Storm looked up at the sky to try and guess how many hours they had left in the day.
"We should still have another 3 hours of daylight left before nightfall, I suggest we cover as much ground as we can." Said Storm.
Aurora nodded her head and soon they were back in the air again.
They reached the border of The Dark Forest just as the sun was beginning to set.
Although Storm couldn't see much of the ground below due to the thick canopy from the trees.
He could imagine how dark it must be inside the forest itself.
The trees grew close together and the many branches overlapped.
Creating a barrier for sunlight.
The many leaves had turned black in color and a strange oily substance seemed to cover the bark and the leaves.
"What happened to this place?" Asked Aurora.
"This is what happens when a Haven gets corrupted by bloodshed.
According to the stories, this was one of the first Havens to fall." Explained Storm
He pointed out a landmark with his snout.
"You see that big oak over there?"
Aurora looked in that direction and saw a clearing with the indicated oak in it's center.
No other trees grew around it, so the ground around it was visible, which was covered by snake like black roots.
The entire tree seemed to be leaking the same black oil as the rest of the trees.
The oak itself was massive, at nearly 100 feet in height.
The entire tree seemed to expand and retract as if it was a beating heart.
It's leaves, unlike it's brethren, wasn't black, but was instead a dark red color much like blood.
Aurora shivered at the sight.
"That's called the 'Dark Heart', It grew after the Haven got corrupted at the site where the energy of the Haven was at it's strongest.
We should stay clear of it.
There's no telling what it can do!" Explained Storm.
"Is there nothing people can do to cure this infection?" Asked Aurora.
Storm shook his head.
"Many have tried, only to end up joining the many lost souls that wander through the Forest."
"Are all Dark Havens like this?" Asked Aurora
Storm shook his head.
"This is one of the oldest ones.
Back them, people didn't know the rituals of containment we know now.
This allowed the corruption to spread unchecked until we discovered how to stop it." Explained Storm.
They turned to the right and made sure to keep a large distance from the Heart.
As the sun set completely , they started to see a dull blue glow at regular intervals through the tree canopy.
"I thought you said this place was uninhabited?" Asked Aurora.
"It is! No one can live here! None that still draws breath that is!"
".... so.... those are?" Asked Aurora.
"Lost souls, yes.
The ghosts of the people that died while traveling through the Forest and who have been unable to find rest." Explained Storm.
"There's... so many of them?!" Exclaimed Aurora.
"Many people died in the Forest. People that didn't heed the warnings about the place!
Or who tried to cleanse the corruption and died in the attempt!"
"Can they reach us up here?" Aurora asked fearfully.
"No, they hover over the ground without touching it, but they can't fly.
We're safe up here, Aurora. " Storm reassured her.
He'd just finished saying that, when 'something' flew upwards from the forest canopy far ahead.
At first glance it almost looked like a storm cloud but it was moving too fast for that to be the case.
Plus it seemed to be glowing from within with a rather ominous purple light.
It was still far away, but the fact that Storm and Aurora was able to see it from this distance, showed that whatever it is was massive.
Before Storm could reply, the unknown object released a terrifying shriek.
"No!! It can't be!!" Thought Storm in panic.
"STORM!! WHAT IS THAT THING!!" Shouted Aurora.
"RUN!!!! WE NEED TO HIDE RIGHT NOW!!!" Yelled Storm.
Aurora asked no further questions. They both veered to the right and increased their speed.
At the same time, Storm began frantically looking for a place that they could hide in but he saw nothing but the treeline.
"Storm! Should we seek cover among the trees!?" Asked Aurora.
"We can't risk landing here! It's too dangerous!" He replied.
Storm looked back and saw that the 'thing' had gotten larger since he'd first seen it.
Despite their best efforts, it was gaining ground on them.
It had most definitely seen them by now and was in hot pursuit.
Aurora reached the same conclusion a moment later.
"Storm!! We can't outrun it!!" She Exclaimed.
Storm looked around the area and saw something that he had missed earlier.
A mountain that was extending past the treeline.
The higher ground would hopefully shield them from the harmful effects of the forest as well as it's denizens.
"There!!! We'll hide over there!!" Instructed Storm.
Without another word, they both veered towards it.
As Storm and Aurora flew over it, they both looked for a cave or tunnel that they could seek shelter in.
Another shriek sounded behind them.
It was getting closer.
Aurora found a shelter first.
"Storm!! Over there!!" Called Aurora.
She gestured to what Storm could only describe as a large pit that descended into the heart of the mountain itself.
They both dropped into a steep dive and after a few minutes, they both landed in a large cavern.
They took off running deeper into the tunnels and a moment later, they heard a loud bang as something very big landed in the cavern they were in a moment ago.
A loud shriek echoed though the tunnels a moment later.
Aurora angled towards a large tunnel up ahead, but Storm suddenly twisted and tackled her from the side and they both fell into a narrow side chanber that Storm almost missed while looking through the tunnels.
He kept Aurora pinned and held a clawed finger in front of his lips to indicate for her to be silent.
A moment later a large draconic shadow halted in front of the chamber as it tried to find it's prey.