After a while, Izikel chose to explore what little he could of the surrounding forest. The camp behind him felt safe, but something about the woods called to him. He remained cautious, never straying too far, keeping the flickering firelight at the edge of his vision as an anchor.
To Izikel, the forest was an endless question—mysterious and ancient, with trees that whispered secrets to the wind. Gleaming crystals embedded in bark and stone glinted like bait, tempting him deeper. The air was heavy with the scent of moss, sap, and something unfamiliar—wild, maybe even dangerous.
Then he heard it.
Footsteps.
They were soft, padded, not like a man's. More like an animal, but larger, heavier. His first instinct was to run, to bolt back to the safety of camp and warn the others.
'But what if it's a rabbit or something else?'
He hesitated. Reason tried to calm the instinct flaring in his chest.
'Maybe I should just take a peek... just to be sure'
