Episode2:Shadows of Truth
1005 Words
The morning light brought no comfort. Amara sat by the window, clutching a cup of lukewarm tea that had long since lost its taste. Her mind was a storm of questions, each one louder than the last. Who was Kael? What did he mean by rogues hunting for her? And why had he disappeared into the forest like some phantom in the night?
The clawed footprints on her garden path were still there, mocking her attempts to convince herself that it had all been a bad dream.
Amara shook her head, setting the teacup down with trembling hands. She wasn’t the kind of person who got swept up in mysteries or danger. She was ordinary, painfully so. Her life revolved around tending her late mother’s garden, selling herbs at the market, and avoiding the townsfolk’s pitying stares.
But now, ordinary seemed like a distant memory.
---
By mid-morning, the village was buzzing with rumors. Amara hesitated before stepping onto the cobbled streets, her shawl pulled tightly around her shoulders. The air was heavy with unease, whispers drifting from one person to the next.
“Another one went missing,” a man muttered to his companion outside the blacksmith’s shop. “Old Jonas. His cart was found near the edge of Ashenwood. Empty.”
Amara’s stomach churned. Jonas was a kind man who had always greeted her with a warm smile at the market. The thought of him vanishing into the forest made her blood run cold.
“Amara!”
She turned at the sound of her name, her heart leaping in surprise. It was Clara, the baker’s youngest daughter, her blonde curls bouncing as she hurried over.
“Did you hear about Jonas?” Clara asked breathlessly, clutching a basket of bread.
Amara nodded. “I heard. It’s terrible.”
Clara lowered her voice, glancing around as if afraid someone might overhear. “They say it’s the wolves. The ones from the forest. Mama says they’re not normal wolves, that they’re... cursed.”
Amara forced a weak smile. “Your mother always did have a vivid imagination.”
Clara frowned. “You live so close to the woods. Aren’t you scared?”
Amara hesitated. The image of Kael’s piercing gray eyes and the clawed footprints flashed through her mind. She tightened her grip on her shawl. “I’m fine. I keep to myself, and the wolves have never bothered me.”
Clara didn’t look convinced, but before she could press further, the sound of a bell echoed through the village square.
“Town meeting,” someone called. “Everyone to the square!”
---
The square was crowded, villagers gathering around the wooden platform where the town’s elder, Marcus Wren, stood. His weathered face was grim, his eyes scanning the crowd as if searching for answers.
“Another soul has been lost to Ashenwood,” Marcus began, his voice carrying over the murmurs of the crowd. “Jonas has vanished, leaving no trace but his empty cart. This cannot continue.”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd.
“We must act,” Marcus continued. “The forest is not safe. The wolves grow bolder with each passing day. We must take up arms and defend our home.”
Amara’s heart sank as the villagers erupted into cheers and shouts of agreement. A hunting party. They were going to invade the forest, stir up whatever danger lurked within.
Her gaze drifted to the edge of the square, where a figure stood apart from the crowd. Kael.
He leaned casually against a tree, his arms crossed, but his eyes were sharp, watching the scene with an intensity that made Amara’s skin prickle.
As if sensing her gaze, Kael’s eyes met hers. For a moment, the noise of the crowd faded away, leaving only the unspoken tension between them.
---
When the meeting dispersed, Amara slipped away from the crowd, her feet moving toward the edge of the forest almost against her will. Kael was still there, waiting.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said as she approached, his voice low but firm.
“You keep saying that,” she shot back, crossing her arms. “But you’re not giving me any answers.”
Kael’s expression darkened. “Answers won’t keep you safe, Amara. Staying out of the forest will.”
She stepped closer, her frustration bubbling over. “I deserve to know what’s happening. Why are people disappearing? Why did you come to my door last night? And why are wolves hunting for me?”
Kael sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. For a moment, he looked almost... tired.
“You’re part of something bigger than you realize,” he said finally. “Something that’s been set in motion for years. The rogues want you because you’re important to them. To us.”
Amara blinked, taken aback. “Important? To wolves? That’s absurd.”
“Is it?” Kael’s gaze was steady, his voice laced with something she couldn’t quite place. “Do you even know who you are, Amara?”
The question hit her like a punch to the gut. “Of course I do. I’m just... me.”
Kael shook his head, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. “You’re more than that. And whether you like it or not, they know it. That’s why you’re in danger.”
Her heart pounded as his words sank in. The idea that she could be anything other than ordinary was absurd. Yet, standing in Kael’s shadow, with the weight of his gaze pressing down on her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was telling the truth.
“What do I do?” she whispered.
Kael’s expression softened, but only slightly. “Trust me. Stay away from the forest. And when the time comes, don’t run.”
“Don’t run from what?”
Kael’s gray eyes darkened. “The truth.”
And with that, he turned and disappeared into the forest, leaving Amara alone with more questions than ever.
- Writer
