Kapitel 37: 37: Shadows in the Night
The sun had just dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in deep shades of purple and orange, as Ndagi and his companions made camp for the night. The dense forest around them was alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures stirring from their daytime slumber, but the group had grown accustomed to the symphony of the wild during their journey. It had been weeks since they left the ruins of the Lost Temple behind, and the wear of the journey was beginning to show on all of them.
The fire crackled softly, sending sparks flying into the cool night air as Osei tended to the cooking pot. The smell of roasting meat filled the camp, mixing with the scent of pine and damp earth. Kofi was busy sharpening his blade, the rhythmic scrape of stone against metal providing a steady backdrop to the evening's quiet. Sade sat by the fire, mending a tear in her tunic with quick, deft movements. Ndagi, however, was restless.
His eyes constantly scanned the darkness beyond the firelight, searching for something he couldn't quite name. There had been a feeling of unease gnawing at him since the previous night, a sense that they were being watched. The forest had always been full of life, but now it felt different, more menacing, as if the shadows themselves were alive and waiting for the right moment to strike.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Sade remarked, her voice pulling Ndagi out of his thoughts. She was watching him with a slight smirk, her needle paused in mid-stitch.
Ndagi shook his head, trying to dismiss his fears. "I'm just on edge, I suppose. This forest… it feels different. Like it's hiding something from us."
Osei chuckled from his place by the fire. "It's a forest, Ndagi. It's supposed to be dark and full of things that go bump in the night. You're just tired, that's all."
"Maybe," Ndagi replied, though he wasn't entirely convinced.
Kofi sheathed his blade and stretched, his muscles protesting after a long day's march. "Well, whatever it is, we can handle it. We've faced worse than a few shadows, haven't we?"
"True," Sade agreed, "but we shouldn't let our guard down. Not out here."
Ndagi nodded, appreciating their support. But even as he tried to relax, the feeling of being watched persisted, like a cold hand on the back of his neck. He pushed the thought aside and forced himself to focus on the task at hand, getting through the night.
As the group settled in for the evening, the conversation turned to lighter topics. Kofi regaled them with tales of his youth, full of pranks and mischief, eliciting laughter from the others. Osei, not to be outdone, shared stories from his village, where the elders would compete in fishing contests that often ended in good-natured brawls. Sade, ever the pragmatist, spoke of the marriage proposals she had turned down over the years, much to the amusement of the men.
"You're too picky, Sade," Kofi teased. "What's wrong with a strong man who can hunt and provide?"
"Nothing," Sade replied with a grin, "except that I prefer one who can also think and fight."
The banter eased the tension, and for a moment, Ndagi almost forgot the unease that had been gnawing at him. Almost.
As the fire began to die down, and the group prepared to turn in for the night, Ndagi took the first watch. The others wrapped themselves in their blankets, quickly falling into the deep sleep of the weary. Ndagi sat by the fire, his back against a sturdy tree, his eyes scanning the dark forest around them.
The night deepened, and the sounds of the forest grew louder. Owls hooted from high branches, and the rustle of leaves suggested small creatures moving through the underbrush. But then, beneath the familiar noises, Ndagi heard something else, a faint, almost imperceptible sound, like the whisper of footsteps on soft earth.
He tensed, his hand going to the hilt of his sword. His eyes strained to pierce the darkness, but all he could see were the shadows cast by the firelight. The footsteps grew louder, more distinct, and then, silence. The forest seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for something to happen.
Ndagi's heart pounded in his chest as he slowly rose to his feet, his sword drawn and ready. He listened, every sense on high alert, but the night had gone deathly still. He was about to wake the others when something moved in the corner of his vision, a flicker of shadow, there and then gone in an instant.
"Who's there?" he called out, his voice low but firm.
There was no answer. The silence stretched on, oppressive and thick. Ndagi's grip tightened on his sword as he took a cautious step forward, his eyes scanning the trees for any sign of movement. But the shadows remained still, as if mocking his efforts.
Then, out of the darkness, a figure emerged.
It was tall and cloaked, its face hidden in the folds of its hood. The figure moved with an eerie grace, silent as a ghost, and stopped just at the edge of the firelight. Ndagi could see the glint of steel beneath the cloak, the unmistakable shape of a weapon.
"Who are you?" Ndagi demanded, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice.
The figure said nothing, its head tilting slightly as if studying him. Ndagi could feel the weight of its gaze, cold and calculating. His instincts screamed at him to attack, but something held him back, a sense that this figure was more than it seemed.
Finally, the figure spoke, its voice low and filled with a chilling calm. "You are trespassing."
"Trespassing?" Ndagi echoed, his confusion mounting. "We mean no harm. We're just passing through."
