Chapter 20 : Cursed Forest

2328 Words
The early morning sun filtered through the dense canopy of trees, casting a mosaic of light and shadow across the lush forest floor. Patterns swirled everywhere; in the leaves, on the petals and in the air. The woods were alive with the sounds of nature; the rustling of leaves, the soft thudding of paws and hooves, and the symphony of birds chirping for their first meal. Hares darted between bushes, their small noses twitching, sniffing for danger. Deer, sleek and graceful, pranced silently through the underbrush, their ears flicking at every sudden sound. Above, the birds flitted from branch to branch, cooing their morning greetings to one another. Yet, amidst this familiar woodland chorus, there was something more—certain presences that did not belong to the natural world. Hidden in the shadows, creatures lurked, alert to prying eyes. One of them floated into view, its form shimmering as if it were not entirely solid, as if it balanced on the fragile line between existence and oblivion. Its body was a patchwork of silvery scales that reflected the light like broken glass, and its eyes were a hollow, glowing white, devoid of pupils. The creature moved with a strange grace, its movements too smooth, too deliberate, as it slithered silently between the trees. Its limbs, elongated and spindly, ended in sharp, hooked claws that left no mark on the ground. Sensing a disturbance, it paused, its head turning with an eerie fluidity to listen, before it melted back into the shadows, disappearing as if it had never been there. Deeper within the forest, the tranquil atmosphere was shattered by the frantic trotting of hooves, a rhythm that steadily increased in speed and urgency. The sound echoed through the trees. A majestic stallion, its dark coat glistening with sweat, galloped at breakneck speed. Shadowed figures raced behind it, chasing it through the thick greenery of the wild. The creature's humanoid eyes were wide with adrenaline, nostrils flaring as it pushed itself to the limit, weaving between the towering trunks and leaping over fallen logs with trained agility. The air was filled with the scent of fear, and behind it, a series of deep, guttural growls rose, reverberating through the woods like the harbinger of death. Riding atop the horse, a figure cloaked in a tattered cloak clung tightly to the reins. The hood obscured much of her face, but her eyes—jade green and fierce with determination—cut through the morning mist like twin beams. Strands of tangled red hair escaped from her messy bun, gathered in a rush. Her grip on the reins was ironclad, guiding the terrified horse with a precision born of experience. Every muscle in her body was taut, her senses alert as she navigated the treacherous terrain. She could feel the presence of the beasts behind her, their hot breath on her heels, their snarls echoing in her ears. “Come on, girl,” she urged the horse, her voice strained yet steady. “We’re almost there. Just a little further…” The horse’s ears flicked back at her voice, as if understanding the desperation in her words. It surged forward, hooves pounding the earth as it veered into a denser part of the forest. The trees closed in around them, their branches forming a natural barricade that might slow their pursuers. But the beasts were relentless, their massive forms crashing through the underbrush, gaining ground with every passing second. The woman’s heart raced, her thoughts a blur. She had to lose them, had to find some way to shake the relentless creatures from their trail. And then, she heard the unmistakable sound of running water. A river. A stream. A lifeline. “Head for the water!” she commanded, leaning forward and tugging the reins. The horse obeyed without hesitation, changing direction sharply and bolting towards the sound. The sudden shift allowed the beasts to close in, and one lunged, its claws slicing through the air. The woman felt a searing pain as its talons raked across her back, tearing through her cloak and breastplate like it they were made of thin paper. Poisonous barbs embedded themselves in her flesh, sending waves of agony radiating through her body. She bit back a scream, her breath hitching as she fought to stay upright, almost toppling off the speeding horse. “Hold on,” she whispered to the horse, her voice trembling with pain. “Just hold on a little longer…” The horse neighed, its steps faltering for a moment as it sensed its rider’s distress. But then, as if drawing strength from her urges, it pushed forward with renewed vigor. The beasts howled in frustration as they neared the edge of the stream, their savage eyes gleaming with the prospect of an easy kill. The stream came into view, a ribbon of silver cutting through the green of the forest. It was wide, too wide for any wingless creature, let alone a mere horse, to cross even with optimal agility. The chance of drowning through the strong currents was higher, but the woman clinged onto the thick mane of the mare. Without hesitation, the horse gathered its strength and leaped, its powerful legs propelling it high into the air. Time seemed to slow as they soared above the water, the morning sun catching on a deep yellow stone that hung around the horse's neck. The gem glowed faintly, a residual magic that seemed to give the horse wings as it crossed the stream in a single, graceful bound. They landed heavily on the other side, the impact jarring them both. The woman was thrown from the saddle, tumbling to the ground in a tangled mess of limbs. She gasped as pain shot through her, the crack of bone against stone ringing in her ears. Her vision blurred as she fought to stay conscious, biting her lip so hard she tasted blood. The horse, too, stumbled, but managed to regain its footing, standing over her protectively. Its flanks heaved with exertion, and its dark eyes were filled with concern as it nudged her with its muzzle. “We… we made it,” she gasped, her voice barely more than a whisper. She reached up with a trembling hand to stroke the horse’s neck, her fingers brushing against the still-warm stone. The beasts roared on the other side of the stream, unable to cross the water. Their beady eyes glowed with hatred and hunger. Liana Redhart, Alpha of the Golden Arc pack, glared furiously across the stream at the four beasts that prowled the opposite bank. Their forms were massive, each as large as the horse she rode, with fur the color of sap-green leaves, which had camouflaged them perfectly with their surroundings in the forest, preventing detection. Their blood-red eyes glowed menacingly, gleaming like droplets of red morning