Cherreads

Chapter 2 - Chapter 2 – Psst Psst, Kitty!

Somewhere in the Arico Forest, Benuar Island.

The morning wind whispered through the trees, rustling the branches above as Aray followed a narrow forest trail. Muffin—his sister's fat, fluffy cat—had vanished just before dawn. And as always, Elisa had turned to her younger brother to solve the problem.

"He's just a cat, Elisa," Aray had protested, watching her pack herbs into her satchel.

"Muffin isn't just a cat. He's family," she replied, her brown eyes firm as ever. "Besides, he's all I have left. Well... you too, of course."

That was all it took. Aray sighed and set out. He might grumble, but he couldn't say no to her—not after everything Elisa had sacrificed for him.

The Arico Forest was peaceful, yet brimming with life. Towering trees stood like silent guardians, their interwoven canopies filtering sunlight into golden shafts. The ground crackled underfoot, blanketed in dry leaves and damp earth. Birds called out from high above, hidden by the branches, and wildflowers added soft bursts of color to the underbrush.

Aray followed the muddy pawprints left behind by Muffin, the spring rain from days prior still softening the soil.

"You always have to make things complicated, don't you, furball?" he muttered, crouching to inspect a fresh print. "Heavy, clumsy... Yep. Definitely yours."

He pushed aside a few branches and found a tuft of caramel fur snagged in a bush. Relief tugged at his lips.

"At least I know you're close."

With a walking stick in one hand and a scowl on his brow, Aray pressed on through the fading path. His boots—hand-me-downs from his father—left faint tracks in the mud. His clothes were simple, but carefully kept thanks to Elisa's constant efforts.

"Insolent ball of fluff," he grumbled, wiping sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

At sixteen, Aray was lanky, with tousled brown hair that defied all attempts at order. His eyes were a vivid green, full of youthful spark and a hint of quiet melancholy—something he rarely showed to others. He was the kind of boy who smiled even on the worst days. People admired that about him, though few truly understood it.

Life in Arico wasn't easy, but he never called it unfair. He'd finished school the previous year, and now helped Elisa with her work as a healer. He also picked up the occasional shift at Old Joit's tavern. After their mother had died giving birth to him, and their father vanished on a voyage to the mainland, Elisa had taken on the roles of guardian, sister, and friend.

Aray often felt a strange blend of guilt and gratitude toward her. He knew what she had given up to keep their lives stable. But one thing was clear—Elisa loved him. That truth anchored him.

Still, it didn't fill the hollow left by their father's absence. On certain nights, when the wind howled like beasts in the trees, Aray couldn't help but wonder if his father was still out there. Had he abandoned them by choice? Or had something kept him away?

He never voiced those thoughts. But he wasn't a child anymore.

"If Dad were here, Muffin wouldn't have run off."

He scoffed, shaking the thought from his head.

Today, the forest felt... different. It wasn't just the missing cat. Something else tugged at his senses—a strange tension in the air. He paused, listening. Birds chirped. The wind sighed. A stream gurgled in the distance. Everything sounded normal... and yet—

"I'm overthinking," he muttered, forcing himself onward.

Despite his age, Aray's mind was always moving. Life in Arico often felt like a cage. He respected Elisa's healing craft, but some part of him longed for more. For the unknown.

The stories told by hunters and travelers only fueled that restlessness. He often pictured himself exploring distant lands, uncovering ancient secrets. But those were just daydreams. Reality offered no epic quests—just routine and repetition.

"Just another day," he sighed, pushing aside a low branch.

The woods stretched endlessly, but Aray knew them well. Years of wandering had taught him to read the forest like a book—its light, its smells, even the moods of its trees.

His thoughts drifted again to Muffin. That stubborn cat meant nearly as much to Elisa as Aray did himself. Finding him wasn't just about peace of mind—it was Aray's way of giving back.

As he ventured deeper, the forest thickened. The trees grew taller, closer, their branches creating a dense canopy that dimmed the sunlight. Shadows stretched farther. The light no longer danced—it crept.

Aray stopped. Something pressed against his chest. A weight. A chill. That same sensation prickled his neck again.

"This is... weird," he whispered, gripping his walking stick.

The trail sloped downward. Roots twisted from the ground like claws. The crunch of twigs beneath his boots felt louder now, almost... intrusive.

Then the trees parted.

Nestled in the overgrowth ahead were ruins—stone blocks, worn by time and wrapped in moss. An arch, toppled and ancient, marked the entrance to something long forgotten. The stones were dark gray, massive, and though eroded, still commanded presence.

"This wasn't here before…"

Hunters often spoke of cursed ruins when they drank at the tavern. But Aray had never seen anything like this.

Cautiously, he stepped closer, pushing aside leaves and vines. There was something... wrong about the structure. Not evil, necessarily. Just other. Ancient. Vast. As if it didn't belong in this world.

