Dawn broke slowly, the first light of the sun creeping through the thick canopy of trees. The forest, which had been shrouded in darkness and silence through the night, now seemed to stir with an unnatural energy. Julia stood at the edge of the camp, staring into the thick woods, her grip tight around the hilt of her magic sword.
Her red hair was loose around her shoulders, gleaming in the morning light, but there was no hint of warmth in her expression. Her mind was racing, trying to piece together the events of the previous night—the strange whispers Olive had heard, the constant sensation of being watched, and the gnawing realization that whatever was out there, it wasn't afraid of them. It was playing with them.
Hima stretched her arms, yawning as she got up from her bedroll. "So, we're really doing this, huh? No breakfast first?" she joked, though her tone lacked its usual lightness.