dew in the faint light. But it was their teeth—long, jagged fangs that jutted out from their upper jaws, nearly as large as their faces—that made them truly terrifying. Sabre-toothed, feline predators with an aura of pure, unadulterated malice. Pain radiated from Liana’s leg, a sharp reminder of her fractured bone. She had heard the sickening snap upon landing, and now every breath was a struggle to suppress the wave of agony threatening to overwhelm her. But it wasn’t the pain that fueled the fire in her eyes—it was the frustration of being so close to tracking the rogues she had been hunting, only to be thwarted by these cursed creatures. She clenched her teeth, fury boiling within her. “If I had the ability to use my powers in physical combat,” she hissed through clenched teeth, “you creatures would be skinned and roasted for my supper.” She spat venomously. The beasts responded in kind. Three of them howled and growled, their claws scraping the dirt as they tried to wade into the stream, but the moment their clawed feet touched the water, a sharp hiss filled the air. Steam rose as the water seared their flesh, and with pained snarls, they recoiled, pulling back their blackened claws and bemoaning the burns. The fourth beast, the largest and smartest of the group, didn’t make the same mistake. It remained on the bank, its blood-red eyes locked onto Liana with a cold, calculating gaze. “What are you staring at, you mutated housecat?” Liana snapped, her voice edged with bitterness. The beast didn’t flinch at her insult. Instead, it spoke, its voice a deep, rumbling growl that vibrated through the air. “It has been a long time since a shifter entered our land and escaped without being devoured.” Liana’s eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a sneer. “I’d sooner curse and damn your land than hunt in those evil jungles again. The plants, the animals—everything in that accursed place reeks of sorcery.” The beast’s lips curled into a mocking grin, revealing more of its dagger-like teeth. “Hypocrite,” it spat. “You trespass into our territory, hunt in our domain, and then rage when we defend what is ours. You are no different from the evil you despise.” Liana’s grip on her bow tightened. “I had no choice but to follow the trail,” she shot back, her voice rising with anger. “Your cursed forest harbors rogues, wolves that bring death and destruction beyond your borders. My business here is to hunt them. You, on the other hand, are nothing but a pack of cowardly beasts who take pleasure in causing misery!” Her hand moved with precision and speed as she nocked an arrow, her eyes never leaving the beast’s. She aimed directly at the lead predator, her fingers steady despite the pain pulsing through her leg. The beast didn’t flinch. Instead, it let out a dark chuckle, the sound low and grating. “You are a fool to meddle in matters that are beyond your comprehension, little Alpha. Some things are better left untouched. Perhaps you should learn to mind your own business.” Liana’s lips twisted into a dangerous smile. “Perhaps you should learn to fear what you don’t understand,” she countered, and without another word, she released the arrow. The beast’s eyes followed the arrow’s path, and its grin widened when it saw the arrow miss its mark, landing harmlessly in the ground behind it. But its smug expression faltered when the wind shifted, carrying the scent of the arrow’s poison toward it. The beast stiffened, its nostrils flaring as it recognized the danger. “What—” it began, but its words were cut off by a ferocious snarl from one of the other beasts. The arrow hadn’t been meant for the leader—it was aimed at the creature just behind him, which now writhed in agony as the venom took hold. The remaining beasts howled in fury, their eyes blazing with anger as they realized the trick she had played. The lead beast turned back to Liana, its eyes glowing with a murderous intent. “You will pay for this, shifter. You are dead meat,” it hissed, its voice dripping with malice. “Get in line,” Liana retorted, her voice steady despite the pain and exhaustion weighing her down. With one last snarl, the beasts turned and fled back into the cursed forest, their growls echoing ominously through the trees. Liana watched them go, her breathing heavy, every muscle in her body aching. But she was alive, and for the moment, safe. As the adrenaline began to wear off, the pain in her leg became unbearable. She slumped to the ground beside her horse, gritting her teeth to hold back the scream that threatened to escape. Her hands trembled as she reached out to soothe the horse, gently stroking leg. The creature nickered softly, its dark eyes filled with concern as it nuzzled her hand. “We made it,” she whispered, though the words felt hollow. They had survived, yes, but she had lost the trail of the rogues, and now, with her injury, she was vulnerable, stranded on the edge of the cursed forest. Minutes passed, though they felt like hours. Liana struggled to stay awake, her vision blurring as exhaustion began to take hold. But just as her eyes began to close, the sound of approaching footsteps reached her ears. She forced herself to stay alert, her hand instinctively moving to her bow as figures emerged from the trees. A group of wolves surrounded her, their eyes glowing in the dim light. Each had a collar of golden fur around their necks—an unmistakable symbol of the Golden Arc pack. Relief washed over her as she recognized them. One of the wolves shifted into human form, a tall, muscular man with a stern expression. He approached her slowly, his eyes scanning her injuries with concern. “Alpha Liana,” he said, his voice laced with resignation. “We told you not to set off on your hunts alone?” Liana pushed herself to her feet, wincing as she put weight on her injured leg. She met his gaze, her expression fierce despite her pain. “I’ll live,” she replied, her tone resolute. She glanced over her shoulder at the cursed forest, its dark depths filled with secrets and dangers. Her eyes narrowed as she contemplated how long it would take before she got another chance. “We need to leave,” the man said, nodding to the others to prepare the horse. “This place is not safe.” Liana nodded, but her thoughts were still on the beasts and the cursed forest. “What secrets do you hide?” she muttered under her breath, her mind racing with possibilities. As her packmates helped her onto the horse, Liana cast one last glance at the forest before walking away.
Free reading for new users
Scan code to download app
Facebookexpand_more
  • author-avatar
    Writer
  • chap_listContents
  • likeADD