The path eastward stretched out before them, a winding trail through thick forests, across rolling hills, and over treacherous mountains. Heizen and Luna had left the relative safety of their cave hours ago, and now the world beyond felt even more dangerous than it had before. Every step forward brought them deeper into the unknown, closer to the answers they sought—and closer to the darkness that hunted them.
The morning sun had risen higher in the sky, casting dappled light through the trees as they traveled. For a while, the only sounds were the crunch of their boots against the dirt and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. Heizen kept a steady pace, his senses sharp, always listening for signs of danger. Luna walked silently beside him, her gaze distant, though every now and then she'd glance over at him, as if to check they were still moving in the right direction.