The figure stepped closer, its presence more oppressive now that it was within the circle of firelight. "This land is not yours to pass through. It belongs to the shadows."
Ndagi swallowed hard, his mind racing. "We don't want any trouble. We'll leave, if that's what you want."
The figure's lips curled into a cruel smile. "It's too late for that."
Without warning, the figure lunged at Ndagi, its blade flashing in the firelight. Ndagi barely had time to raise his sword to block the strike, the force of the blow sending him stumbling backward. He regained his footing just in time to parry another strike, the clash of steel ringing through the night.
The noise woke the others, who scrambled to their feet, weapons in hand. Sade was the first to react, her sword drawn and ready. Osei and Kofi followed suit, their eyes wide with shock at the sight of the cloaked figure attacking Ndagi.
"Get back!" Ndagi shouted, but it was too late, the figure turned on the others, its movements swift and deadly.
Osei blocked a blow aimed at his head, the impact sending a shockwave through his arm. Kofi swung his sword at the figure, but it dodged with inhuman speed, its cloak billowing like a shadow come to life. Sade moved in, her strikes precise and controlled, but even she struggled to land a blow.
The fight was a blur of motion, the cloaked figure moving with unnatural speed and precision. Ndagi could barely keep up, his sword clashing against the figure's blade in a desperate attempt to defend himself. He could feel the sweat dripping down his face, his muscles burning with the effort of keeping up.
But just when it seemed the figure would overwhelm them, a loud whistle cut through the air, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps, many footsteps. From the darkness, more figures emerged, each cloaked and armed like the first. They surrounded the camp, their eyes glowing with an eerie light.
Ndagi's heart sank as he realized they were outnumbered. There were at least a dozen of them, maybe more, and they moved with the same unnatural grace as the first figure. They were trapped, surrounded by enemies who seemed to melt out of the darkness itself.
"Stand down," one of the newcomers commanded, his voice carrying the weight of authority. The first figure immediately ceased its attack, stepping back to join the others. The leader stepped forward, his hood pulled back to reveal a sharp, angular face marked with strange symbols. His eyes glowed faintly in the firelight, adding to the otherworldly aura that surrounded him.
"What do you want with us?" Sade demanded, her sword still raised.
The leader's eyes flicked over the group, assessing them with a cold, calculating gaze. "You are not welcome here. This land is sacred, and you have violated it."
"We didn't know," Ndagi said quickly, hoping to defuse the situation. "We're just travelers, passing through. We don't want any trouble."
"Trouble has already found you," the leader replied, his voice dripping with disdain. "The shadows have taken an interest in you."
"Shadows?" Kofi muttered under his breath, his eyes darting around nervously. "What is he talking about?"
The leader ignored him, his attention focused on Ndagi. "You carry something with you. Something that does not belong in this world."
Ndagi felt a cold dread settle in his stomach. He knew what the leader was referring to, the relic they had found in the Lost Temple, a small, ancient artifact covered in strange symbols. They had taken it, believing it to be the key to reclaiming the crownless throne. But now it seemed they had unwittingly brought something much darker upon themselves.
"What is it?" Ndagi asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "What have we done?"
The leader's eyes narrowed. "You have awoken the darkness. The shadows will follow you now, wherever you go. And they will not stop until they have consumed you."
A tense silence fell over the camp, the gravity of the leader's words sinking in. The others exchanged worried glances, the weight of their situation pressing down on them like a physical force. They had faced many dangers on their journey, but this was something different, something far more sinister.
"What do we do?" Sade asked, her voice laced with determination. "How do we stop it?"
The leader's lips curled into a cruel smile. "You cannot stop it. The shadows have chosen you. The only way to escape them is to give them what they want."
"And what is that?" Osei asked, his voice tense.
The leader's eyes gleamed with malevolent satisfaction. "The relic. Surrender it, and you may yet survive the night."
Ndagi felt a surge of anger at the thought of giving up the relic. They had fought so hard to obtain it, had sacrificed so much. But he also knew that they were in no position to refuse. They were outnumbered, surrounded by enemies who seemed to wield the very darkness itself.
Before he could respond, however, a sudden noise broke the tension, a rustling in the bushes nearby, followed by the sound of footsteps. Everyone tensed, weapons at the ready, as a figure emerged from the underbrush.
It was a young woman, her clothes tattered and her face streaked with dirt. She stumbled into the firelight, her eyes wide with fear as she looked around at the gathered figures. She looked as though she had been running for her life, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Help me," she pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation. "Please, help me."
The leader's eyes narrowed as he looked at the woman, his expression darkening. "You should not have come here, child. You have brought danger upon yourself."
The woman's eyes filled with tears as she shook her head. "I had no choice! They're after me, please, I need help!"
