The forest was filled with silence until suddenly everything changed.
The air seemed to become heavier and denser. The branches stopped rustling, and even the birds, which had been fluttering invisibly somewhere above, fell silent.
I barely had time to exhale when strange rustling sounds came from the shadows deep in the forest — quiet but persistent, getting closer.
"Who's there?" I said cautiously, feeling my voice betray me.
My fingers tightened on the reins, and the horse sensed my unease — it snorted and shifted from foot to foot, nervously shaking its head.
There was no answer. Only a shadow moving to the side made me turn around sharply.
And then, as if on an invisible signal, several dark silhouettes burst out from behind the tree trunks. They moved quickly and confidently, surrounding me on all sides. One of them darted forward, another went around to the left, and the third ended up behind me, completely blocking my retreat.
