hole Kaire's departure had left.

She sighed, tightening her laces and setting off down the familiar path that led into the woods behind her university campus. The air was cool with the promise of evening, and the soft sound of her breath was the only thing that kept her company as her feet hit the ground in rhythmic succession. She loved to run, not just for the physical release, but because it allowed her to escape—at least for a while—from the pressure of university life. The upcoming exam on psychology loomed in the back of her mind, though. She wasn't prepared. The notes she had made over the past week seemed jumbled, and the thought of sitting in that stuffy exam hall, staring at questions she couldn't answer, made her stomach twist into knots.

She needed this run, she realized. Something to clear her head, even if it was only for a little while.

The woods had always been her sanctuary. The towering oaks and pines, their branches swaying gently in the evening breeze, seemed to welcome her as they always had. The quiet was soothing. Here, in the heart of nature, Saars could forget about the grades and responsibilities and just... breathe.

But tonight was different.

As she rounded a familiar bend in the path, something caught her eye—a flicker of movement that didn't belong. Her heart skipped a beat. There, sprawled across the forest floor, was a girl—pale, with dark hair tangled around her face. Her clothes were torn, and there was a bite mark on her side, blood staining the fabric.

Saars stopped in her tracks, the nervous knot in her stomach now replaced with a jolt of panic. She didn't know this girl. The campus was small, and everyone she met was a familiar face, but this—this was someone new.

"Hey!" Saars called out, her voice shaky as she knelt beside the girl. "Are you okay?"

The girl didn't respond. Saars felt for her pulse, her fingers trembling as she pressed them against the girl's wrist. There was one—faint, but there.

Relief washed over her for a second, but it was short-lived. A growl sliced through the stillness of the forest, deep and guttural, like an animal on the hunt.

Saars' breath caught in her throat. The air felt heavier now, thick with danger. She turned, her eyes searching the darkening woods.

Out of the shadows, a figure emerged—a beast. It was massive, its fur dark and matted, its eyes glowing a predatory yellow. It seemed to move with an unnatural grace, like it had been watching her for much longer than she had realized.

It bared its teeth as it stalked forward, the sound of its growls vibrating through the ground beneath her feet. Panic surged in Saars' chest. She wasn't strong—she wasn't trained for this. She didn't know what to do.

Think, Saars. Think.

The beast lunged, its claws outstretched toward the girl. Without thinking, Saars stepped forward, instinctively placing herself between the creature and the unconscious girl.

"Hey! Leave her alone!" she shouted, her voice desperate, but the beast didn't hesitate. It was too fast, too powerful.

The beast was upon them now, its powerful form surging toward Saars. She barely had time to think, her heart hammering in her chest as her instincts screamed for her to run.