Chapter 9: Awakening Power
399 Words
Elena stood at the edge of the forest, the golden light of late afternoon filtering through the leaves. With Kellan by her side, the weight of her own expectations bore down upon her. She felt the pulse of the earth beneath her feet, the thrum of life resonating in the woods, and sensed that this was a moment of transformation.
“I can feel the energy of the forest,” she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. “But I need your support. I need to be grounded. You help me connect, and I’ll follow that connection to the rogue.”
Kellan nodded, and they stepped into the embrace of the trees together. He instructed her to close her eyes and focus on her breath, allowing herself to sync with the rhythm of the forest. She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, trying to feel the gentle sway of the trees around her.
“The forest has memories, and those memories can guide you,” Kellan whispered, his voice soothing. “You have to trust it, and you have to trust yourself.”
As she focused, she felt the vibrations around her intensify. Colors deepened, the air thickened with the earthy scent of pine and damp soil, and her heartbeat synced with the pulse of the land. Elena reached out with her senses, guiding her awareness deeper into the woods. Images began to flicker behind her closed eyelids—flashes of a shadowy figure lurking, hunched and feral.
She gasped as she jolted back to reality, opening her eyes. “I wasn’t imagining it. I saw it—felt it!”
Kellan’s brows furrowed with concern. “What did you see?”
“A dark figure, moving quickly through the underbrush. It seemed disoriented, almost frantic. It might be the rogue!” Her voice trembled with adrenaline.
“Then we need to move quickly,” Kellan said, taking her hand. “Can you lead the way?”
Elena nodded, determination coursing through her. They moved swiftly, the forest around them alive with sounds, each rustle and call seeming to echo her growing intuition. With Kellan beside her, she felt emboldened, but as they ventured deeper into the shadows of the trees, the unease crept back in—a reminder of the danger that lurked ahead.
The path grew narrower, and the foliage thickened. “We’re getting close,” she said.
- Writer
