Trials of the Forest
The enchanted forest seemed alive, its gnarled trees twisting into grotesque shapes as the group ventured deeper. The air felt heavy, pressing down on their chests, and Isla could feel the forest testing her resolve with every step. Shadows moved unnaturally among the trees, their presence palpable even though they vanished as quickly as they appeared.
A fork in the path emerged suddenly, each trail identical, both stretching into the oppressive darkness. The whispers returned, overlapping in a cacophony of indistinct voices.
“This is a trap,” Draven growled, his claws extending as his gaze darted between the trails. “It wants to divide us.”
Isla shook her head, her silver eyes narrowing. “No. It’s not a trap—it’s a test.” Her voice carried an unnerving certainty as she moved toward the left path.
“Isla, wait—” Draven began, his voice sharp with frustration, but she was already stepping forward.
Her pace quickened as if she were being drawn by an invisible force. Draven cursed under his breath and followed, his broad form protective as he stayed close. Alaric trailed reluctantly, his golden eyes scanning the dense trees for any sign of danger.
As they walked, the forest grew darker, the shadows lengthening unnaturally. Dark vines slithered across the ground, thorned and alive, reaching for their ankles. Isla instinctively raised her hand, and her connection to the Moon Goddess flared. A soft glow radiated from her, and the vines recoiled as if burned.
“You’re stronger than I thought,” Alaric murmured, his tone filled with a grudging admiration.
The glow faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving a chilling silence in its wake. From the darkness ahead, a figure emerged. The pale woman was cloaked in light so faint it seemed to blur her edges, her face obscured by a shimmering veil. She seemed to hover above the ground, her presence both eerie and serene.
“Who are you?” Isla called out, her voice steady even as unease crept up her spine.
The woman raised a hand, her movements deliberate and otherworldly. “You must choose,” she intoned, her voice reverberating like the echo of a bell. “Light… or shadow.”
Isla took a step forward, but before she could respond, the woman dissolved into mist, her luminous form vanishing as if she had never been. The whispers returned briefly, faint and teasing, before the forest fell silent once more.
“What does she mean?” Isla whispered, her voice tinged with fear and confusion.
Draven moved closer, his amber eyes scanning the darkness where the figure had disappeared. “Whatever it is, it’s not giving us any easy answers.”