Up close, he saw the carvings. Runes and symbols etched into the stone—complex, alien. The more he stared, the more they seemed to shift.

He brushed his hand over one. It was rough and warm.

"What is this...?"

These markings weren't anything local. Not hunter signs, not villager symbols. They were older. Alive.

The air thickened. His chest tightened. The energy here was... wrong. Suffocating.

He stepped back instinctively, fear whispering in his gut.

Then—

"Mrrrow."

Muffin's meow echoed beyond the arch.

"Muffin!" Aray's voice rang out, laced with relief.

He didn't hesitate. He darted through the entrance, into the ruin's shadowed depths.

The interior was dark—but not completely. Light pierced through cracks in the ceiling, illuminating the floating dust.

More runes covered the walls. Some glowed faintly under the light. Aray couldn't look away. He moved deeper, heart racing.

Another meow, this one farther in. To the right, a staircase descended into blackness.

"Bad idea… very bad idea," he whispered, already walking down.

Each step echoed unnaturally. Cold air met his skin. He could hear his heartbeat pounding louder than his own thoughts.

At the base of the stairs, the air grew dank and heavy. Iron. Rot.

The chamber's walls were lined with carvings—figures, beasts, battles, sacrifices. The stories felt unfinished, half-erased by time.

"Where... am I?" he breathed, leaning closer.

The lines were hard to follow. The stone seemed to pulse under his fingers. Another meow snapped him back.

"Muffin, when I find you I swear I'm going to—"

The words died as he stepped into a vast, domed chamber.

Light spilled faintly from cracks in the high walls, revealing broken pots, fallen stones, and…

There he was.

Muffin. Sitting calmly, licking his paw like nothing had happened.

"There you are…" Aray exhaled, stepping forward. "What's wrong with you, huh? Always causing trouble."

The cat looked up—but not at him. His ears twitched. His eyes locked onto something behind Aray.

"What—?"

A tremor rumbled through the ground. Faint at first. Then louder. The shadows shifted. Moved.

Aray turned, throat dry.

"Hello…?"

The air thickened to molasses. Something was there.

It moved.

A shimmer of black scales caught the dim light. Then more—dozens of them, glinting like obsidian. A long, serpentine body slithered from the far end of the chamber. Massive. Graceful. Silent.

Then came the legs.

Eight of them. Spider-like, jagged, ending in hooked claws that scraped the stone floor with a piercing screech.

The creature's form twisted reality. A serpent. A spider. A nightmare made flesh.

Then the head rose.

Two red eyes burned with alien hatred. And above them—a third, small and pitch black—stared directly into Aray's soul.

It saw him.

Its jaws opened, revealing curved fangs dripping with thick, sizzling venom. Each drop hit the floor with a hiss, corroding the stone like acid.

Aray froze. His limbs refused to obey.

The beast let out a guttural hiss—half-roar, half-pressure wave—vibrating through the chamber and into his skull.

It began to move.

Slow. Taunting. A predator savoring fear.

"This can't be happening…"

Then it charged.

"NO!"

He dove to the side just as the front legs crashed down where he'd stood. Debris flew. Stone shattered.

He scrambled to his feet.

Too slow.

The tail whipped toward him—razor-sharp. He ducked. Barely.

He turned to run—but stumbled.

The jaws clamped down.

Pain. Blinding. Molten.

"AARRGH!"

The fangs tore into his arm, lifting him effortlessly into the air. His scream echoed off the walls.

He thrashed. Kicked. Punched.

Nothing.

The venom surged into his veins—burning up to his shoulder like fire.

"N-No… no…!"

Darkness swam around the edges of his vision.

Then—

A roar.

"M-Muffin…?"

The lazy fluffball had transformed. Hackles raised. Eyes gleaming.

With a terrifying yowl, Muffin launched himself at the creature's face, claws digging into its glowing eyes.

The monster shrieked, releasing Aray.

He crashed to the ground, gasping, cradling his arm.

Muffin was relentless—slashing, clawing, snarling like a beast possessed.

Aray crawled backward, dizzy. Everything throbbed. His arm was numb. Black veins pulsed near the bite.

"This isn't good…"

The beast hissed one final time—then vanished into the shadows.

Silence fell.

Muffin padded over, eyes still glowing faintly.

"You're… a damn hero," Aray whispered, trying to smile.

The cat meowed softly, rubbing against his cheek.

Aray tried to stand—but his body failed him.

His strength faded. His heartbeat slowed. The black veins spread.

"Elisa…"

With one final push, he reached the stairs. Cold forest air kissed his skin.

He fell.

Through the blur, he saw the sky.

Blue. Vast.

"Nice view… to die to."

Muffin curled up beside him, purring softly.

That warmth was the last thing Aray felt…

Before everything went dark.

More Chapters