The evening air was crisp and carried the earthy scent of dew as Lila emerged from the cave, flanked by Dominic and Keegan. The others followed closely, their movements purposeful but wary. The dense forest ahead seemed alive, its towering trees whispering secrets to one another, their branches creaking in the breeze. The interplay of sunlight and shadow danced across the underbrush, casting fleeting shapes that made Lila’s heart race. There was a palpable tension in the air, as though the woods themselves were bracing for something unseen and inevitable.
Dominic’s sharp eyes scanned the treeline, his posture coiled and ready. “Stay close,” he said, his voice low but commanding. His tone carried an edge that left no room for argument. The others nodded, instinctively forming a loose but p
