AMBER POV
The forest was an abyss. An endless expanse of shadows and whispers that merged into the darkness, swallowing any flicker of light. The ground was damp beneath my feet, a carpet of dead leaves that crunched with every step. The air was cold, chilling, yet sweat beaded on my skin. My heart pounded so loudly in my chest I could feel every beat like a distant drum, my breath coming in short gasps, blending with the wind rustling through the trees.
Then, a flash of light. A streak of golden fur darting through the trees, too fast for me to catch.
Autumn.
Without thinking, my legs moved before my brain could catch up, and I began running. My feet pounded the soft earth as I pushed myself harder, faster, my breath coming in ragged bursts. The trees blurred around me, their twisted