Before anyone could react, a loud howl echoed through the forest, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. The ground trembled beneath their feet as something large and powerful moved through the trees, coming closer with every passing second.
Ndagi's heart raced as he looked around, trying to determine the source of the noise. But all he could see were shadows, shifting and twisting in the darkness. The others were equally tense, their weapons raised as they prepared for whatever was coming.
The leader's expression remained cold as he turned back to the group. "You have a choice to make. Surrender the relic, or face the wrath of the shadows."
Before Ndagi could respond, the trees at the edge of the camp suddenly parted, and a massive creature burst into the clearing. It was unlike anything they had ever seen, tall and hunched, with long, sinewy limbs and glowing eyes that burned with a malevolent light. Its body was covered in thick, matted fur, and its claws were as long as daggers.
The creature let out a bone-chilling roar, its breath visible in the cool night air. The young woman screamed and backed away, her eyes wide with terror. The leader and his followers didn't move, their faces impassive as they watched the creature approach.
Ndagi's mind raced as he tried to think of a way out of the situation. They were surrounded, outnumbered, and now faced with a creature that seemed to have crawled out of a nightmare. There was no way they could fight their way out of this.
But then, in the midst of the chaos, a thought struck him, a memory from their time in the Lost Temple. The symbols on the relic, the strange patterns they had seen etched into the walls… They were meant to ward off something, to protect against a dark force.
Without hesitation, Ndagi reached into his pack and pulled out the relic. It was a small, unassuming object, but he could feel the power pulsing within it. He held it out in front of him, hoping against hope that it would be enough to protect them.
The creature stopped in its tracks, its glowing eyes fixated on the relic. It let out a low growl, its body tense as if preparing to attack. The leader's eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of fear crossing his face for the first time.
"The relic," he hissed, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and awe. "It holds the power of the ancients…"
Ndagi didn't wait for him to finish. He thrust the relic forward, and a blinding light erupted from it, flooding the clearing with its brilliance. The creature let out a pained roar, stumbling backward as the light seared its flesh. The other figures recoiled, shielding their eyes from the intense glow.
The light grew brighter and brighter, until it was impossible to see anything but white. Ndagi felt a surge of energy flow through him, the power of the relic coursing through his veins. He knew, instinctively, that this was their chance, this was how they would survive.
"Run!" he shouted to the others, his voice barely audible over the roar of the light.
Sade, Osei, and Kofi didn't hesitate. They turned and ran, following Ndagi as he sprinted into the darkness. The light from the relic continued to blaze behind them, pushing back the shadows as they fled.
The forest seemed to close in around them as they ran, the trees becoming a blur of dark shapes. Ndagi's heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he pushed himself to keep going. He didn't know where they were headed, only that they had to get as far away from the clearing as possible.
Behind them, the sounds of pursuit grew fainter, the howls of the creature and the shouts of the figures fading into the distance. But Ndagi didn't dare slow down, not until they were sure they were safe.
Finally, after what felt like hours, they reached a small clearing in the forest, the moonlight casting a pale glow over the scene. Ndagi came to a halt, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The others collapsed to the ground, equally exhausted.
For a long moment, they just lay there, the only sound the ragged breathing of the group. The relic's light had faded, leaving them in darkness once more, but the oppressive feeling of being watched had lifted.
"We… we made it," Kofi panted, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Barely," Sade replied, her tone grim. "But we're not out of danger yet."
Ndagi nodded, his mind still racing. They had survived the night, but the leader's words echoed in his mind: "The shadows will follow you now, wherever you go." They had escaped for now, but they were far from safe.
As they sat there in the darkness, the realization set in that their journey was only growing more dangerous. The relic they carried was powerful, but it had also made them a target. The shadows were out there, waiting, watching, and they would not rest until they had claimed what they sought.
Ndagi knew that they couldn't keep running forever. Sooner or later, they would have to face the darkness head-on. But for now, they had no choice but to keep moving, to stay one step ahead of the shadows that hunted them.
As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, Ndagi looked at his companions, their faces etched with exhaustion and determination. They had been through so much together, and he knew they would face whatever came next as a team.
But the question lingered in his mind, gnawing at him with every passing moment: How long could they keep running from the shadows? And when the time came to face them, would they be strong enough to survive?
The answers would have to wait. For now, all they could do was press on, deeper into the unknown, with the shadows of the night still haunting their every step.
And as they rose to their feet and began the next leg of their journey, Ndagi couldn't shake the feeling that their greatest challenges were still to come.
Suspense gripped the air as the group pressed on, knowing that the darkness was never far behind. What would they find on the road ahead? And would they ever truly escape the shadows that haunted them? Only time would tell, and the answers lay hidden in the journey yet to come…
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein