"Anyways~" one of the girls said, smiling like she wasn't living in a damn nightmare forest.She flicked her braid over her shoulder and gestured us closer."You guys look half-dead. Come inside. And you—"Her eyes landed on me, then immediately dropped to my leg, twisted and splinted like a crime scene."Yeah. You definitely need fixing. Come on."I opened my mouth to argue—because of course I did—but she kept talking."And if your silver-haired guard dog over there doesn't trust us…"
She nodded at Adrian, who was already glaring like he'd bite someone if they breathed wrong."…he's allowed to come too."
Adrian didn't move. Didn't blink.Just stood there like some pissed-off statue ready to explode.The girl raised both hands."Relax, storm-cloud. We're not gonna eat you."Druhva snorted.Adrian didn't.
Me?
I just limped forward because my leg was screaming like hellfire and this woman looked like she actually knew what she was doing.
The girl—Talia, apparently, because one of the other Wanderers called her that—guided me toward one of the tents.It glowed from the inside, a soft amber warmth against the otherwise pitch-black murder-forest.The moment we stepped through the flap, the smell hit me.Herbs.Steam.Warm cloth.Actual cleanliness.I nearly cried.Not even joking."Sit," Talia said, patting a fur-covered crate.
I sat. Mostly because my leg said, Do it or die.Adrian pushed in behind me so fast the flap almost ripped off.
He didn't say a damn word—just stood behind my shoulder like the most unfriendly security system ever invented.Druhva slipped in too, trying not to look nervous, but she was practically vibrating.Talia knelt, unwrapping the makeshift leaf splint I'd slapped together.Her fingers were gentle, but every touch lit up my nerves like they were being electrocuted.I hissed through my teeth.Adrian's jaw twitched."Relax," Talia murmured, glancing up at him."I'm not breaking her more. Just checking."He didn't relax. Obviously.He just crossed his arms like, Try anything and I'll kill everyone here.Talia looked back to me."How'd this happen?"
"Oh, you know," I said. "Just the usual. A giant shadow monster launched itself at me and turned my bones into spaghetti."
Talia paused.Blinking.
"…Right."Druhva clapped her hands once, too loud."She's being serious, by the way."Talia stared at us like we were children describing Santa's war crimes.
Then—another voice spoke from the doorway.
Deep. Calm. Older."She is telling the truth."
We turned.
A tall man stepped inside. Tall like he fought gods for breakfast.Broad-shouldered, hair tied back in a long silver-black tail, eyes glowing faintly like someone lit candles behind them.Great. Another beautiful nightmare person.Because this forest loves dramatics.He gave Adrian a long, assessing look.Adrian stared back, cold as a glacier with trust issues."You're from the waking world," the tall man said.
Adrian's fingers tightened around the hilt at his belt—yeah, the hilt that had NOT been there a minute ago."Yes," he said.
The man nodded once, like he already knew.
"I am Eryndor. Leader of this caravan."
"Caravan?" I echoed."Looks more like six tents and depression."Druhva elbowed me.Eryndor ignored me completely—rude—then crouched in front of my leg.
"The forest broke this?"
"The forest wants me dead," I snapped. "So yeah."
He hummed thoughtfully, then touched his palm to my shin.Warm light blossomed under his hand.The pain dulled. Not gone—but it didn't feel like a chainsaw chewing through me anymore.I gasped.Adrian stepped forward instantly."Don't touch her without—"
But Eryndor's gaze snapped to him, sharp and ancient."If I meant her harm, dream-walker, she'd already be gone."Adrian froze.Not scared.Just—calculating.
The air between them sparked like two storms colliding.Talia cleared her throat aggressively.
"Okay! Testosterone contest later! Let me do my job!"
She pushed Eryndor aside (bravely… or stupidly) and finished binding my leg with real bandages—soft, warm, smelling like mint and something spicy.She tightened the final knot and tapped my knee."There. You'll walk. Badly. But walk."
"Thanks," I muttered.
Outside, we heard heavy footfalls—the rest of the Wanderers gathering.
Voices murmured.Low. Serious.Because yeah—they'd seen Adrian fight already.
And they saw the thing chasing us.(I THINK)
Eryndor stood, crossed his arms, and looked at us with the weight of someone who'd lost whole wars.
"If you truly came through the Door… then you brought something with you."
I blinked."…Excuse me?"He met my eyes.
"The forest is moving. It has not done that in years. Something hunts you."
My stomach dropped.Adrian didn't flinch.Druhva swallowed hard.
Eryndor finished:"And if it finds you…it finds us all."
———————————————————————-*
The elves kept us fed like we hadn't eaten in a damn month, and by the time the fire burned low, everyone was finally settling in. Adrian sat a few feet away from me, stubbornly awake, acting like he wasn't tired even though his eyes were half-closing every five seconds. Typical.Druhva was already snoring like a dying goat somewhere behind one of the tents.The elves gave us soft blankets—way softer than we deserved after walking through hell all day. The second my head touched the pillow, my whole body felt like it finally shut down. My leg throbbed, but the herbs the healer girl used were helping, and I drifted off.…And of course, that's when the trouble started.At first, it was just a weird tug—like the ground moved under me. I thought it was a dream.But when something cold wrapped around my ankle and pulled, my eyes flew open.
A man—no, more like a scrawny forest gremlin pretending to be a man—was crouched over me. Hooded, shaking, his eyes wide and hungry like he hadn't seen another human in years."Finally… finally found one…" he hissed, voice cracking like old wood. "You'll fetch a good trade…"Excuse me? A trade? Me?Oh hell no.
I opened my mouth, but his grimy hand slapped over it before I could scream. "Shh… don't wake the hunters… they'll kill me…" he whispered harshly, dragging me out of the tent by my wrists.He was surprisingly fast for someone built like a starved ferret, and I could barely fight back with my injured leg. The grass scraped under me as he yanked me farther and farther from the firelight, muttering to himself like a lunatic.I kicked at him, but he only gripped harder. "Almost there… almost—"A twig snapped.He froze.I froze.
And then his whole body jerked—because Adrian's hand was suddenly clamped around the back of his neck like a steel trap.Adrian's voice came out low, dangerous, the kind that promised violence without even having to raise it:
"Let. Her. Go."
The guy squealed—actually squealed—like a freaking piglet, and tried to run, but Adrian slammed him into a tree so hard dust fell from the branches.The elves arrived seconds later, arrows aimed, eyes sharp, all six of them looking like they were ready to tear him apart.One of them muttered, "Another scavenger… pathetic."
Adrian's jaw clenched, fury burning under his skin. "You're lucky I'm holding back."
The man trembled, eyes wild. "I—I didn't know she had guardians—please—don't—"
"Shut up," Adrian snapped, giving him another shove for fun.He turned toward me then, and for a second, his anger cracked, replaced with something tight and worried."You okay?" he asked.In his version of "gentle," which was basically just "less murdery."I nodded, pulling myself up with the help of one of the elf women. "Yeah… thanks."
Adrian glared at the guy one more time before shoving him toward the elves.
"Take him," he said flatly. "Before I decide to break something."And the elves dragged the trembling idiot away into the dark, muttering about punishment and exile.I finally exhaled, my heart still pounding.Adrian crouched beside me, checking my leg. "Serena… next time, if someone tries to kidnap you—fight louder."
"Sorry," I muttered. "He literally gagged me, genius."T^T
He glared. "Then bite him harder."-_-
—————————————————————————*
The elves dragged the scrawny kidnapper toward the treeline, his heels digging ruts in the dirt as he whimpered like a wet rat. Honestly? Good. He deserved it.
Adrian stood beside me, shoulders stiff, eyes blazing with that "if I breathe wrong I might commit a felony" energy. As usual.
Talia—the healer, soft voice, warm hands, and the kind of smile that probably murdered people into relaxing—helped me into a seat near the fire."You're alright now," she whispered. "We'll reset the bandages in a moment."
From deeper in the trees came a very satisfying CRACK
…like someone making violent use of a tree trunk.Adrian's expression sharpened instantly.
"He better hope Eryndor kills him before I get there," he muttered.
"Relax," I said. "He wasn't strong. Just stupid."Adrian shot me a look like I was the stupid one for breathing."He still put hands on you."
Before I could sass him, Druhva stumbled out of a tent, hair standing straight up like she'd fought a tornado in her sleep."What the—why is there screaming—what did I miss?!"
She spotted the elves dragging the limp kidnapper…Then me…Then Adrian's murder-face."…Okay. I take one nap and the entire forest decides to explode."
"No kidding," I muttered.That's when he walked out—The leader.
The one we'd seen earlier.Tall, sharp-eared, silver markings along his temples that glowed faintly in the firelight. His presence felt like someone dropped a glacier into camp.He looked Adrian over like he was assessing a weapon."You reacted fast."
Almost praise. Almost.
Adrian shrugged. "I wasn't letting him take her."
"You shouldn't," Eryndor said. "Hunters like him are the lowest creatures in this forest. They steal humans. Sell them. Sometimes…"His eyes flicked to me—sharp, knowing."…they offer them to things older than this place."
My stomach dropped like an elevator cable snapped.From the dark, another scream tore the air. Short. Final.Talia exhaled softly beside me. "He won't return."
Druhva whispered, horror creeping in, "Are they… killing him?"
"No," Eryndor answered calmly. "We are not monsters."A pause.
"But he will not walk away."
Right. GREAT. Comforting as hell.Talia returned with fresh wraps and gently began fixing my makeshift splint."You're safe with us now," she said softly. "Rest. Eat. Breathe."Adrian crouched in front of me suddenly, face too-close, too-serious.
"Serena. Don't sleep alone again."Ugh, feelings.
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks, Dad."
He glared hard enough to peel paint off a wall. So I knew I won.Druhva plopped beside me, rubbing her temples."This forest hates us. I swear it does. If something else tries to kidnap her, I'm biting it."
"You already bite," Adrian said."Fight me, silver-hair."Talia hid a smile.
I stared into the shadows where the kidnapper had disappeared.
"…Adrian?"
"Hm?"
"What would you have done if you got to him first?"
He didn't answer at first.Then—"Nothing he'd survive."(might have lived you mean)-^-