The group had just finished their meal, but the tension from their earlier conversation still hung in the air like a thick fog. The quiet was heavy, pressing down on them as they packed up their few belongings.
"Alright," Vell said, breaking the silence as he stood. "We are heading out soon. Stay sharp, I do not want to get ambushed by whatever is hiding in these trees."
The others nodded, their movements economical as they prepared to leave. The mood shifted instantly when a low, guttural growl echoed from the depths of the forest. It was not the sound of any normal beast, it was something deeper, primal, and filled with a cold, unrelenting menace. The sound seemed to crawl up their spines, freezing them in place.
Vell's hand was already on the hilt of his sword. "Get ready," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Something is coming."
